Testing Materials and Designs

The strongest shape for a beam is

• circle

• rectangle

• square

• triangle

The best way to make paper stronger is

• Fold it in half

• Accordion fold it

• cut it into strips

• Cut it in half

If you have a rectangular beam, which way should I lay it to make it strongest?

• Lay it horizontally

• Lay it vertically

• It doesn't matter how I lay it

If you have two pieces of wood that are the same thickness, but one is 50 cm long and the other is 100 cm long, will they be able to support the same amount of weight?

• Yes, if they are the same thickness they can hold the same amount if weight.

• No, the longer one can hold more weight.

• No the shorter one can hold more weight.

What type of pillars are strongest?

• Short and wide

• Tall and wide

• Short and thin

• Tall and thin

Which type of arch can support the most weight?

• Swooping arch

• Square arch

• Zig zag arch

• Curved arch

Will an arch spanning a gap of 10cm or 20cm support more weight?

• The arch spanning 10cm supported more weight.

• The arch spanning 20cm supported more weight.

What is a keystone?

• A stone with a key hole in it

• The stone at the base of an arch

• The wedge shaped stone at the top of an arch

• A circular stone in the centre of a bridge

How can you make a structure stronger?

• Use stronger fasteners or connections

• Reinforce the shape by adding cross pieces

• Reinforce connections by adding gussets

• Reinforce the shape by adding trusses

• All of the above

The _______________ is the most important shape in a truss.

• Square

• Circle

• Rectangle

• Triangle