← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 626 · 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.

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

Answer key

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

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