WorksheetsSample End-of-Course Test: PLTW Principles of Engineering
Total questions: 100
Worksheet time: 55mins
Which of the following is an example of a wheel and axle?
A seesaw
A screwdriver turning a screw
A ramp
A pair of scissors
The ideal mechanical advantage of a single fixed pulley is:
0
1
2
Dependent on the load
A lever where the fulcrum is located between the effort and the resistance forces is classified as a:
First-class lever
Second-class lever
Third-class lever
Compound lever
What is the ideal mechanical advantage of an inclined plane that is 10 feet long and 2 feet high?
2
5
8
A wedge is a simple machine that functions as a moving:
Lever
Wheel and axle
Inclined plane
Screw
The distance between adjacent threads on a screw is known as the:
Diameter
Circumference
Pitch
Lead
A compound machine is best described as:
A machine that uses electricity to operate
A machine made of many complex parts
A combination of two or more simple machines
A machine that can perform multiple tasks simultaneously
If a machine has an actual mechanical advantage of 4 and an ideal mechanical advantage of 5, what is its efficiency?
20%
80%
125%
400%
Which simple machine typically has a very high mechanical advantage?
Lever
Pulley
Screw
Wedge
In a second-class lever, the load is located:
Between the fulcrum and the effort
At the fulcrum
Opposite the effort from the fulcrum
At the same point as the effort
The ratio of the distance traveled by the effort to the distance traveled by the resistance is the:
Actual Mechanical Advantage
Ideal Mechanical Advantage
Efficiency
Power
Gears are primarily used to:
Transmit motion and force
Store electrical energy
Measure temperature
Produce light
Which of the following is the primary function of a cam and follower mechanism?
Increase friction
Transmit rotational motion and torque
Convert linear motion to rotary motion
Decrease speed
A block and tackle system utilizes multiple:
Levers
Inclined planes
Pulleys
Wedges
The mechanical advantage of a machine indicates the factor by which the machine:
Increases the input distance
Decreases the output force
Multiplies the input force
Reduces the efficiency
Which of the following simple machines converts rotary motion into linear motion?
Wheel and axle
Inclined plane
Wedge
Screw
A series of gears connected to transmit motion is called a:
Linkage
Camshaft
Gear train
Sprocket system
In a gear train, if the driver gear has 20 teeth and the driven gear has 10 teeth, the gear ratio is:
0.5
1
2
200
An idler gear in a gear train is used to:
Increase the speed of the output gear
Decrease the torque of the output gear
Change the direction of rotation of the output gear
Increase the mechanical advantage
A belt and pulley system transmits power through:
Interlocking teeth
Friction between the belt and pulleys
A rigid connection between the pulleys
Magnetic forces
Which of the following mechanisms typically uses a chain to transmit power?
Belt drive
Gear train
Pulley system
Sprocket system
In a pulley system, the mechanical advantage is often determined by the:
Diameter of the pulleys
Material of the rope
Number of rope segments supporting the load
Speed of the input pulley
A mechanism designed to follow a specific path is called a:
Linkage
Cam
Follower
Robot
Which of the following is NOT a basic type of motion in mechanisms?
Rotary
Linear
Oscillating
Gravitational
In a belt drive system, if the diameter of the driving pulley is smaller than the diameter of the driven pulley, the output speed will be:
Higher than the input speed
Lower than the input speed
The same as the input speed
Zero
Which of the following is a fundamental component of a robot?
A power source
A complex gear system
A human operator
A pre-determined task
A device that allows a robot to sense its environment is called a(n):
Actuator
Controller
Sensor
End effector
In manufacturing, robots are commonly used for:
Designing new products
Performing repetitive tasks like welding and painting
Managing the workforce
Shipping finished goods
Which type of sensor allows a robot to "see" its surroundings?
