FCTC FCTC Test Applying Mechanical Reasoning Questions and Answers 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A ramp is 10 feet long and 2 feet high. What is the mechanical advantage of using this inclined plane to push a load up it?
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 0.2
- 20
- 8
Correct answer: 5
Mechanical advantage of an inclined plane = ramp length / height = 10 / 2 = 5.
Question 2: Two pistons in a hydraulic system: the input piston has a 1 in² area and the output piston has a 9 in² area. The input piston moves down 9 inches. How far does the output piston move up?
- 1 inch (Correct answer)
- 9 inches
- 81 inches
- 3 inches
Correct answer: 1 inch
Volume displaced is equal: 1 in² × 9 in = 9 in³ = 9 in² × x, so x = 1 inch.
Question 3: A solid metal cylinder and a hollow metal tube of the same material and outer diameter are both used as columns supporting a load. Which is stronger?
- The solid cylinder (Correct answer)
- The hollow tube
- They are equally strong
- It depends on the load direction
Correct answer: The solid cylinder
A solid cylinder has more cross-sectional area and is stronger in compression than a hollow tube of the same outer diameter.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the function of a flywheel in an engine?
- Stores rotational energy to smooth out power pulses (Correct answer)
- Increases engine speed
- Reduces fuel consumption
- Converts linear motion to rotational motion
Correct answer: Stores rotational energy to smooth out power pulses
A flywheel stores kinetic energy during power strokes and releases it during non-power strokes to maintain steady rotation.
Question 5: A lever has its fulcrum 3 feet from a 90 lb load and 9 feet from the point where force is applied. What force is needed to lift the load?
- 30 lbs (Correct answer)
- 270 lbs
- 90 lbs
- 10 lbs
Correct answer: 30 lbs
Lever equilibrium: effort × effort arm = load × load arm → effort × 9 = 90 × 3, so effort = 30 lbs.
Question 6: What happens to the pressure in a fluid as depth increases?
- Pressure increases linearly with depth (Correct answer)
- Pressure decreases with depth
- Pressure stays constant
- Pressure increases exponentially with depth
Correct answer: Pressure increases linearly with depth
Fluid pressure increases linearly with depth according to P = ρgh, where ρ is density, g is gravity, and h is depth.
Question 7: A belt connects two pulleys: a 4-inch drive pulley and an 8-inch driven pulley. If the drive pulley turns at 1200 RPM, what is the speed of the driven pulley?
- 600 RPM (Correct answer)
- 2400 RPM
- 1200 RPM
- 300 RPM
Correct answer: 600 RPM
Belt-driven pulleys: RPM_driven = RPM_drive × (diameter_drive / diameter_driven) = 1200 × (4/8) = 600 RPM.
FCTC FCTC Test Applying Mechanical Reasoning Questions and Answers 4
A ramp is 10 feet long and 2 feet high.
What is the mechanical advantage of using this inclined plane to push a load up it?