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

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 649 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  4. 4.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) square (d) hexagon
  5. 5.🔺 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
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a fort gateway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
  9. 9.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
  12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  14. 14.🔺 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
  15. 15.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a round palace roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  19. 19.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔺 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?
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  25. 25.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 4 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it is very light
  28. 28.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  30. 30.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: an igloo 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.🔺 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?
  34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a curved stone doorway
  35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a planetarium roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
  36. 36.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a planetarium roof (d) a round palace roof
  39. 39.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a crane arm (b) a planetarium roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a plank over a drain

Answer key

  1. beam
  2. triangle
  3. beam
  4. triangle
  5. rigid
  6. 5
  7. True
  8. a shelf on two brackets
  9. squeezed (compression)
  10. dome
  11. an igloo
  12. arch
  13. dome
  14. rigid
  15. a plank over a drain
  16. 8
  17. False
  18. triangle
  19. True
  20. 21
  21. triangle
  22. 23
  23. 7
  24. dome
  25. 9
  26. 15
  27. it works in compression
  28. rigid
  29. arch
  30. False
  31. False
  32. 2
  33. 6
  34. a round palace roof
  35. a bicycle frame
  36. False
  37. False
  38. a truss bridge side
  39. False
  40. a crane arm

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