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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 65 · 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.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a roof truss (c) a lintel over a door (d) an igloo
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  4. 4.🔺 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?
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) square
  8. 8.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  9. 9.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a round palace roof (d) an electric pylon
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  15. 15.🔺 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?
  16. 16.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
  17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  18. 18.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a fort gateway (c) a slab over a canal (d) a bicycle frame
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  20. 20.🔺 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
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  22. 22.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a truss bridge side (d) an old stone bridge
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔺 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
  30. 30.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a truss bridge side (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a round palace roof
  31. 31.🔺 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?
  32. 32.🔺 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
  33. 33.🔺 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
  34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) an igloo (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
  35. 35.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  37. 37.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  39. 39.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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