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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 72 · 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.

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

Answer key

  1. triangle
  2. squeezed (compression)
  3. arch
  4. a plank over a drain
  5. 29
  6. 9
  7. triangle
  8. False
  9. a roof truss
  10. False
  11. True
  12. True
  13. False
  14. rigid
  15. False
  16. a lintel over a door
  17. a curved stone doorway
  18. True
  19. a fort gateway
  20. True
  21. False
  22. arch
  23. add a diagonal brace
  24. False
  25. beam
  26. True
  27. a round palace roof
  28. dome
  29. triangle
  30. 6
  31. False
  32. False
  33. triangle
  34. 8
  35. False
  36. False
  37. 13
  38. wobbly
  39. a bicycle frame
  40. True

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