MECHANICAL APTITUDE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield MECHANICAL APTITUDE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A screw has 8 threads per inch. What is the mechanical advantage if the screwdriver handle has a circumference of 4 inches? → 32
2. Used largely in the same way as a brace, with the speed and flexibility of employing different accessories and bits being the difference. → Power Drill
3. Which simple machine is essentially an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder? → Screw
4. A concrete, marble, etc. cutting blade for a portable circular saw. → Abrasive Disk Blade
5. According to Archimedes' Principle, the buoyant force acting on a submerged object equals: → The weight of the fluid displaced by the object
6. What type of energy does a compressed spring store? → Elastic potential energy
7. Which type of lever always produces a mechanical advantage greater than 1, regardless of where the effort is applied? → Second-class lever
8. What among the following won't float on water? → scissors
9. Which of the following describes the function of a pressure relief valve in a hydraulic circuit? → It limits maximum system pressure to protect components
10. A first-class lever has the fulcrum exactly in the middle. What is its mechanical advantage? → 1
11. For a simply supported beam carrying a single concentrated load at its midpoint, maximum bending moment occurs at: → The center of the beam directly under the load
12. Which type of current periodically reverses its direction of flow? → Alternating current (AC)
13. An adiabatic process is one in which: → No heat is exchanged between the system and its surroundings
14. Employed to indicate or check angles on a work component. A protractor is typically used as a frame of reference. → T-Bevel
15. A feeler gauge is used to measure: → Small gaps or clearances between parts
16. A wire's resistance increases when which of the following changes occurs? → The wire length increases
17. Used to cut metal or thought steel using a flame produced by a mixture of oxygen and acetylene. → Cutting Torch (Acetylene Torch)
18. Which property of a material describes its ability to be drawn into wire without breaking? → Ductility
19. What is the primary function of a fuse in an electrical circuit? → To protect the circuit from excessive current
20. A 150 lb person stands at the center of a 10-foot plank supported at both ends. What is the reaction force at each support? → 75 lb
21. What type of wrench is adjustable to fit different sizes of fasteners? → Crescent wrench (adjustable wrench)
22. In a venturi meter, what happens at the narrowest section of the tube? → Pressure decreases and velocity increases
23. Used to add more torque when driving screws or manually drilling holes in wood. Several bits are compatible with this tool. → Brace
24. Which of the following claims regarding springs is FALSE? → Springs are simple machines as they make the object move
25. What are combined aptitude and knowledge tests called? → Achievement tests
26. What causes cavitation in a pump? → Fluid pressure dropping below its vapor pressure
27. A 500 lb object is hanging from a rope over a fixed pulley. The rope is pulled at an angle. What is the minimum tension needed to hold the object stationary? → 500 lbs
28. What is the SI unit of electrical charge? → Coulomb
29. What is the primary purpose of a flywheel in a mechanical system? → To store rotational energy and smooth out power delivery
30. Which valve type is best suited for fully open or fully closed service (not for throttling)? → Gate valve