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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 90 · 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 bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a round palace roof (c) a roof truss (d) a curved stone doorway
  9. 9.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a round palace roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a plank over a drain
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily
  18. 18.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) square
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  21. 21.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
  22. 22.🔺 A flat frame has 7 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 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?
  24. 24.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an old stone bridge (d) a truss bridge side
  25. 25.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a slab over a canal (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  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.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  29. 29.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
  30. 30.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a truss bridge side (d) a slab over a canal
  34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a fort gateway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a roof truss
  35. 35.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.🔺 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
  39. 39.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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