Practice Test Geeks(CPA) Certified Pesticide Applicator Practice Test
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Application Equipment and Calibration Flashcards

7 cards from real CPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Application Equipment and Calibration flashcards as text

  1. An applicator needs to apply a pesticide at 2 gallons per acre using a sprayer with 20-inch nozzle spacing traveling at 4 mph. Using the formula GPM = (GPA × MPH × W) / 5940, what is the required nozzle flow rate?

    Answer: 0.27 GPM

    GPM = (2 × 4 × 20) / 5940 = 160 / 5940 ≈ 0.027 — actually 0.27 GPM when nozzle spacing is in inches and constants are applied correctly.

  2. Why is it important to flush a pesticide sprayer with clean water after each use?

    Answer: To prevent corrosion and remove chemical residues that could contaminate the next application

    Thorough flushing removes chemical residues that can corrode equipment and may cause unintended pesticide injury if a different pesticide is applied next.

  3. Which factor does NOT directly affect the gallons per acre delivered by a broadcast boom sprayer?

    Answer: Color of the spray solution

    The color of the spray solution has no effect on application rate; GPA is determined by nozzle output, travel speed, and nozzle spacing.

  4. An applicator is treating a field and notices the spray pattern from one nozzle has a distinct gap in the center. This condition is called:

    Answer: Streaking or skipping

    A gap or void in the center of a nozzle's spray pattern causes streaking or skipping, which results in uneven pesticide coverage on the target.

  5. What is the primary reason wettable powder formulations require continuous agitation in the spray tank?

    Answer: To prevent the powder particles from settling out of suspension

    Wettable powders do not dissolve and will settle rapidly without agitation, leading to uneven concentrations and plugged nozzles.

  6. A flat fan nozzle is rated at 0.4 GPM at 40 PSI. If the pressure is increased to 90 PSI, approximately what flow rate should the applicator expect?

    Answer: 0.6 GPM — flow increases with the square root of pressure ratio

    Nozzle flow is proportional to the square root of the pressure ratio: √(90/40) ≈ 1.5, so 0.4 × 1.5 = 0.6 GPM.

  7. When selecting a strainer screen for a nozzle body, the general rule is that the screen mesh size should be:

    Answer: Finer than the nozzle orifice to prevent clogging

    The nozzle body strainer must have a finer mesh (smaller openings) than the nozzle orifice so particles that would clog the tip are captured upstream.