Question

A group of students are asked to make the strongest structure out of ice cream sticks. They decided to make a bridge. Which fundamental shape should they use in their structure?
(A) Triangle
(B) Rectangles
(C) Rhombus
(D) Pentagon

Answer 1

Hint: We are given in the question that a group of students were asked to make the strongest structure out of ice cream sticks. They voted for the bridge and now we are asked as to which fundamental shape they should use in their structure. We would require a structure which does not change its structure when an exterior force is acting on it. Also, the number of sides and joints are important in dealing with the distribution of the forces acting. Hence, we will have the required shape of the bridge.

Complete step by step answer:
According to the given question, a group of students were asked to make the strongest structure out of ice cream sticks and they decided to make a bridge. We are asked in this question to suggest a fundamental shape which they can use in their structure from the options given to us.
We have to first learn about bridges. A bridge is a construction that will eventually be introduced to a lot of external force. So our prime requirement is a shape of the structure that can withstand the external force without getting its shape changed as a result of force acting on it.
We know that the number of sides and the joints also influence the strength of the structure and it also decides how the force acting on it is distributed along the sides. We can say that more efficiently the force is distributed evenly, more is the stability and rigidity of the structure.
Based on the above points mentioned, we can conclude that the triangular shape seems most stable from the given options. Triangular shape makes sure that the force exerted on one side is evenly distributed to the other two sides as well.

So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: Other shapes will not be as stable and rigid as triangles. For example – If we consider a square or a rectangle, exerting a force on one side of the shape will lead to force being accumulated and concentrated only to two corners, which might even lead to the collapse of the structure. Similarly is the case with other shapes.