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Quizzes > Science

Mechanical Engineering Quiz: Fundamentals Practice

Quick, free practice with mechanical engineering quiz questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Benedetta ClaryssaUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art displaying questions for Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals Quiz

This mechanical engineering fundamentals quiz helps you assess your knowledge of mechanics and thermodynamics with 15 multiple-choice questions, and spot weak areas before a class, exam, or interview. Build skills with the mechanical aptitude test, try the engineering aptitude test, or explore the hvac quiz for related topics.

What is the formula for normal (axial) stress in a material under load?
Stress = Force / Area
Stress = Area / Force
Stress = Strain / Young's Modulus
Stress = Force * Area
Normal stress is defined as the internal force divided by the cross-sectional area over which it acts. It applies to axial loading where force is perpendicular to the area.
Which expression defines engineering strain in a tensile test?
Original length / Change in length
Change in length / New length
Change in length / Original length
Force / Original length
Engineering strain measures the relative change in length compared to the original length of the specimen. It is dimensionless and used in tensile testing.
Which mechanical component is primarily used to reduce friction between a rotating shaft and a stationary part?
Cam
Bearing
Gear
Linkage
A bearing supports and guides rotating shafts while reducing friction. It allows smooth motion between moving and stationary parts.
According to the first law of thermodynamics, in a closed system the change in internal energy equals:
Heat added plus work done by the system
Heat added minus work done by the system
Work done by the system minus heat added
Heat removed plus work done by the system
The first law states that ΔU = Q - W for a closed system using the sign convention Q for heat added and W for work done by the system. Energy is conserved.
What is the mechanical advantage of an ideal lever if the effort arm is 2 m and the load arm is 0.5 m?
0.25
4
1
2
The ideal mechanical advantage of a lever is the ratio of the effort arm length to the load arm length, which is 2 m / 0.5 m = 4.
Young's modulus relates which two mechanical quantities?
Strain and temperature
Stress and strain
Force and area
Stress and displacement
Young's modulus is the ratio of normal stress to corresponding strain in the linear elastic region. It describes material stiffness under axial loading.
What does a factor of safety (FoS) of 2 indicate in mechanical design?
The load is double the material's capacity
The design will fail at half the intended strength
The material's strength is twice the expected load
The safety margin is 50%
A FoS of 2 means the design's maximum allowable stress is twice the maximum expected stress. It provides a margin against uncertainty and overload.
Which gear type can provide a high reduction ratio within a compact space?
Spur gear
Helical gear
Bevel gear
Worm gear
Worm gears can achieve large reduction ratios in a small footprint because the worm screw drives the gear wheel with multiple threads engaging fewer gear teeth per revolution.
What is the maximum theoretical efficiency of a heat engine operating between a 600 K hot reservoir and a 300 K cold reservoir?
0.5
0.33
0.67
0.25
Carnot efficiency is η = 1 - (T_cold/T_hot) = 1 - (300/600) = 0.5. It is the maximum possible efficiency for a reversible engine.
In steady-state one-dimensional conduction through a plane wall, the heat transfer rate is inversely proportional to:
Temperature difference
Surface area
Wall thickness
Thermal conductivity
For conduction through a flat wall, heat rate Q = (k A ΔT)/L. The rate is inversely proportional to the wall thickness L.
What is the ideal mechanical advantage of an inclined plane with a length of 5 m and a height of 1 m?
5
6
4
0.2
The ideal mechanical advantage of an inclined plane is the ratio of the length of the slope to its height, which is 5 m / 1 m = 5.
According to Bernoulli's equation for incompressible flow, if fluid speed increases, pressure:
Converts to thermal energy
Decreases
Increases
Remains constant
Bernoulli's principle shows that in a streamline flow of incompressible fluid, an increase in velocity leads to a decrease in static pressure.
A flow has a Reynolds number below 2000. The flow regime is:
Compressible
Transitional
Laminar
Turbulent
Flows with Reynolds numbers below 2000 are generally laminar, meaning fluid particles move in parallel layers without mixing.
In a hydraulic press operating on Pascal's principle, if a small piston of area 0.01 m2 is subjected to 100 N of force, the pressure generated is transmitted to a larger piston of area 0.5 m2. What is the output force (neglecting losses)?
5000 N
20 N
50 N
200 N
Pressure is F/A = 100 N / 0.01 m2 = 10000 Pa. The output force is P Ã- A = 10000 Pa Ã- 0.5 m2 = 5000 N.
Two identical springs of stiffness k are connected in parallel and attached to a load. The combined stiffness is:
2k
k
k^2
k/2
When springs are in parallel, their stiffnesses add. Therefore, two springs each of stiffness k yield a total stiffness of 2k.
At a point in a material, the normal stresses are σx = 40 MPa, σy = 10 MPa, and shear stress τxy = 30 MPa. What is the maximum shear stress?
25 MPa
30 MPa
33.54 MPa
40 MPa
Maximum shear stress is Ï„max = sqrt[ ((σxâˆ'σy)/2)^2 + Ï„xy^2 ] = sqrt[(15)^2 + (30)^2 ] ≈ 33.54 MPa. This uses the Mohr's circle relationship.
What is the change in entropy when 5000 J of heat is reversibly added to a system at a constant temperature of 400 K?
12.5 J/K
20 J/K
0.08 J/K
5000 J/K
For a reversible isothermal process, ΔS = Q_rev / T = 5000 J / 400 K = 12.5 J/K. Entropy change measures heat transfer at a given temperature.
A compound pulley system has two fixed pulleys and two movable pulleys. What is the ideal mechanical advantage?
6
3
4
2
In a block and tackle with two movable and two fixed pulleys, there are four rope segments supporting the load, giving an ideal mechanical advantage of 4.
In the Darcy - Weisbach equation for head loss, h_f = f (L/D) (v^2 / 2g), the friction factor f depends on Reynolds number and:
Relative roughness of the pipe interior
Pipe length
Fluid viscosity only
Fluid density
The Darcy friction factor is a function of the Reynolds number and the relative roughness (ε/D) of the pipe's inner surface in turbulent or transitional flow.
An ideal gas undergoes a polytropic process described by PV^1.2 = constant between states 1 and 2. Which expression represents the work done by the gas?
(P2 V2 - P1 V1) / (1 - 1.2)
(P2 V2 - P1 V1) / (1.2 - 1)
P ΔV
Zero
For a polytropic process PV^n = constant, the work done is W = (P2 V2 - P1 V1) / (1 - n). Here n = 1.2, so W = (P2V2 - P1V1)/(1 - 1.2).
0
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse stress, strain, and material behavior under load
  2. Identify mechanical components and their functional roles
  3. Apply thermodynamics principles to common engineering scenarios
  4. Evaluate simple machines for efficiency and mechanical advantage
  5. Demonstrate core fluid mechanics concepts in practical contexts
  6. Master problem-solving strategies for engineering challenges

