Mechanical and Spatial Reasoning Flashcards

A ball is thrown horizontally from a cliff. Ignoring air resistance, what happens to its horizontal speed as it falls?

Answer: It remains constant.

Gravity acts only vertically; without air resistance, horizontal velocity remains constant throughout the fall.

Which shape has the most structural strength when used as a construction element?

Answer: Triangle

Triangles distribute load evenly and cannot deform without changing side lengths, making them the strongest structural shape.

Two pulleys are connected by a belt. Pulley A has a diameter of 10 cm and rotates at 100 RPM. Pulley B has a diameter of 5 cm. How fast does Pulley B rotate?

Answer: 200 RPM

Belt speed is constant; RPM ratio is inversely proportional to diameter: 100 × (10/5) = 200 RPM.

A cube is painted red on all sides and then cut into 27 equal smaller cubes. How many small cubes have exactly 2 red faces?

Answer: 12

Edge cubes (not corner, not face center) have exactly 2 painted faces; a 3×3×3 cube has 12 edge positions.

A ramp reduces the force needed to lift an object. If a 300-lb object is lifted using a 6-foot ramp to raise it 2 feet, what is the mechanical advantage?

Answer: 3

Mechanical advantage of a ramp = ramp length ÷ height = 6 ÷ 2 = 3.

If you fold a square piece of paper in half twice and then punch a hole through all layers, how many holes appear when unfolded?

Answer: 4

Each fold doubles the layers; two folds create 4 layers, so one hole punch creates 4 holes when unfolded.