Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 74 · 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.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) square
3. 3.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a plank over a drain (c) a roof truss (d) a slab over a canal
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
8. 8.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
10. 10.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it works in compression (c) it is very light (d) it is hollow
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.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a lintel over a door (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
14. 14.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
19. 19.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) an old stone bridge (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
20. 20.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
21. 21.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an old stone bridge
26. 26.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) an old stone bridge (c) a planetarium roof (d) a plank over a drain
30. 30.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 1 triangle standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
31. 31.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a truss bridge side (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
32. 32.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 10 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
37. 37.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) an electric pylon (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
40. 40.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side

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