OFAI OFAI - Firefighter Aptitude Test Ontario Mechanical Aptitude and Physical Sciences Questions and Answers 1

Question 1

A firefighter is using a lever to lift a heavy object. If the effort arm is 6 feet and the load arm is 2 feet, what is the mechanical advantage?

Accepted Answer

3

Answer

Mechanical advantage equals the effort arm length divided by the load arm length: 6 ÷ 2 = 3.

Question 2

Water is being pumped through a hose. If the hose diameter is decreased, what happens to the water pressure at the nozzle?

Accepted Answer

It increases

Answer

Reducing hose diameter increases water velocity and pressure at the nozzle due to the Venturi effect and conservation of energy.

Question 3

A pulley system has 4 rope segments supporting a load. What is the mechanical advantage of this system?

Accepted Answer

4

Answer

In a block-and-tackle pulley system, the mechanical advantage equals the number of rope segments supporting the load.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes why a firefighter should not cut an electrical wire under tension?

Accepted Answer

The wire may snap back and cause injury

Answer

A wire under tension stores potential energy and can snap back violently when cut, posing a serious injury risk.

Question 5

A fire engine pump is rated at 1,000 gallons per minute (GPM). If two hose lines each require 250 GPM, how many such lines can the pump fully supply?

Accepted Answer

4

Answer

Dividing the total pump capacity (1,000 GPM) by the flow required per line (250 GPM) gives 4 fully supplied lines.

OFAI - Firefighter Aptitude Test Ontario Practice Test