Apprenticeship Exam Mechanical Aptitude and Principles 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A first-class lever has the fulcrum positioned:
- At the same point as the load
- Between the effort and the load (Correct answer)
- At one end of the lever
- Beyond the load on the far side
Correct answer: Between the effort and the load
In a first-class lever, the fulcrum is always located between the effort force and the load, as in a crowbar or seesaw.
Question 2: Two meshing gears have 20 teeth and 40 teeth. If the smaller gear rotates at 60 RPM, what is the speed of the larger gear?
- 120 RPM
- 30 RPM (Correct answer)
- 60 RPM
- 15 RPM
Correct answer: 30 RPM
Gear speed is inversely proportional to tooth count; the larger gear (40 teeth) rotates at half the speed of the smaller: 20/40 × 60 = 30 RPM.
Question 3: A single fixed pulley changes which of the following?
- It reduces the amount of force needed to lift a load
- It multiplies force by the number of rope segments
- It changes the direction of the applied force without reducing effort (Correct answer)
- It moves along with the load being lifted
Correct answer: It changes the direction of the applied force without reducing effort
A single fixed pulley only redirects force (allowing a downward pull to lift a load upward) but provides no mechanical advantage.
Question 4: What is the mechanical advantage of a lever with a 4-foot effort arm and a 1-foot resistance arm?
- 1
- 2
- 4 (Correct answer)
- 8
Correct answer: 4
Mechanical advantage of a lever equals the effort arm divided by the resistance arm: 4 ft ÷ 1 ft = 4.
Question 5: An inclined plane is 10 feet long with a vertical rise of 2 feet. What is its mechanical advantage?
- 2
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 10
- 20
Correct answer: 5
The mechanical advantage of an inclined plane equals its length divided by its height: 10 ft ÷ 2 ft = 5.
Question 6: In a hydraulic system, a piston with an area of 2 square inches receives a force of 10 pounds. What pressure is generated?
- 2 psi
- 5 psi (Correct answer)
- 10 psi
- 20 psi
Correct answer: 5 psi
Pressure equals force divided by area: 10 lbs ÷ 2 sq in = 5 psi.
Question 7: A wheel and axle is most similar in operating principle to which simple machine?
- Inclined plane
- Wedge
- Lever (Correct answer)
- Pulley
Correct answer: Lever
A wheel and axle operates on the same rotational principle as a lever, with the wheel acting as the effort arm and the axle as the resistance arm.
Apprenticeship Exam Mechanical Aptitude and Principles 1
A first-class lever has the fulcrum positioned: