Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 632 · 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 strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
3. 3.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a bicycle frame (c) a truss bridge side (d) a planetarium roof
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
5. 5.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 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
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
19. 19.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a bicycle frame (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a lintel over a door
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a crane arm
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a truss bridge side (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
27. 27.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a lintel over a door (c) a round palace roof (d) a plank over a drain
28. 28.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a crane arm (c) a plank over a drain (d) a round palace roof
29. 29.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an igloo (d) a fort gateway
31. 31.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a truss bridge side
35. 35.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a truss bridge side (d) a roof truss
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
40. 40.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True

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