FCTC Mechanical Reasoning Principles Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A wheel with a radius of 2 feet is attached to an axle with a radius of 0.5 feet. If a force of 10 lbs is applied to the wheel, what force is exerted at the axle?

Accepted Answer

40 lbs

Answer

Mechanical advantage = wheel radius ÷ axle radius = 2 ÷ 0.5 = 4, so force at axle = 10 × 4 = 40 lbs.

Question 2

Two pistons are connected in a hydraulic system. Piston A has an area of 5 sq in and Piston B has an area of 25 sq in. If 50 lbs of force is applied to Piston A, what force does Piston B exert?

Accepted Answer

250 lbs

Answer

Pascal's Law: Force B = Force A × (Area B / Area A) = 50 × (25/5) = 250 lbs.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

1 J

Answer

Spring potential energy = ½ × k × x² = ½ × 8 × 0.25 = 1 J.

Question 4

Which type of gear arrangement reverses the direction of rotation between the input and output shaft?

Accepted Answer

Two external spur gears meshed together

Answer

When two external spur gears mesh, they rotate in opposite directions.

Question 5

A pipe carrying water narrows from a diameter of 4 inches to 2 inches. What happens to the water's velocity in the narrower section?

Accepted Answer

It quadruples

Answer

By the continuity equation, area decreases by a factor of 4 (radius halved), so velocity must increase fourfold to maintain flow rate.

FCTC Test Practice Test

FCTC Test Practice Test

FCTC Mechanical Reasoning Principles Questions and Answers 3