ASVAB Diagnostic Test

Part 8: Mechanical Comprehension (MC)

19 Minutes 25 Questions

  3. Directions: In this section, you will be tested on your knowledge of mechanics and basic physics. Select the best answer for each question and mark the corresponding oval on your answer sheet.

  4. Torque is
    1. the degree to which a force causes an object to rotate
    2. the same as horsepower
    3. a push or pull
    4. a force that travels in a circle
  5. Speed is different from velocity because
    1. speed is measured in metric units while velocity is measured in English units
    2. velocity involves both speed and direction
    3. speed involves both velocity and direction
    4. velocity is a scalar quantity
  6. Compared to a smaller mass, a larger mass requires force to achieve the same acceleration rate.
    1. less
    2. more
    3. the same
    4. varying
  7. Which of the following statements about force is NOT true?
    1. Force is a scalar quantity
    2. Force is a push or pull
    3. Greater force results in greater acceleration
    4. Smaller masses require less force to achieve the same acceleration as larger masses
  8. Mechanical advantage is the advantage gained by the use of in transmitting force.
    1. power
    2. a transformer
    3. a mechanism
    4. an engine
  9. A hockey puck sliding on the ice
    1. has no net force acting on it
    2. would slide forever if the rink was long enough
    3. has speed, but not velocity
    4. experiences kinetic friction
  10. If gear A turns in a counterclockwise direction, how does gear B turn?
    image
    1. in a counterclockwise direction
    2. in a clockwise direction
    3. remains stationary
    4. turns more slowly than gear A
  11. Which of the following statements about weight is NOT true?
    1. Weight increases closer to earth’s surface.
    2. Weight is not totally dependent on mass.
    3. Weight is greater on planets with greater mass.
    4. Weight varies from location to location.
  12. While attempting to push a heavy box across the floor
    1. the amount of force required to start the box sliding is less than that required to keep it sliding
    2. the amount of work being done is not dependent on how far the box moves
    3. the coefficient of static friction is dependent on the nature of the surface the box is resting on
    4. the mass of the box does not affect the amount of force required
  13. Which of the following represents the mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle system where the driven wheel has a radius of 10" and the drive wheel has a diameter of 5"?
    1. 4:1
    2. 2:1
    3. 1:2
    4. 1:4
  14. If it takes a force of 20 pounds to stretch the spring one inch, how much force must be applied to stretch the spring three inches?
    image
    1. 180 pounds
    2. 60 pounds
    3. 20 pounds
    4. 6.67 pounds
  15. In order to apply more torque to a bolt, a mechanic could
    1. use a longer wrench
    2. apply less force to the wrench
    3. use a shorter wrench
    4. move the wrench more quickly
  16. A vehicle travels at a constant speed on the highway. It can be said that
    1. its acceleration rate is less than zero
    2. the net force acting on the vehicle are zero
    3. the force applied by the vehicle’s drive wheels is greater than the forces that act to slow the vehicle
    4. it is accelerating at a constant rate
  17. The two water towers below are of equal size and height above the ground. If both towers are completely full and their valves are opened, which of the following statements is true?
    image
    1. The two towers will release the same amount of water.
    2. Tower B will release more water than tower A.
    3. Tower A will release water three times as fast as tower B.
    4. Tower A will release more water than tower B.
  18. Two signs of equal weight are attached to a beam, using cords of equal length. Which of the following statements is true?
    image
    1. All cords have the same amount of tension because the signs are of equal weight
    2. The cord holding sign A is under twice the tension of the cords holding sign B
    3. The cords holding sign B are under the tension of the cord holding sign A
    4. The cords holding sign B are under the tension of the cord holding sign A
  19. The illustration below is an example of which kind of lever?
    image
    1. first-class lever
    2. second-class lever
    3. third-class lever
    4. this is not a lever
  20. If a vehicle accelerates from a standstill at a rate of its velocity after 10 seconds will be
  21. A wheelbarrow, as pictured below, is an example of
    image
    1. a second-class lever
    2. a pulley system
    3. a third-class lever
    4. a crank
  22. The gears in the illustration all have the same number of teeth. If gear X moves clockwise, which statement about gear Y is true?
    image
    1. Gear Y moves counterclockwise.
    2. Gear Y moves twice as fast as gear X.
    3. Gear Y moves more slowly than gear X.
    4. Gear Y moves clockwise.
  23. One pound of force is applied to move an object a distance of one foot. How much work has been done?
    1. 1 foot-pound
    2. 1 watt
    3. 2 foot-pounds
    4. 1 hertz
  24. Which of the following statements about energy is NOT true?
    1. Energy cannot be created.
    2. The amount of energy in the universe is slowly diminishing.
    3. Energy cannot be destroyed.
    4. Energy can be converted from one form into another.
  25. The two pulleys shown have equal weight to move. Which of the following statements is true?
    image
    1. The pulleys require the same force to counteract the weight of the object.
    2. Pulley B will not move the weight.
    3. Pulley A requires less force to counteract the weight of the object.
    4. Pulley B requires less force to counteract the weight of the object.
  26. Which of the following is NOT a true statement about the principles that underlie hydraulics?
    1. Liquids conform to the shape of their container.
    2. A liquid can be dramatically compressed in order to increase the amount of force the liquid can transfer.
    3. A liquid is effectively incompressible.
    4. When pressure is applied to a completely enclosed fluid, this pressure is transmitted to all parts of the fluid and the enclosing walls.
  27. Efficiency of a machine is determined by
    1. how much horsepower it can produce
    2. how much energy it consumes
    3. how much of the source energy is converted into usable energy
    4. how long the machine can operate at full output
  28. In order to hit a baseball so that the ball has greater velocity, the player must
    1. hit the ball with less force
    2. make contact with the ball for a longer period of time
    3. apply more torque to the ball
    4. hit the ball so that it travels at roughly a 45° angle relative to the ground