ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the formula for force?

mass ÷ acceleration

mass × acceleration (correct)

mass + acceleration

mass - acceleration

What are vector quantities?

Forces that have both size and direction

What does equilibrium refer to?

A stable situation in which forces cancel one another

What is velocity?

The speed and direction of a moving object Signup and view all the answers

What does acceleration mean?

The rate at which velocity changes Signup and view all the answers

Pressure is calculated as _____.

force (in pounds) ÷ area (in inches) Signup and view all the answers

How is work calculated?

Force × distance Signup and view all the answers

Tension is measured in _____?

Pounds-force or newtons Signup and view all the answers

Work is measured in _____?

Foot-pounds Signup and view all the answers

Power is calculated as _____?

Work ÷ time Signup and view all the answers

Power is measured in _____?

Horsepower (hp) Signup and view all the answers

1 horsepower is equivalent to _____?

33,000 foot-pounds per minute or 550 foot-pounds per second Signup and view all the answers

What is mechanical advantage?

When a machine multiplies the force you use Signup and view all the answers

Mechanical advantage can also be defined as _____?

Resistance ÷ effort = output force ÷ input force Signup and view all the answers

What is a fulcrum?

Point of support to reduce resistance and multiply the effect of effort Signup and view all the answers

What is the resistance arm?

The part of a lever that applies a force on an object Signup and view all the answers

What is the effort arm?

The part of a lever that you apply an input effort force to. Signup and view all the answers

To determine how much a lever reduces the amount of effort needed to do work, use _____?

Length of effort arm ÷ length of resistance arm = resistance force ÷ effort force Signup and view all the answers

The mechanical advantage of using a lever can be expressed as _____?

Effort arm ÷ resistance arm Signup and view all the answers

The mechanical advantage of using a ramp can be calculated as _____?

Length of ramp ÷ height of ramp = weight of object being moved ÷ force required to move object Signup and view all the answers

What are block and tackle pulleys used for?

Make lifting heavy objects easier or change the direction of the pull Signup and view all the answers

In a simple pulley system, the force must equal the weight of the object.

True Signup and view all the answers

What are gears used for?

Used to change direction, increase or decrease speed, or increase or decrease force Signup and view all the answers

If you have an even number of gears connected in a series, the first and last gear turn in the same direction.

False Signup and view all the answers

If you have an odd number of gears connected in a series, the first and last gear turn in the same direction.

True Signup and view all the answers

The speed at which a gear rotates depends on the _____?

Number of teeth Signup and view all the answers

What are bevel gears used for?

Used to connect gears that have shafts at different angles Signup and view all the answers

When connected by a system of belts, pulleys can _____?

Drive other pulleys Signup and view all the answers

How fast a pulley rotates depends on the diameter of the pulley in relation to _____?

The diameter of the pulley that's driving it Signup and view all the answers

What does a wheel and axle do?

Multiplies the effort used producing a greater force Signup and view all the answers

Describe the relationship of a wheel and axle system.

They are fixed together and turn at the same time; ex. using a steering wheel Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle?

The relationship between the radius of the wheel and the radius of the area to which force is being applied Signup and view all the answers

The distance between the ridges of the spiral on the screw of a vise is called the _____ of the thread.

Pitch Signup and view all the answers

The _____ the pitch of the thread, the farther the jaws of the vice move for each revolution of the handle.

Greater Signup and view all the answers

Larger pitches require _____ force to rotate the handle than screws with smaller pitches do.

More Signup and view all the answers

What is a hydraulic jack used for?

Uses a nearly incompressible liquid, such as oil, to exert force in order to move an object Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanical advantage of a hydraulic jack?

The ratio between the diameters of the two cylinders Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Mechanical Concepts

Force is defined as mass multiplied by acceleration.
Vector quantities refer to forces that possess both size and direction.
Equilibrium signifies a stable condition where opposing forces balance each other.

Motion and Energy

Velocity combines both speed and direction of a moving object.
Acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes over time.
Work is calculated as force multiplied by distance.
Power is derived from the relation of work over time.

Measurements

Tension is measured in pounds-force or newtons.
Work is quantified in foot-pounds.
Power's unit of measurement is horsepower (hp), defined as 33,000 foot-pounds per minute or 550 foot-pounds per second.

Mechanical Advantage

Mechanical advantage occurs when a machine amplifies the applied force.
For levers, mechanical advantage can be expressed through the formula: effort arm divided by resistance arm.
Ramp mechanical advantage is calculated by the length of the ramp over its height.

Lever Mechanics

The fulcrum acts as the support point that aids in reducing resistance and increasing the effect of effort.
The resistance arm is where the lever applies force to the object being moved.
The effort arm is where the input force is applied on the lever.

Systems and Gear Mechanics

Block and tackle pulleys simplify lifting heavy loads or redirect the pulling force.
A simple pulley requires that the pulling force equals the weight of the object.
Gears can alter direction, speed, and force ratio; the number of teeth determines the gear’s rotational speed.

Gear Interactions

Even-numbered gears connected in series will rotate in opposite directions.
Odd-numbered gears connected in series will rotate in the same direction.

Pulleys and Wheels

The rotation speed of a pulley is influenced by its diameter compared to the driving pulley.
Wheel and axle systems function together to magnify the applied effort, essentially turning the pedals of a bicycle.

Pitch and Threads

Pitch denotes the distance between spiral ridges on a screw.
A greater pitch results in the jaws of a vice moving farther for each turn of the handle.
Higher pitch screws require more force to turn than those with lower pitches.

Hydraulic Systems

A hydraulic jack operates by using an incompressible liquid, such as oil, to exert force and lift objects.
The mechanical advantage of a hydraulic jack derives from the diameter ratio of its two cylinders.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key mechanical comprehension concepts relevant to the ASVAB. This quiz covers essential definitions such as force, vector quantities, equilibrium, velocity, and acceleration. Perfect for ASVAB preparation or anyone interested in mechanical principles.