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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 644 · 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.

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  1. 1.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  5. 5.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  7. 7.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) triangle (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
  8. 8.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔺 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
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a roof truss (d) an igloo
  14. 14.🔺 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
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  16. 16.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  20. 20.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  23. 23.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a round palace roof (c) a bicycle frame (d) a shelf on two brackets
  25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an igloo (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
  26. 26.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
  27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a round palace roof
  28. 28.🔺 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
  29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an electric pylon (d) an old stone bridge
  30. 30.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔺 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?
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  35. 35.🔺 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
  36. 36.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an old stone bridge (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a slab over a canal
  37. 37.🔺 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
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  39. 39.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a planetarium roof (c) a crane arm (d) a shelf on two brackets

Answer key

  1. squeezed (compression)
  2. 1
  3. True
  4. beam
  5. wobbly
  6. triangle
  7. triangle
  8. False
  9. add a diagonal brace
  10. 25
  11. False
  12. 4
  13. an igloo
  14. rigid
  15. triangle
  16. False
  17. 23
  18. False
  19. dome
  20. True
  21. dome
  22. beam
  23. True
  24. a bicycle frame
  25. a lintel over a door
  26. a slab over a canal
  27. a curved stone doorway
  28. it works in compression
  29. an electric pylon
  30. False
  31. 7
  32. 5
  33. True
  34. triangle
  35. wobbly
  36. a truss bridge side
  37. rigid
  38. triangle
  39. False
  40. a crane arm

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