WTMA Hydraulics and Fluid Dynamics 2

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

500 lbs

Answer

Pascal's law: force scales with area ratio, so 50 × (20/2) = 500 lbs.

Question 2

Water flows through a pipe that narrows from 4 inches to 2 inches in diameter. What happens to the flow velocity in the narrow section?

Accepted Answer

It quadruples

Answer

Area decreases by a factor of 4 (diameter halved), so by continuity the velocity quadruples.

Question 3

Which property of a fluid describes its resistance to flow?

Accepted Answer

Viscosity

Answer

Viscosity is the measure of a fluid's internal friction and resistance to flow.

Question 4

In a closed hydraulic system, if you increase pressure at one point, what happens throughout the system?

Accepted Answer

Pressure increases equally everywhere

Answer

Pascal's principle states that pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally in all directions.

Question 5

A pipe carries oil at 10 gallons per minute through a 2-inch diameter section. The pipe then splits into two equal branches. How much flow goes through each branch?

Accepted Answer

5 gallons per minute

Answer

By continuity, total flow is conserved, so each equal branch carries half: 10/2 = 5 gpm.

WTMA - Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude Practice Test

WTMA - Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude Practice Test

WTMA Hydraulics and Fluid Dynamics 2