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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 607 · 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 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  3. 3.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  7. 7.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  8. 8.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  9. 9.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) rectangle (d) triangle
  11. 11.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an electric pylon (c) a round palace roof (d) a lintel over a door
  14. 14.🔺 A flat frame has 10 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  15. 15.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  17. 17.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily
  18. 18.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an igloo (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
  20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) a slab over a canal (d) a plank over a drain
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  23. 23.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  26. 26.🔺 A flat frame has 6 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a truss bridge side
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  29. 29.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  31. 31.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 13 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a fort gateway (d) a truss bridge side
  36. 36.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a plank over a drain (d) a crane arm
  39. 39.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome

Answer key

  1. wobbly
  2. beam
  3. True
  4. True
  5. triangle
  6. beam
  7. wobbly
  8. rigid
  9. False
  10. triangle
  11. False
  12. 8
  13. a round palace roof
  14. 7
  15. True
  16. triangle
  17. it works in compression
  18. False
  19. a bicycle frame
  20. a roof truss
  21. triangle
  22. triangle
  23. False
  24. dome
  25. dome
  26. 3
  27. an old stone bridge
  28. beam
  29. False
  30. squeezed (compression)
  31. wobbly
  32. 3
  33. 11
  34. 27
  35. a truss bridge side
  36. False
  37. True
  38. a crane arm
  39. True
  40. arch

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