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Applying Mechanical Reasoning Flashcards

7 cards from real FCTC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Applying Mechanical Reasoning flashcards as text

  1. A steel I-beam is used rather than a solid rectangular beam of the same weight. What is the main advantage of the I-beam shape?

    Answer: It resists bending more efficiently by placing material where stress is highest

    The I-beam shape concentrates material in the flanges where bending stress is greatest, maximizing stiffness per unit weight.

  2. A valve is described as 'normally closed.' What does this mean in a pneumatic circuit?

    Answer: No air flows through the valve until an actuating signal opens it

    A normally closed (NC) valve blocks flow in its default rest state and only allows flow when an actuating signal is applied.

  3. A rotating shaft develops a crack perpendicular to its axis. What type of stress is most likely causing this failure?

    Answer: Bending fatigue stress

    Cracks perpendicular to the shaft axis on a rotating shaft are characteristic of cyclic bending fatigue, which creates tension-compression cycles.

  4. Heat is transferred through a metal rod from a hot end to a cool end. What mode of heat transfer is this?

    Answer: Conduction

    Heat traveling through a solid material from molecule to molecule is conduction — the dominant heat transfer mode in metals.

  5. A pump raises water 40 feet and delivers 100 gallons per minute. One gallon of water weighs about 8.34 lb. Approximately how much horsepower is required (1 HP = 33,000 ft-lb/min)?

    Answer: 1 HP

    Power = (100 gal/min × 8.34 lb/gal × 40 ft) ÷ 33,000 = 33,360 ÷ 33,000 ≈ 1 HP.

  6. A nut is seized on a bolt. A mechanic applies penetrating oil and waits, then uses a longer breaker bar. The longer bar helps because it:

    Answer: Increases the torque applied with the same force

    A longer bar increases the lever arm distance, so the same applied force produces greater torque (Torque = Force × Distance).

  7. A differential gear system in a vehicle allows the two drive wheels to rotate at different speeds. When is this most important?

    Answer: When turning a corner

    During cornering, the outer wheel must travel a longer arc than the inner wheel, requiring different rotational speeds — the differential allows this.