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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 93 · 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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
  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) wobbly (b) rigid
  3. 3.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  5. 5.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) a fort gateway (d) a roof truss
  9. 9.🔺 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
  10. 10.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 4 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  15. 15.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a plank over a drain (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a round palace roof
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) an old stone bridge (c) a round palace roof (d) a slab over a canal
  19. 19.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  21. 21.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  25. 25.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  28. 28.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a shelf on two brackets
  29. 29.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
  30. 30.🔺 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?
  31. 31.🔺 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
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  33. 33.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a fort gateway (c) an old stone bridge (d) a plank over a drain
  37. 37.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam

Answer key

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

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