Mechanical Aptitude Mechanical Aptitude Ultimate 2

Question 1

A hydraulic jack uses a small piston with an area of 2 sq in and a large piston with an area of 20 sq in. If you apply 50 lbs of force to the small piston, what force does the large piston exert?

Accepted Answer

500 lbs

Answer

Pascal's law states that pressure is equal throughout, so force scales with the ratio of areas: 50 × (20/2) = 500 lbs.

Question 2

Which type of wrench provides the best grip on a rounded bolt head?

Accepted Answer

Box-end wrench

Answer

A box-end wrench fully surrounds the bolt head and contacts more points, reducing the chance of slipping on a rounded head.

Question 3

A conveyor belt runs over two pulleys: a drive pulley (diameter 12 in) and an idler pulley (diameter 6 in). If the drive pulley rotates at 100 RPM, how fast does the idler pulley rotate?

Accepted Answer

200 RPM

Answer

Belt speed is constant, so the smaller pulley must spin faster: 100 × (12/6) = 200 RPM.

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of a snap ring (circlip) in a mechanical assembly?

Accepted Answer

To retain a shaft or component within a bore or on a shaft

Answer

Snap rings fit into grooves and act as shoulders to prevent axial movement of shafts or components.

Question 5

Water flows through a pipe that narrows from 4 inches in diameter to 2 inches in diameter. What happens to the water's velocity?

Accepted Answer

It quadruples

Answer

By continuity, flow rate is constant, and area decreases by a factor of 4 (π×1² vs π×2²), so velocity must increase by a factor of 4.

Mechanical Aptitude Test Practice Test

Mechanical Aptitude Test Practice Test

Mechanical Aptitude Mechanical Aptitude Ultimate 2