Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 64 · 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.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is very light (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
5. 5.🔺 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
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
9. 9.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a fort gateway (c) an electric pylon (d) a shelf on two brackets
10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a lintel over a door
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a lintel over a door (d) an electric pylon
18. 18.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a planetarium roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a lintel over a door
19. 19.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
22. 22.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a planetarium roof (c) a bicycle frame (d) a plank over a drain
23. 23.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an electric pylon (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
30. 30.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an electric pylon (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
36. 36.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔺 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
38. 38.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
39. 39.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid

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