Mechanical Reasoning Concepts Flashcards

A cam converts:

Answer: Rotational motion to linear (reciprocating) motion

A cam is a rotating or sliding piece that pushes a follower up and down, converting rotation to reciprocating motion.

Which of the following best describes mechanical advantage?

Answer: The ratio of output force to input force

Mechanical advantage = output force / input force, indicating how much a machine multiplies applied force.

A steel I-beam is used in construction because compared to a solid rectangular beam of the same weight, it has:

Answer: Greater bending resistance

The I-shape places material far from the neutral axis, maximizing the second moment of area and bending resistance.

A 5 kg object falls freely for 3 seconds (g = 10 m/s²). What is its velocity just before impact?

Answer: 30 m/s

v = gt = 10 × 3 = 30 m/s (mass is irrelevant to free-fall velocity).

A worm gear drive has a worm with 1 thread meshing a 50-tooth worm wheel. What is the gear ratio?

Answer: 50:1

A single-thread worm advances the wheel by one tooth per revolution, giving a 50:1 speed reduction ratio.

Which type of stress occurs when forces pull a material apart along its length?

Answer: Tensile stress

Tensile stress results from forces pulling a material in opposite directions along its axis, stretching it.

A tank of water has an outlet pipe at the bottom. The flow rate through the pipe depends primarily on:

Answer: The height of water above the outlet

Flow rate from a tank outlet depends on the head pressure, which is determined by the height of fluid above the outlet.