Asvab - Mechanical Comprehension

Reviewed by Editorial Team

The ProProfs editorial team is comprised of experienced subject matter experts. They've collectively created over 10,000 quizzes and lessons, serving over 100 million users. Our team includes in-house content moderators and subject matter experts, as well as a global network of rigorously trained contributors. All adhere to our comprehensive editorial guidelines, ensuring the delivery of high-quality content.

Learn about Our Editorial Process

| By Thames

Thames

Community Contributor

Quizzes Created: 6820 | Total Attempts: 9,511,256

| Questions: 15

Quiz Flashcard

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Whatsapp Share on Pinterest Share on Email Copy to Clipboard Embed on your website

Question 1 / 15

0 %

0/100

Score 0/100

1. What tool would one use to cut a 3" steel rod into short pieces?

A pair of scissors

One would use a hack saw to cut a 3" steel rod into short pieces.

A hammer

A kitchen knife

A hack saw is a tool specifically designed to cut through hard materials like steel rods. A pair of scissors, a kitchen knife, and a hammer are not suitable for cutting through steel rods due to the hardness of the material and the design of the tools.

Explanation

Submit

About This Quiz

This ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension quiz evaluates understanding of mechanical and physical principles. It tests skills crucial for roles requiring mechanical aptitude, helping learners gauge their readiness for related... see morecareers or exams. see less

2. When a linkage requires an adjustment, which of the following is used to adjust it?

Duct tape

Linkage adjustments are made by means of a clevis.

A hammer

A screwdriver

Linkage adjustments require a specific tool like a clevis, not common tools like a screwdriver or hammer, or non-adjustable items like duct tape.

Explanation

Linkage adjustments require a specific tool like a clevis, not common tools like a screwdriver or hammer, or non-adjustable items like duct tape.

Submit

3. A spring composed of two cone springs joined at their large ends is called a

Bi-spring

Fusion spring

Double cone spring

A keg spring is composed of two cone springs joined at their large ends.

A keg spring is composed of two cone springs joined at their large ends, making it a unique type of spring that provides certain advantages in various applications.

Explanation

A keg spring is composed of two cone springs joined at their large ends, making it a unique type of spring that provides certain advantages in various applications.

Submit

4. What is the purpose of a Bourdon gage?

A Bourdon gage is used to measure weight.

A Bourdon gage is used to measure length.

A Bourdon gage is used to measure pressure.

A Bourdon gage is used to measure temperature.

A Bourdon gage is specifically designed to measure pressure by using the deformation of a curved tube to indicate changes in pressure.

Explanation

A Bourdon gage is specifically designed to measure pressure by using the deformation of a curved tube to indicate changes in pressure.

Submit

5. In a micrometer, how many screw threads are there per inch?

50 threads per inch

In a micrometer, the screw threads are cut 40 threads per inch.

30 threads per inch

20 threads per inch

The correct number of screw threads cut per inch in a micrometer is 40. Each incorrect answer provided does not match the correct measurement of 40 threads per inch.

Explanation

The correct number of screw threads cut per inch in a micrometer is 40. Each incorrect answer provided does not match the correct measurement of 40 threads per inch.

Submit

6. If you lift a 100-pound duffle bag through a vertical distance of eight feet, how many foot-pounds will you lift?

Work = Force + Distance. Work = 100 + 8 = 108 ft-lb.

Work = Force × Distance. Work = 100 × 8 = 800 ft-lb.

Work = Force ÷ Distance. Work = 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5 ft-lb.

Work = Distance ÷ Force. Work = 8 ÷ 100 = 0.08 ft-lb.

To calculate work, the correct formula is Work = Force × Distance. In this scenario, lifting a 100-pound duffle bag through a vertical distance of eight feet, the correct answer is Work = 100 × 8 = 800 ft-lb. The other incorrect answers result from using incorrect mathematical operations when calculating work.

Explanation

Submit

7. In the figure shown below, the distance between corresponding points between two successive threads of a screw is referred to as the:

Torque

Pitch is defined as the distance between corresponding points between two successive threads of the screw.

Friction

Diameter

The correct term for the distance between corresponding points between two successive threads of a screw is Pitch. The Diameter refers to the measurement across the screw's central axis. Torque is the rotational force applied to the screw. Friction is the resistance encountered when one object is moved in contact with another.

