WTMA Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which of the following materials best conducts heat? → Copper
2. A lever with a mechanical advantage greater than 1 means: → The load arm is shorter than the effort arm
3. A rubber bumper on a car absorbs impact energy. Which physical property makes rubber effective for this purpose? → High elasticity and energy absorption
4. A conveyor belt moves at 10 ft/min and is driven by a drum 1 foot in diameter. The drum's rotational speed is approximately: → 3.18 RPM
5. Which type of gear is used to transmit motion between two shafts at a 90-degree angle? → Bevel gear
6. A leaf spring in a heavy truck absorbs road shock primarily by: → Bending along its arc
7. What is the electrical resistance of a perfect conductor? → Zero ohms
8. Why are chain drives preferred over belt drives in applications subject to heavy shock loads? → Chains have positive tooth engagement and do not rely on friction
9. An effort of 60 lb is applied 5 feet from the fulcrum on a first-class lever. What load can be balanced 3 feet from the fulcrum on the other side? → 100 lb
10. A gear pump operates by: → Meshing gear teeth to trap and move fluid from inlet to outlet
11. Which scenario shows Newton's third law of motion in action? → A rocket expels gas downward and rises upward
12. What happens to the brightness of bulbs in a series circuit as more bulbs are added? → Each bulb gets dimmer
13. Which of the following simple machines is used to lift heavy objects vertically? → Pulley
14. Gear backlash refers to: → The slight gap between meshing gear teeth
15. If the driving pulley is larger in diameter than the driven pulley, the driven shaft will: → Rotate faster than the driving shaft
16. When two meshing gears rotate, which statement is always true? → They rotate in opposite directions
17. Which wrench type is least likely to damage a soft or rounded fastener head? → Box-end (ring) wrench
18. A heavy crate and a light box are pushed with the same force on the same surface. Which accelerates faster? → The light box
19. Why are the handles of cooking pots often made of plastic or wood rather than metal? → Plastic and wood are poor heat conductors, keeping handles cool
20. A ship's ballast tanks are filled with water low in the hull during a storm. This practice: → Lowers the center of gravity, increasing stability in heavy seas
21. Which of the following is an example of a second-class lever? → Wheelbarrow
22. Which of the following actions would increase the kinetic friction between a moving sled and the snowy ground? → Adding more weight to the sled.
23. If a driving pulley's rotational speed doubles while all pulley diameters remain unchanged, the driven pulley's speed will: → Double as well
24. Two workers push a crate from opposite sides with equal force. What is the result? → The crate does not move
25. Which of the following materials is the best thermal conductor, meaning it allows heat to pass through it most easily? → Copper
26. Which situation would cause heat to conduct most rapidly through a wall? → Thin wall, large temperature difference
27. A block is sliding down a frictionless ramp. Which of the following forces is responsible for its acceleration down the ramp? → The component of gravity parallel to the ramp's surface.
28. A weightlifter holds a 100 kg barbell stationary above his head for 10 seconds. How much work is done on the barbell by the weightlifter during this time? → 0 Joules
29. What is the primary advantage of a V-belt over a flat belt for power transmission? → Higher friction grip and reduced slipping
30. Three springs, each with k = 30 lb/in, are connected in parallel and a 90-lb load is applied. How much does the assembly compress? → 1 inch