ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Principles Flashcards
6 cards from real ASVAB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Principles flashcards as text
A block weighing 100 pounds sits on a surface. If the coefficient of friction is 0.3, what force is needed to start sliding it?
Answer: 30 pounds
Friction force = coefficient of friction × normal force = 0.3 × 100 = 30 pounds.
Which type of energy does a compressed spring have?
Answer: Potential energy
A compressed spring stores elastic potential energy. When released, this potential energy converts to kinetic energy as the spring returns to its natural shape.
What does a cam do in a mechanical system?
Answer: Converts rotary motion into linear motion
A cam is a rotating piece that converts rotary motion into linear (reciprocating) motion. As the cam rotates, its irregular shape pushes a follower up and down in a straight line.
What is the mechanical advantage of a screw with a pitch of 0.25 inches and a circumference of 3 inches?
Answer: 12
Mechanical advantage of a screw = circumference ÷ pitch = 3 ÷ 0.25 = 12.
Two gears are meshed together. If they rotate in opposite directions, what is the minimum number of gears in the system?
Answer: 2
When two gears mesh directly, they rotate in opposite directions. An odd number of gears results in the last gear turning opposite to the first; an even number results in the same direction.
What principle explains why a boat floats?
Answer: Archimedes' principle
Archimedes' principle states that an object immersed in fluid experiences a buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. A boat floats because it displaces water equal to its own weight.