ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test 529764 Results

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

Review

1 If the green box weighs 10 lbs. and 65 lbs. of force is applied 1 ft. from the fulcrum at the blue arrow, how far from the fulcrum would the green box need to be placed to balance the lever?
55% Answer Correctly
2.17 ft.
10 ft.
6.5 ft.
1.63 ft.

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 da, our missing value, and plugging in our variables yields:

da = \( \frac{R_bd_b}{R_a} \) = \( \frac{65 lbs. \times 1 ft.}{10 lbs.} \) = \( \frac{65 ft⋅lb}{10 lbs.} \) = 6.5 ft.


2

Two or more pulleys used together are called:

71% Answer Correctly

gears

block and tackle

wheel and axle

third-class lever


Solution

Two or more pulleys used together constitute a block and tackle which, unlike a fixed pulley, does impart mechanical advantage as a function of the number of pulleys that make up the arrangement.  So, for example, a block and tackle with three pulleys would have a mechanical advantage of three.


3 If the green box weighs 15 lbs. and is 9 ft. from the fulcrum, how much weight would need to be placed at the blue arrow to balance the lever if the arrow's distance from the fulcrum is 8 ft.?
63% Answer Correctly
120 lbs.
16.88 lbs.
1 lbs.
50.63 lbs.

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 Rb, our missing value, and plugging in our variables yields:

Rb = \( \frac{R_ad_a}{d_b} \) = \( \frac{15 lbs. \times 9 ft.}{8 ft.} \) = \( \frac{135 ft⋅lb}{8 ft.} \) = 16.88 lbs.


4

When all forces acting on a system cancel each other out, this is called:

80% Answer Correctly

potential energy

equilibrium

stasis

rest


Solution

When a system is stable or balanced (equilibrium) all forces acting on the system cancel each other out. In the case of torque, equilibrium means that the sum of the anticlockwise moments about a center of rotation equal the sum of the clockwise moments.


5

For a hydraulic system, pressure applied to the input of the system will increase the pressure in which parts of the system?

58% Answer Correctly

the portions of the system at an altitude below the input

the portions of the system at an altitude above the input

all of these are correct

everywhere in the system


Solution

Pascal's law states that a pressure change occurring anywhere in a confined incompressible fluid is transmitted throughout the fluid such that the same change occurs everywhere. For a hydraulic system, this means that a pressure applied to the input of the system will increase the pressure everywhere in the system.