Firefighter Tools and Mechanical Reasoning 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A large gear with 40 teeth drives a small gear with 10 teeth. The small gear turns how many times for each full turn of the large gear?
- 1 time
- 2 times
- 4 times (Correct answer)
- 10 times
Correct answer: 4 times
The tooth ratio is 40:10, so the small gear turns 4 times per large-gear revolution.
Question 2: Which hand tool would a firefighter use to cut through a chain-link fence quickly?
- Bolt cutters (Correct answer)
- Screwdriver
- Putty knife
- Torque wrench
Correct answer: Bolt cutters
Bolt cutters provide the leverage needed to sever metal links and small chains.
Question 3: When two people carry a ladder, balancing the weight evenly between them is an example of distributing what?
- Voltage
- Load (Correct answer)
- Heat
- Sound
Correct answer: Load
Sharing the ladder's weight evenly distributes the load between both carriers.
Question 4: A wedge, such as an axe head, converts a downward force into forces acting in which direction?
- Straight back up
- Outward to the sides (Correct answer)
- In a circle
- There is no force change
Correct answer: Outward to the sides
A wedge splits material by turning downward force into sideways forces.
Question 5: If a hydraulic system multiplies force, applying pressure to a small piston produces a larger force on which piston?
- The same small piston
- A larger piston (Correct answer)
- No piston
- A spinning piston
Correct answer: A larger piston
Hydraulic systems multiply force by transmitting pressure to a larger-area piston.
Question 6: Which type of valve allows water to flow in only one direction in a pumping system?
- Check valve (Correct answer)
- Globe valve
- Gate valve
- Ball valve
Correct answer: Check valve
A check valve permits flow in one direction and prevents backflow.
Question 7: A 20-foot extension ladder is placed against a wall. The recommended base distance from the wall should be about what fraction of the working length?
- One-half
- One-quarter (Correct answer)
- One-tenth
- Equal to the height
Correct answer: One-quarter
The 4-to-1 rule places the base about one-quarter of the working length from the wall.
Firefighter Tools and Mechanical Reasoning 3
A large gear with 40 teeth drives a small gear with 10 teeth.
The small gear turns how many times for each full turn of the large gear?