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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 7 · 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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) triangle (d) rectangle
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  3. 3.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an electric pylon (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
  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 a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  8. 8.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  13. 13.🔺 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
  14. 14.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
  17. 17.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an igloo
  18. 18.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a truss bridge side (c) an old stone bridge (d) a plank over a drain
  19. 19.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔺 A flat frame has 10 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.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔺 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
  23. 23.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a crane arm (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  27. 27.🔺 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
  28. 28.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔺 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?
  30. 30.🔺 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?
  31. 31.🔺 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?
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  33. 33.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an electric pylon (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a crane arm
  36. 36.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
  37. 37.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  39. 39.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam

Answer key

  1. triangle
  2. beam
  3. an old stone bridge
  4. 7
  5. arch
  6. 15
  7. dome
  8. False
  9. False
  10. 9
  11. 1
  12. wobbly
  13. rigid
  14. False
  15. False
  16. squeezed (compression)
  17. a shelf on two brackets
  18. a plank over a drain
  19. True
  20. 7
  21. True
  22. it works in compression
  23. False
  24. False
  25. an igloo
  26. triangle
  27. wobbly
  28. True
  29. 2
  30. 5
  31. 3
  32. dome
  33. False
  34. 25
  35. a curved stone doorway
  36. a roof truss
  37. True
  38. arch
  39. False
  40. triangle

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