FCTC FCTC Mechanical Reasoning Principles Questions and Answers 5

Question 1

A compound pulley system has 4 rope segments supporting the load. What is its mechanical advantage?

Accepted Answer

4

Answer

In a pulley system, mechanical advantage equals the number of rope segments supporting the movable block, which is 4.

Question 2

An object weighing 80 lbs is placed on a frictionless inclined plane angled at 30°. What force parallel to the ramp is needed to hold the object in place?

Accepted Answer

40 lbs

Answer

The force needed equals weight × sin(30°) = 80 × 0.5 = 40 lbs.

Question 3

Gear A (8 teeth) drives Gear B (16 teeth), which is on the same shaft as Gear C (8 teeth), which drives Gear D (32 teeth). What is the overall gear ratio from A to D?

Accepted Answer

8:1

Answer

Ratio A to B = 2:1; ratio C to D = 4:1; total ratio = 2 × 4 = 8:1 speed reduction.

Question 4

A refrigerator weighing 300 lbs is rolled up a 15-foot ramp to a platform 5 feet high. What is the ideal mechanical advantage of the ramp?

Accepted Answer

3

Answer

MA = ramp length ÷ ramp height = 15 ÷ 5 = 3.

Question 5

What principle explains why a wider tire provides more traction on soft ground than a narrow tire of the same weight?

Accepted Answer

Greater surface area reduces pressure per square inch

Answer

Pressure = force ÷ area; spreading the same weight over a larger area reduces pressure per square inch, preventing the tire from sinking into soft terrain.

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FCTC FCTC Mechanical Reasoning Principles Questions and Answers 5