Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 99 · 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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) square (c) triangle (d) hexagon
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 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
5. 5.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a roof truss (d) a crane arm
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
13. 13.🔺 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
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a crane arm (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
19. 19.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
21. 21.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
22. 22.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a fort gateway (c) a bicycle frame (d) an igloo
28. 28.True or false: a planetarium roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) a bicycle frame (d) a slab over a canal
31. 31.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an old stone bridge (c) a roof truss (d) a slab over a canal
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an electric pylon (c) a lintel over a door (d) an old stone bridge
34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a round palace roof (d) a truss bridge side
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
38. 38.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
39. 39.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) an igloo (c) an electric pylon (d) a roof truss
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle

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