Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 610 · 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.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
3. 3.🔺 A flat frame has 7 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.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
5. 5.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) an electric pylon (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
7. 7.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) take off a side (c) paint it (d) make it bigger
11. 11.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily
12. 12.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) square (d) hexagon
13. 13.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a round palace roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) a curved stone doorway
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a crane arm (c) a planetarium roof (d) an old stone bridge
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
18. 18.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
19. 19.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) an electric pylon (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a crane arm
20. 20.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an electric pylon (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
26. 26.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
32. 32.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a truss bridge side (c) a lintel over a door (d) a round palace roof
34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a planetarium roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a bicycle frame
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
39. 39.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False

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