ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test 768503 Results

Your Results Global Average
Questions 5 5
Correct 0 3.02
Score 0% 60%

Review

1

Two or more pulleys used together are called:

71% Answer Correctly

third-class lever

wheel and axle

block and tackle

gears


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.


2 If the green box weighs 35 lbs. and is 5 ft. from the fulcrum, how much force would need to be applied at the blue arrow to balance the lever if the arrow's distance from the fulcrum is 9 ft.?
62% Answer Correctly
4.86 lbs.
19.44 lbs.
315 lbs.
77.78 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 Rb, our missing value, and plugging in our variables yields:

Rb = \( \frac{R_ad_a}{d_b} \) = \( \frac{35 lbs. \times 5 ft.}{9 ft.} \) = \( \frac{175 ft⋅lb}{9 ft.} \) = 19.44 lbs.


3

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

77% Answer Correctly

marble

concrete

steel

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 mechanical advantage of a third class lever is always:

37% Answer Correctly

equal to one

greater than one

less than one

not equal to one


Solution

A third class lever is designed to multiply distance and speed at the expense of effort force. Because the effort force is greater than the resistance, the mechanical advantage of a third class lever is always less than one.

An example of a third class lever is a broom. The fulcrum is at your hand on the end of the broom, the effort force is your other hand in the middle, and the resistance is at the bottom bristles. The effort force of your hand in the middle multiplies the distance and speed of the bristles at the bottom but at the expense of producing a brushing force that's less than the force you're applying with your hand.


5

Which class of lever is used to increase force on an object in the same direction as the force is applied?

53% Answer Correctly

first

second

all of these

third


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.