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. What type of energy does a compressed spring store? → Elastic potential energy
6. What among the following won't float on water? → scissors
7. 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
8. Which type of current periodically reverses its direction of flow? → Alternating current (AC)
9. An adiabatic process is one in which: → No heat is exchanged between the system and its surroundings
10. Employed to indicate or check angles on a work component. A protractor is typically used as a frame of reference. → T-Bevel
11. A wire's resistance increases when which of the following changes occurs? → The wire length increases
12. Used to cut metal or thought steel using a flame produced by a mixture of oxygen and acetylene. → Cutting Torch (Acetylene Torch)
13. What is the primary function of a fuse in an electrical circuit? → To protect the circuit from excessive current
14. 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
15. What type of wrench is adjustable to fit different sizes of fasteners? → Crescent wrench (adjustable wrench)
16. In a venturi meter, what happens at the narrowest section of the tube? → Pressure decreases and velocity increases
17. Used to add more torque when driving screws or manually drilling holes in wood. Several bits are compatible with this tool. → Brace
18. Which of the following claims regarding springs is FALSE? → Springs are simple machines as they make the object move
19. What are combined aptitude and knowledge tests called? → Achievement tests
20. What causes cavitation in a pump? → Fluid pressure dropping below its vapor pressure
21. What is the primary purpose of a flywheel in a mechanical system? → To store rotational energy and smooth out power delivery
22. A gear with 60 teeth drives a gear with 20 teeth. What is the gear ratio? → 3:1
23. A ball is thrown straight up into the air. At the highest point of its trajectory, what is its velocity? → Zero
24. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's: → Resistance to flow
25. What type of pliers has long, narrow jaws designed for reaching into tight spaces? → Needle-nose pliers
26. What is the primary purpose of a ball-peen hammer? → Shaping and peening metal
27. Two gears are in mesh. Gear A has 15 teeth and Gear B has 30 teeth. If Gear A rotates clockwise, what will happen to Gear B? → It will rotate counter-clockwise at half the speed.
28. What is the purpose of a feeler gauge? → To measure the width of small gaps between surfaces
29. What is the center of gravity of an object? → The point where all the weight can be considered to act
30. What type of pliers is specifically designed for gripping and turning round objects like pipes? → Tongue-and-groove pliers