Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 698 · 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.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
2. 2.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
5. 5.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) an igloo
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a fort gateway (c) a roof truss (d) a slab over a canal
14. 14.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an old stone bridge (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
17. 17.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a plank over a drain (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
18. 18.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔺 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?
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.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
22. 22.🔺 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
23. 23.🔺 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
24. 24.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔺 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
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
33. 33.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a lintel over a door
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a roof truss
36. 36.🔺 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
37. 37.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a crane arm (d) a lintel over a door
39. 39.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) paint it (d) take off a side
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle

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