ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test 224338 Results

Your Results Global Average
Questions 5 5
Correct 0 3.29
Score 0% 66%

Review

1 If 30 lbs. of force is applied 9 ft. from the fulcrum at the blue arrow and the green box is 5 ft. from the fulcrum, how much would the green box have to weigh to balance the lever?
62% Answer Correctly
3 lbs.
54 lbs.
216 lbs.
108 lbs.

Solution

To balance this lever the torques at the green box and the blue arrow must be equal. Torque is weight x distance from the fulcrum so the equation for equilibrium is:

Rada = Rbdb

where a represents the green box and b the blue arrow, R is resistance (weight/force) and d is the distance from the fulcrum.

Solving for Ra, our missing value, and plugging in our variables yields:

Ra = \( \frac{R_bd_b}{d_a} \) = \( \frac{30 lbs. \times 9 ft.}{5 ft.} \) = \( \frac{270 ft⋅lb}{5 ft.} \) = 54 lbs.


2

What type of load varies with time or affects a structure that experiences a high degree of movement?

66% Answer Correctly

impact load

concentrated load

static load

dynamic load


Solution

A concentrated load acts on a relatively small area of a structure, a static uniformly distributed load doesn't create specific stress points or vary with time, a dynamic load varies with time or affects a structure that experiences a high degree of movement, an impact load is sudden and for a relatively short duration and a non-uniformly distributed load creates different stresses at different locations on a structure.


3

Which of the following surfaces would have the lowest coefficient of friction?

85% Answer Correctly

leather

concrete

tile

ice


Solution

Coefficient of friction (μ) represents how much two materials resist sliding across each other.  Smooth surfaces like ice have low coefficients of friction while rough surfaces like concrete have high μ.


4 The radius of the axle is 3, the radius of the wheel is 8, and the blue box weighs 80 lbs. What is the effort force necessary to balance the load?
53% Answer Correctly
24 lbs.
10.67 lbs.
8 lbs.
29.96 lbs.

Solution

The mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle is the input radius divided by the output radius:

MA = \( \frac{r_i}{r_o} \)

In this case, the input radius (where the effort force is being applied) is 8 and the output radius (where the resistance is being applied) is 3 for a mechanical advantage of \( \frac{8}{3} \) = 2.67

MA = \( \frac{load}{effort} \) so effort = \( \frac{load}{MA} \) = \( \frac{80 lbs.}{2.67} \) = 29.96 lbs.


5 If the green box weighs 25 lbs. and is 7 ft. from the fulcrum, how far from the fulcrum would a 30 lbs. weight need to be placed to balance the lever?
61% Answer Correctly
3 ft.
23.33 ft.
5.83 ft.
1.94 ft.

Solution

To balance this lever the torques on each side of the fulcrum must be equal. Torque is weight x distance from the fulcrum so the equation for equilibrium is:

Rada = Rbdb

where a represents the left side of the fulcrum and b the right, R is resistance (weight) and d is the distance from the fulcrum.

Solving for db, our missing value, and plugging in our variables yields:

db = \( \frac{R_ad_a}{R_b} \) = \( \frac{25 lbs. \times 7 ft.}{30 lbs.} \) = \( \frac{175 ft⋅lb}{30 lbs.} \) = 5.83 ft.