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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 710 · 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.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 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
  3. 3.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔺 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?
  5. 5.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
  7. 7.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) triangle
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  11. 11.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a lintel over a door (d) a slab over a canal
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  14. 14.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) an electric pylon (d) a planetarium roof
  15. 15.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  18. 18.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  21. 21.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  27. 27.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a round palace roof (c) a fort gateway (d) an igloo
  29. 29.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a crane arm (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an electric pylon
  30. 30.🔺 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?
  31. 31.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a truss bridge side
  32. 32.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a roof truss (d) a plank over a drain
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a crane arm (c) a round palace roof (d) an electric pylon
  35. 35.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) not affected
  38. 38.🔺 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?
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.🔺 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

Answer key

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

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