Apprenticeship Exam Mechanical Aptitude and Principles

Question 1

A first-class lever has the fulcrum positioned:

Accepted Answer

Between the effort and the load

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

30 RPM

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

It changes the direction of the applied force without reducing effort

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

4

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

5

Answer

The mechanical advantage of an inclined plane equals its length divided by its height: 10 ft ÷ 2 ft = 5.

Apprenticeship Exam Practice Test