FCTC Pulleys, Gears, and Levers 5

Question 1

A pulley system requires a worker to pull 12 feet of rope to raise a load 3 feet. What is the mechanical advantage of the system?

Accepted Answer

4

Answer

Mechanical advantage = rope pulled ÷ load distance = 12 ÷ 3 = 4.

Question 2

A nutcracker is an example of which class of lever?

Accepted Answer

Second-class

Answer

A nutcracker is a second-class lever — the fulcrum is at the hinge end, effort is at the handles, and the nut (load) is in the middle.

Question 3

In a gear train, which gear arrangement is used to convert rotational motion into linear (straight-line) motion?

Accepted Answer

Rack and pinion

Answer

A rack and pinion system converts the rotational motion of a circular gear (pinion) into the linear motion of a flat toothed bar (rack).

Question 4

If friction is present in a pulley system, how does it affect the actual mechanical advantage compared to the theoretical value?

Accepted Answer

Actual MA is lower than theoretical

Answer

Friction reduces the actual mechanical advantage because some input force is lost overcoming friction, meaning more effort is needed than theory predicts.

Question 5

A lever has a load of 300 lbs placed 2 feet from the fulcrum. How far from the fulcrum must a 100-lb effort be applied to balance the lever?

Accepted Answer

6 feet

Answer

Using the lever principle: Load × Load arm = Effort × Effort arm → 300 × 2 = 100 × x → x = 6 feet.

FCTC Test Practice Test

FCTC Test Practice Test

FCTC Pulleys, Gears, and Levers 5