Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 67 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
3. 3.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔺 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
5. 5.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔺 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
10. 10.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side
11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a truss bridge side (c) an igloo (d) a curved stone doorway
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
14. 14.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a plank over a drain (d) a planetarium roof
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) hexagon (d) square
21. 21.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) an electric pylon (c) a round palace roof (d) a plank over a drain
22. 22.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔺 A flat frame has 7 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
26. 26.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it is very light (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
28. 28.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
29. 29.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a slab over a canal (c) a round palace roof (d) a lintel over a door
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a truss bridge side (d) a lintel over a door
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an electric pylon (c) an igloo (d) a round palace roof
38. 38.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) True (b) False

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