ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test 55136 Results

Your Results Global Average
Questions 5 5
Correct 0 3.12
Score 0% 62%

Review

1

A wedge is most similar to what other type of simple machine?

70% Answer Correctly

first-class lever

third-class lever

second-class lever

inclined plane


Solution

The wedge is a moving inclined plane that is used to lift, hold, or break apart an object. A wedge converts force applied to its blunt end into force perpendicular to its inclined surface. In contrast to a stationary plane where force is applied to the object being moved, with a wedge the object is stationary and the force is being applied to the plane. Examples of a wedge include knives and chisels.


2

Drag is a type of:

82% Answer Correctly

kinetic energy

work

potential energy

friction


Solution

Drag is friction that opposes movement through a fluid like liquid or air. The amount of drag depends on the shape and speed of the object with slower objects experiencing less drag than faster objects and more aerodynamic objects experiencing less drag than those with a large leading surface area.


3

Which of the following will increase the mechanical advantage of a second-class lever?

55% Answer Correctly

move the fulcrum between the force and the object being lifted

move the object being lifted farther away from the fulcrum

move the object being lifted closer to the fulcrum

decrease the length of the lever


Solution

A second-class lever is used to increase force on an object in the same direction as the force is applied. This lever requires a smaller force to lift a larger load but the force must be applied over a greater distance. The fulcrum is placed at one end of the lever and mechanical advantage increases as the object being lifted is moved closer to the fulcrum or the length of the lever is increased. An example of a second-class lever is a wheelbarrow.


4

Specific gravity is a comparison of the density of an object with the density of:

57% Answer Correctly

oil

air

carbon

water


Solution

Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of equal volumes of a substance and water and is measured by a hyrdometer.


5 If this lever is in equilibrium with an effort force of 7.78 ft. lb. at the blue arrow and a resistance force of 7 ft. lb. at the green box, what is its mechanical advantage?
48% Answer Correctly
2.7
1.35
0.9
0.81

Solution

Mechanical advantage (MA) is the ratio by which effort force relates to resistance force. If both forces are known, calculating MA is simply a matter of dividing resistance force by effort force:

MA = \( \frac{F_r}{F_e} \) = \( \frac{7 ft.}{7.78 ft.} \) = 0.9

In this case, the mechanical advantage is less than one meaning that each unit of effort force results in just 0.9 units of resistance force. However, a third class lever like this isn't designed to multiply force like a first class lever. A third class lever is designed to multiply distance and speed at the resistance by sacrificing force at the resistance. Different lever styles have different purposes and multiply forces in different ways.