Constructions and Tilings | IT

Question 17

How did they make these arches?

Question diagram 1Question diagram 2
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Solution
Understand the Question
  • Arches are curved architectural structures that distribute weight downward and outward to side supports.
  • They are built using wedge-shaped blocks (voussoirs) laid over a temporary wooden frame (centring).
  • The arch becomes completely locked and self-supporting once the central top stone (keystone) is set in place.

Step 1 · Plan the Arch Shape

The curved profile of the arch is planned to effectively spread weight outward onto strong side supports.Diagram 1

Step 2 · Build a Temporary Frame

A temporary wooden support structure called centring is built to match the exact curve of the arch and hold the stones in place during construction.Diagram 2

Step 3 · Place the Wedge-Shaped Blocks

Wedge-shaped blocks called voussoirs are placed one by one onto the wooden frame, starting from the base on both sides and working upward toward the top.Diagram 3

Step 4 · Insert the Keystone

The final central top block, known as the keystone, is firmly driven into place at the apex. This locks all the voussoirs together under compression, making the arch self-supporting so the wooden centring can be safely removed.Diagram 4

Answer

Arches are built by laying wedge-shaped blocks (voussoirs) over a temporary wooden frame (centring) from both sides and locking them at the top with a central keystone, making the structure self-supporting.

Common Mistakes
  • Keystone Placement Order: Believing the keystone is placed first. It must be inserted last to lock all other stones under compression.
  • Premature Frame Removal: Removing the temporary wooden centring before the keystone is locked into place, which causes the unsupported stones to collapse.

More questions in IT

Q1

How do we find such AA and BB?

From XX and YY, draw arcs above and below XYXY, with the same radii. The two points at which the arcs meet, above and below XYXY, give us AA and BB, respectively.

Use this to construct an eye.

Q2

In Fig. 6.1, join AA and BB with a line. Where does ABAB intersect XYXY, and what is the angle formed between them?

Q3

Will the line joining the two points at which the arcs meet, above and below XYXY, always be the perpendicular bisector of XYXY, i.e., when XYXY is of any length, and the arcs are drawn using a radius of any length?

Q4

Which two triangles should be congruent for ABAB to be the perpendicular bisector of XYXY (that is, OO is the midpoint of XYXY and ABAB is perpendicular to XYXY)?

Q5

How do we get these different shapes? Try!

Q6

Will CC and DD lie on the perpendicular bisector AB\text{AB}?

Q7

Justify the following statement using the facts that we have established.

Any point that has the same distance from XX and YY lies on the perpendicular bisector of XY\text{XY}.

Q8

Given a line segment XYXY, how do we draw its perpendicular bisector using only an unmarked ruler and a compass?

Q9

Can we extend the method of constructing the perpendicular bisector to construct a 9090^\circ angle at any point on a line? Draw a line and mark a point OO on it. Construct a 9090^\circ angle at point OO.

Q10

Find a segment of this line for which OO is the midpoint.

Q11

How do we construct this figure?

Q12

What is the angle between two adjacent lines?

Q13

How do we construct a 4545^\circ angle using only a ruler and a compass?

Q14

Construct the following figure.

Q15

Draw an angle. Create a copy of this angle using only a ruler and compass.

Q16

How do we implement this idea using a ruler and a compass?

Q17

How did they make these arches?

Q18

Construct this arch shape on a piece of paper.

Let us think about the support lines this figure will need.

For symmetry, we should have AB=CDAB = CD, and BAD=CDA\angle BAD = \angle CDA. How would you construct these support lines?

Q19

Use these support lines to construct an arch. If required, adjust the radii of the arcs to make the arch look more aesthetically pleasing.

Q20

How do we construct this shape?

What supporting lines will you use to draw this arch?

Remember 'Wavy Wave' from the Grade 6 Textbook?

The supporting lines are just two line segments of equal length.

Q21

If their midpoints are marked, will you be able to construct a pointed arch?

Q22

How do we construct a regular pentagon (5-sided figure) and a regular hexagon (6-sided figure)? To begin with, try to construct a pentagon and hexagon with equal sidelengths.

Q23

Can we break a regular hexagon into smaller pieces that can be constructed?

Q24

Can six congruent equilateral triangles be placed together as in Fig. 6.12? If yes, will it result in a regular hexagon?

Q25

Consider this figure. Will the 7070^\circ angle fit into the gap? What is the gap angle AOI\angle AOI?

We have, 40+60+50+30+40+90+gap angle=36040^\circ + 60^\circ + 50^\circ + 30^\circ + 40^\circ + 90^\circ + \text{gap angle} = 360^\circ

Use this to determine whether the 7070^\circ angle fits the gap.

Q26

In Fig. 6.12 can you explain why AODAOD, BOEBOE and COFCOF are straight lines?

Q27

Construct a regular hexagon with a sidelength 4 cm4\text{ cm} using a ruler and a compass.

Q28

Context: We can construct a regular hexagon more directly if we can construct a 120120^\circ angle using a ruler and a compass.

Q. How do we do it?

Q29

Why is CAX=60\angle \text{CAX} = 60^\circ? Is there an equilateral triangle here?

Q30

Construct a regular hexagon of sidelength 5 cm5\text{ cm}.

Q31

How will you construct 3030^\circ and 1515^\circ angles?

Q32

Construct the following 6-pointed star. Note that it has a rotational symmetry.

Q33

Are the six triangles forming the 6 points of the star — ΔAGH\Delta \text{AGH}, ΔBHI\Delta \text{BHI}, ΔCIJ\Delta \text{CIJ}, ΔDJK\Delta \text{DJK}, ΔELK\Delta \text{ELK}, ΔFLG\Delta \text{FLG} — equilateral? Why?

[Hint: Find the angles.]

Q34

Can a 4×64 \times 6 grid be tiled using multiple copies of 2×12 \times 1 tiles? We are allowed to rotate a 2×12 \times 1 tile and use it.

Q35

Can a 4×74 \times 7 grid be tiled using 2×12 \times 1 tiles?

Q36

What about a 5×75 \times 7 grid?

Complete the justification.

Q38

Is an m×nm \times n grid tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles, if both mm and nn are even? If yes, come up with a general strategy to tile it.

Q39

Is an m×nm \times n grid tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles, if one of mm and nn is even and the other is odd? If yes, come up with a general strategy to tile it.

Q40

Is an m×nm \times n grid tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles, if both mm and nn are odd? Give reasons.

Q41

Here is a 5×35 \times 3 grid, with a unit square removed. Now, it has an even number of unit squares. Is it tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles?

Q42

Is the following region tileable with 2×12 \times 1 tiles?

Q43

Context: We are considering whether a given region can be tiled using 2×12 \times 1 tiles.

Q. What about this one?

Q44

Were you able to tile this? How can we be sure that this is not tileable? Can you find another unit square that, when removed from a 5×35 \times 3 grid, makes it non-tileable?

Q45

If the plain grid is tileable, is the black-and-white-grid tileable?

Q46

If the black-and-white grid is tileable, is the plain grid tileable?

Q47

Use this idea to find another unit square that, when removed from a 5×35 \times 3 grid, makes it non-tileable?

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