Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 611 · 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: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) square
3. 3.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a lintel over a door
4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a planetarium roof (c) a crane arm (d) a truss bridge side
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) an old stone bridge (c) an igloo (d) a shelf on two brackets
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
10. 10.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
11. 11.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
12. 12.🔺 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
13. 13.🔺 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
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a bicycle frame (d) a truss bridge side
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
17. 17.🔺 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
18. 18.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a crane arm (c) a bicycle frame (d) a round palace roof
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
21. 21.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 3 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a planetarium roof (c) a bicycle frame (d) a fort gateway
23. 23.🔺 A flat frame has 8 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
24. 24.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
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.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a planetarium roof (c) a bicycle frame (d) an old stone bridge
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
33. 33.🔺 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
34. 34.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 6 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 roof truss (b) a lintel over a door (c) an old stone bridge (d) a fort gateway
36. 36.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
38. 38.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
40. 40.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a planetarium roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a curved stone doorway

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