Explanation

Submit

8. A truck driver needs to place a 450-pound barrel into the bed of his truck. The bed is four feet above the ground. If the driver uses a nine-foot long plank, how many pounds of force will he apply to the barrel?

400 pounds

The correct answer is C.

225 pounds

500 pounds

The correct answer is 450 pounds. The force applied to the barrel is equal to its weight, which is 450 pounds in this case. The length of the plank or the height difference does not change the amount of force required to lift the barrel.

Explanation

Submit

9. If an engine lifted a 3,300-pound load straight up through a distance of 150 feet in two minutes, what was the power of the engine in units of horsepower?

The correct answer is D.

To calculate power, use the formula Power = Work / Time. First, calculate the work done by the engine by multiplying the force (3,300 pounds) by the distance (150 feet) to get a total work of 495,000 foot-pounds. Then, convert the work done to horsepower by dividing it by the time (2 minutes) and the conversion factor (33,000 foot-pounds per minute) to get a power of 7.5 horsepower.

Explanation

Submit

10. A gear train is shown in the figure below. If Gear 4 is removed and a gear of a similar configuration with a larger number of teeth is inserted in its place, the speed of Gear 6 will

D. Remain the same, but with a slight reduction in speed due to the increase in friction with the new gear.

The correct answer is C. In a compound gear train, the speed of the driven gears is not affected by the number of teeth on the intermediate gears. So, the speed of Gear 6 in the arrangement shown in the figure will remain the same even if Gear 4 is replaced with a gear of a similar configuration but with a larger number of teeth.

A. Increase because of the larger number of teeth on the new gear placed in Gear 4's position.

B. Decrease due to the absence of Gear 4 in the gear train.

In compound gear trains, the speed of driven gears is not directly affected by the number of teeth on intermediate gears, focusing on the gear ratio instead.

Explanation

In compound gear trains, the speed of driven gears is not directly affected by the number of teeth on intermediate gears, focusing on the gear ratio instead.

Submit

11. Which of the following is an example of a third-class lever?

The correct answer is A. A third-class lever is one in which an effort is applied between the fulcrum and the resistant load. As shown in the figure, on the arm of a human being, the load acts on the palm and the fulcrum is at the elbow. The effort acts between the fulcrum (arm) and the load (dumb-bell), resulting in stretching the skin. This is similar to a third-class lever.

A third-class lever is one in which an effort is applied between the fulcrum and the resistant load. In the scenario provided, the load acts on the palm, the fulcrum is at the elbow, and the effort is applied between the fulcrum and the load, similar to a third-class lever.

Explanation

Submit

12. For the pulley arrangement shown below, a is the acceleration of weight W, and a1 and a2 are the accelerations of weights W1 and W2 relative to the fixed pulley. What is the acceleration of W1?

A1 * a

A1 / a

A1 + a

The correct answer is A. As you know, the accelerations of masses W1 and W2 are equal to and opposite of each other. So, for W1, the relative acceleration equals the acceleration of W1 – the acceleration of W = a1 – a.

Submit

13. Which of the following gears is used in the differential of an automobile?

A. Spur gear

C. Rack and pinion gear

The correct answer is B. The shafts of the differential in an automobile are nonparallel, intersecting, and coplanar. The bevel gear is used to connect these shafts.

D. Worm gear

The correct answer is B. The shafts of the differential in an automobile are nonparallel, intersecting, and coplanar. The bevel gear is used to connect these shafts.

Explanation

The correct answer is B. The shafts of the differential in an automobile are nonparallel, intersecting, and coplanar. The bevel gear is used to connect these shafts.

Submit

14. A single capstan bar is gripped four feet from the center of a capstan head. The capstan head has a radius of two feet. A two-ton anchor is to be lifted. How much effort needs to be exerted?

The correct answer is B.

The effort needed to lift the anchor is equal to the weight of the anchor, in this case, 2 tons.

Explanation

The effort needed to lift the anchor is equal to the weight of the anchor, in this case, 2 tons.

Submit

15. A laborer turns a jack one revolution. If the lever handle is 18 inches long and the pitch of the jack screw is 1/4 inch, what is the theoretical mechanical advantage?

The correct answer is D.

In this scenario, the theoretical mechanical advantage is calculated by dividing the length of the lever handle (18 inches) by the pitch of the jack screw (1/4 inch). Therefore, the theoretical mechanical advantage would be D.

Explanation

Submit

View My Results

Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): Aug 4, 2025 +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.