ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Test 3

Question 1

A hydraulic jack uses a small piston with area 2 in² and a large piston with area 20 in². If you apply 50 lbs of force to the small piston, what force does the large piston exert?

Accepted Answer

500 lbs

Answer

Pascal's Law states force is multiplied by the ratio of areas: 50 × (20/2) = 500 lbs.

Question 2

A wrench handle is 12 inches long. A second wrench handle is 18 inches long. How much more torque does the longer wrench produce with the same force?

Accepted Answer

1.5 times more

Answer

Torque = force × distance; 18/12 = 1.5, so the longer wrench produces 1.5 times the torque.

Question 3

Two gears mesh together. Gear A has 10 teeth and Gear B has 40 teeth. If Gear A spins at 200 RPM, how fast does Gear B spin?

Accepted Answer

50 RPM

Answer

Gear speed is inversely proportional to tooth count: 200 × (10/40) = 50 RPM.

Question 4

A spring with a spring constant of 8 N/m is compressed 0.5 m. How much potential energy is stored?

Accepted Answer

1 J

Answer

Elastic potential energy = ½kx² = ½ × 8 × 0.25 = 1 J.

Question 5

A wheel and axle system has a wheel radius of 15 cm and an axle radius of 3 cm. What is the mechanical advantage?

Accepted Answer

5

Answer

Mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle = wheel radius / axle radius = 15/3 = 5.

ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Practice Test

ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Practice Test

ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Test 3