Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 709 · 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 fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a bicycle frame
5. 5.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
12. 12.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
14. 14.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
15. 15.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) a bicycle frame (d) a slab over a canal
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
18. 18.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a roof truss
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) paint it (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
25. 25.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a roof truss (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a bicycle frame
26. 26.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
35. 35.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
36. 36.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a crane arm (c) a plank over a drain (d) a curved stone doorway
37. 37.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly

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