Triangles & Trusses
Engineers often use the familiar triangular shape for strength in bridge design.Copyright Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/images/p87_32x__00023_.jpg
Students learn about the fundamental strength of different shapes, illustrating why structural engineers continue to use the triangle as the structural shape of choice. Examples from everyday life are introduced to show how this shape is consistently used for structural strength. Along with its associated activity, this lesson empowers students to explore the strength of trusses made with different triangular elements to evaluate the various structural properties.
Many engineers across various specialty fields engage in structural engineering, from aerospace engineers who design the satellite structures, to civil engineers who design bridges and highway flyovers, to mechanical engineers who design vehicle chassis and the placement of components inside computers and cell phones. The shapes included in these designs have significant effect on the strength of the structures. This lesson engages students in a discussion of the strength of various geometric shapes, such as squares and triangles, without the need for more advance physics-based analysis.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- List places where they see triangles used to increase structural strength.
- Explain why a triangle is the strongest geometric shape.