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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 82 · 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 of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon
  2. 2.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) a shelf on two brackets
  5. 5.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  9. 9.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it is very light (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
  10. 10.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a round palace roof (c) a planetarium roof (d) an old stone bridge
  13. 13.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  19. 19.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔺 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?
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  26. 26.🔺 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
  27. 27.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a bicycle frame (d) a lintel over a door
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  30. 30.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
  37. 37.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  39. 39.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a round palace roof (d) a bicycle frame
  40. 40.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

  1. a round palace roof
  2. True
  3. beam
  4. a shelf on two brackets
  5. False
  6. triangle
  7. 6
  8. squeezed (compression)
  9. it works in compression
  10. False
  11. 11
  12. an old stone bridge
  13. True
  14. 2
  15. False
  16. beam
  17. triangle
  18. triangle
  19. True
  20. True
  21. 1
  22. triangle
  23. 25
  24. True
  25. triangle
  26. rigid
  27. False
  28. a lintel over a door
  29. dome
  30. True
  31. add a diagonal brace
  32. beam
  33. 29
  34. False
  35. False
  36. triangle
  37. True
  38. rigid
  39. a bicycle frame
  40. True

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