ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Principles 2

Question 1

What type of lever has the fulcrum between the effort and the load?

Accepted Answer

First-class lever

Answer

A first-class lever has the fulcrum between the effort (input force) and the load (output force). Examples include a seesaw, crowbar, and scissors.

Question 2

What happens to pressure when the area over which a force is applied decreases?

Accepted Answer

Pressure increases

Answer

Pressure = Force ÷ Area. When the area decreases while force remains constant, pressure increases. This is why a sharp knife cuts better than a dull one — the same force is applied over a smaller area.

Question 3

A 200-pound object is lifted 6 feet using a lever with a mechanical advantage of 4. How much force is needed?

Accepted Answer

50 pounds

Answer

Force needed = Load ÷ Mechanical Advantage = 200 ÷ 4 = 50 pounds.

Question 4

What is torque?

Accepted Answer

A rotational force applied at a distance from a pivot point

Answer

Torque is the rotational equivalent of force. It equals force multiplied by the distance from the pivot point (torque = force × lever arm). It causes objects to rotate.

Question 5

In a hydraulic system, what happens when pressure is applied to a confined fluid?

Accepted Answer

The pressure is transmitted equally in all directions

Answer

Pascal's Law states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted undiminished in all directions. This principle is the basis for hydraulic systems used in brakes, lifts, and heavy machinery.

ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Practice Test

ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Practice Test

ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Principles 2