Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 61 · 40 questions

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.

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

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