Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 668 · 40 questions

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.

1. 1.🔺 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?
2. 2.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a truss bridge side (d) a plank over a drain
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.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
6. 6.🔺 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
7. 7.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a fort gateway (c) a roof truss (d) a truss bridge side
9. 9.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a fort gateway (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
14. 14.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) square (d) hexagon
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
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 roof truss use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 8 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 shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 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
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.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔺 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
31. 31.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
40. 40.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) an electric pylon (d) a shelf on two brackets

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