Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 98 · 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.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an igloo (c) an electric pylon (d) a curved stone doorway
2. 2.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) take off a side (c) make it bigger (d) paint it
5. 5.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) square
6. 6.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a bicycle frame (c) a planetarium roof (d) a plank over a drain
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
8. 8.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
11. 11.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is very light (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a truss bridge side
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
16. 16.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
22. 22.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a roof truss (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a planetarium roof
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a curved stone doorway
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a slab over a canal (c) a bicycle frame (d) a crane arm
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 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
31. 31.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a crane arm (c) a slab over a canal (d) a planetarium roof
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True

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