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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 95 · 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: an igloo uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  3. 3.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a roof truss
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  5. 5.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) square
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  11. 11.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a crane arm
  12. 12.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 2 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  14. 14.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔺 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?
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  17. 17.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  20. 20.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an electric pylon (d) a slab over a canal
  21. 21.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an electric pylon (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
  22. 22.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.🔺 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
  25. 25.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a truss bridge side
  27. 27.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  30. 30.🔺 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
  31. 31.True or false: a planetarium roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  33. 33.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔺 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
  38. 38.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is very light (c) it bends easily (d) it is hollow
  39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch

Answer key

  1. False
  2. triangle
  3. a roof truss
  4. triangle
  5. triangle
  6. 9
  7. True
  8. True
  9. wobbly
  10. triangle
  11. a curved stone doorway
  12. 5
  13. beam
  14. False
  15. 2
  16. triangle
  17. True
  18. beam
  19. dome
  20. a slab over a canal
  21. an igloo
  22. add a diagonal brace
  23. 9
  24. wobbly
  25. True
  26. a truss bridge side
  27. True
  28. beam
  29. dome
  30. rigid
  31. False
  32. 31
  33. False
  34. 4
  35. False
  36. False
  37. wobbly
  38. it works in compression
  39. dome
  40. arch

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