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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 650 · 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 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?
  2. 2.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 14 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a truss bridge side (d) a slab over a canal
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  8. 8.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  12. 12.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) rectangle
  13. 13.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a slab over a canal (c) a round palace roof (d) an igloo
  14. 14.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an electric pylon (c) a round palace roof (d) a plank over a drain
  15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a round palace roof
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  18. 18.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  24. 24.🔺 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?
  25. 25.🔺 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
  26. 26.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it bends easily (c) it is very light (d) it is hollow
  29. 29.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) a fort gateway (d) a crane arm
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  31. 31.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  33. 33.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an old stone bridge (c) a truss bridge side (d) a bicycle frame
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  36. 36.🔺 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?
  37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a bicycle frame (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  39. 39.🔺 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
  40. 40.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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