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Stress and Strain - Stress is like the push or pull a material feels per unit area (σ = F/A), and strain measures how much it stretches or squishes relative to its original length (ε = ΔL/L₀). Grasping these core ideas lets you predict if a beam will bend, snap, or bounce back under load.
  2. Familiarize Yourself with the Stress-Strain Curve - This colorful graph charts a material's journey from elastic springiness to plastic deformation and finally fracture. By spotting yield points and ultimate strengths, you can choose the perfect metal or polymer for your project without nasty surprises.
  3. Learn Hooke's Law - Within the elastic region, stress and strain dance together linearly (σ = Eε), where E is the stiffness or modulus of elasticity. Nailing down this relationship helps you design springs, beams, and supports that behave exactly as you expect.
  4. Identify Common Mechanical Components - From shafts that spin to bearings that glide, gears that mesh, and springs that store energy - each part plays a starring role in machinery. Recognizing their names and functions means you'll speak the language of engineers and build smoother-running machines.
  5. Apply Thermodynamics Principles - The first law of thermodynamics (energy conservation) and the ideal gas law (PV = nRT) are your toolkit for analyzing engines, refrigerators, and power plants. Master these to predict temperature, pressure, and work interactions in any energy system.
  6. Evaluate Simple Machines - Levers, pulleys, and inclined planes aren't just ancient physics toys - they're the building blocks of mechanical advantage. Calculating efficiency and force multiplication helps you optimize designs and win every tug-of-war.
  7. Grasp Fluid Mechanics Basics - Dive into fluid density, Bernoulli's principle, and the continuity equation to understand why jets fly high and pipes whisper rather than roar. These fundamentals unlock the secrets of pumps, turbines, and even your morning espresso machine.
  8. Understand Thermal Expansion - As temperatures rise, materials grow - ΔL = αL₀ΔT tells you exactly how much. Accounting for expansion and contraction prevents cracks, warps, or bolts popping loose under heat stress.
  9. Study Gear Ratios - Gear ratios dictate how fast and powerful your machine spins - trade speed for torque or vice versa by choosing the right teeth counts. Mastering this lets you build everything from speedy RC cars to heavy-duty industrial gearboxes.
  10. Master Problem-Solving Strategies - Break big challenges into bite-sized steps: sketch the scenario, list knowns and unknowns, choose formulas, then check your work. A solid problem-solving routine turns intimidating exams and projects into satisfying puzzles.
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