Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 671 · 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.True or false: a planetarium roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it works in compression (d) it is hollow
4. 4.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an electric pylon (c) a round palace roof (d) a bicycle frame
5. 5.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a lintel over a door
6. 6.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔺 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
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a round palace roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) a lintel over a door
13. 13.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) square
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a truss bridge side (c) a lintel over a door (d) an igloo
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
18. 18.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
19. 19.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) take off a side (c) paint it (d) add a diagonal brace
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a crane arm
22. 22.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 6 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an igloo (c) a fort gateway (d) a roof truss
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a plank over a drain (c) a bicycle frame (d) a curved stone doorway
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
36. 36.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
38. 38.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a lintel over a door (c) an old stone bridge (d) a curved stone doorway
40. 40.🔺 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?

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