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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 6 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Engineer's tip (Triangles stay put): Triangles are rigid; trusses, towers and frames use them. A pin-jointed frame with n sides needs n − 3 corner-to-corner braces; a row of n triangles uses 2n + 1 straws. Arches squeeze (compression); beams span gaps; domes are arches turned round in a circle.

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  1. 1.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  2. 2.🔺 A flat frame has 9 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  3. 3.🔺 A flat frame has 12 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a fort gateway (c) a round palace roof (d) a roof truss
  6. 6.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a bicycle frame (c) a truss bridge side (d) a fort gateway
  11. 11.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) triangle
  12. 12.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 2 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  14. 14.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a shelf on two brackets
  15. 15.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  17. 17.🔺 A frame shaped like a triangle is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  19. 19.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  21. 21.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a round palace roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an igloo
  24. 24.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) paint it (d) take off a side
  26. 26.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 1 triangle standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  27. 27.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it works in compression (d) it is hollow
  28. 28.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 12 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  29. 29.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a bicycle frame (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
  30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a fort gateway (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  32. 32.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  33. 33.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a truss bridge side (c) a slab over a canal (d) a shelf on two brackets
  35. 35.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a roof truss (d) an electric pylon
  36. 36.🔺 A flat frame has 11 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  37. 37.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  39. 39.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch

Answer key

  1. rigid
  2. 6
  3. 9
  4. triangle
  5. a roof truss
  6. False
  7. beam
  8. triangle
  9. beam
  10. a fort gateway
  11. triangle
  12. True
  13. 5
  14. a curved stone doorway
  15. True
  16. 19
  17. rigid
  18. beam
  19. squeezed (compression)
  20. arch
  21. True
  22. True
  23. a plank over a drain
  24. True
  25. add a diagonal brace
  26. 3
  27. it works in compression
  28. 25
  29. a lintel over a door
  30. an igloo
  31. arch
  32. 11
  33. False
  34. a truss bridge side
  35. a round palace roof
  36. 8
  37. True
  38. dome
  39. wobbly
  40. dome

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