Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 619 · 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.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a roof truss (c) a planetarium roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
3. 3.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
4. 4.🔺 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
5. 5.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
7. 7.🔺 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
8. 8.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) triangle
9. 9.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a bicycle frame (c) an old stone bridge (d) an igloo
10. 10.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 7 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it bends easily (c) it works in compression (d) it is very light
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
20. 20.🔺 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
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a crane arm (d) an electric pylon
24. 24.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
25. 25.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
27. 27.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
32. 32.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
38. 38.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a crane arm
40. 40.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an old stone bridge

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids