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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 662 · 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 strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 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
  4. 4.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a truss bridge side (c) a crane arm (d) an electric pylon
  6. 6.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a fort gateway (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an igloo
  10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an electric pylon (d) a planetarium roof
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) triangle (d) rectangle
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a roof truss (c) a planetarium roof (d) a bicycle frame
  17. 17.🔺 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
  18. 18.🔺 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?
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  20. 20.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a round palace roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a lintel over a door
  21. 21.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  23. 23.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a plank over a drain (c) a planetarium roof (d) a slab over a canal
  25. 25.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  31. 31.🔺 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
  32. 32.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an electric pylon (c) a lintel over a door (d) a round palace roof
  33. 33.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge

Answer key

  1. triangle
  2. 5
  3. rigid
  4. True
  5. a plank over a drain
  6. True
  7. 3
  8. True
  9. an igloo
  10. a curved stone doorway
  11. 5
  12. triangle
  13. 7
  14. True
  15. False
  16. a slab over a canal
  17. wobbly
  18. 21
  19. dome
  20. a lintel over a door
  21. False
  22. 11
  23. False
  24. a planetarium roof
  25. True
  26. False
  27. arch
  28. 1
  29. False
  30. triangle
  31. rigid
  32. an electric pylon
  33. False
  34. True
  35. True
  36. dome
  37. 27
  38. beam
  39. 3
  40. a shelf on two brackets

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