Proximity sensor
Temperature sensor
Vision sensor
Force sensor
A servo motor in a robot is primarily used for:
Generating high torque at low speeds
Providing precise control of position and speed
Detecting obstacles in the robot's path
Supplying the main power to the robot
The flow of electric charge is called:
Voltage
Resistance
Current
Power
The unit of electrical resistance is the:
Volt
Ampere
Ohm
Watt
Ohm's Law states that the voltage across a resistor is directly proportional to the current flowing through it, with the constant of proportionality being the:
Power
Energy
Resistance
Charge
In a series circuit, the current through each component is:
Different
The same
Dependent on the resistance
Zero
In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each component is:
Different
The same
Dependent on the current
Zero
If a circuit has a voltage of 12V and a resistance of 4Ω, the current flowing through it is:
3A
48A
0.33A
8A
A device that stores electrical energy in an electric field is called a(n):
Resistor
Capacitor
Inductor
Diode
A circuit with components connected end-to-end, forming a single path for current flow, is a:
Parallel circuit
Series circuit
Short circuit
Open circuit
Kirchhoff's Current Law states that the total current entering a junction in a circuit must equal the total current:
Lost as heat
Gained by the voltage source
Leaving the junction
Consumed by the resistors
Kirchhoff's Voltage Law states that the sum of the voltage drops around any closed loop in a circuit must equal the total:
Current in the loop
Resistance in the loop
Voltage supplied to the loop
Power dissipated in the loop
A component designed to oppose the flow of current is a:
Conductor
Insulator
Resistor
Semiconductor
The unit of electrical power is the:
Volt
Ampere
Ohm
Watt
In a simple circuit with a battery and a resistor, if the resistance is increased, the current will:
Increase
Decrease
Remain the same
Become zero
A circuit where there are multiple paths for the current to flow is a:
Series circuit
Parallel circuit
Open circuit
Closed circuit
Which of the following is a source of electrical energy?
A switch
A wire
A battery
A light bulb
Fluid power technology uses the properties of liquids and gases to transmit:
Heat
Light
Power
Sound
A fluid that is considered incompressible is typically used in:
Pneumatic systems
Hydraulic systems
Vacuum systems
Ventilation systems
Pascal's Law states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted equally in all:
Directions
Volumes
Temperatures
Densities
In the formula P = F/A, 'P' represents:
Force
Area
Pressure
Volume
A system that uses compressed air to transmit power is a(n):
Hydraulic system
Pneumatic system
Electrical system
Mechanical system
Which of the following is a basic component of a hydraulic system?
An air compressor
A vacuum pump
A fluid reservoir
An electrical motor
Which of the following is an advantage of hydraulic systems over pneumatic systems?
Lower operating pressures
Faster response times
Ability to handle larger loads
Simpler system design
Which of the following is an advantage of pneumatic systems over hydraulic systems?
More precise control
Higher energy efficiency
Cleaner operation
Ability to operate in extreme temperatures
A device that converts fluid power into linear motion is a:
Pump
Valve
Cylinder
Motor
A device that controls the direction or rate of fluid flow in a fluid power system is a:
Actuator
Reservoir
Valve
Filter
The pressure in a pneumatic system is typically measured in:
Gallons per minute (GPM)
Pounds per square inch (PSI)
Cubic feet per second (CFS)
Volts (V)
The study of motion without reference to the forces that cause the motion is called:
Dynamics
Statics
Which of the following is a scalar quantity?
Velocity
Displacement
Speed
Acceleration
Which of the following is a vector quantity?
Distance
Time
Speed
Displacement
Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of:
Position
Speed
Velocity
Time
An object moving at a constant velocity has an acceleration of:
A positive value
A negative value
Zero
Dependent on the velocity
If an object travels 10 meters in 2 seconds, its average speed is:
5 m/s
20 m/s
0.2 m/s
8 m/s
Projectile motion involves movement in:
Only one dimension
Two dimensions (horizontal and vertical)
Three dimensions
No dimensions
In projectile motion, neglecting air resistance, the horizontal velocity component:
Increases over time
Decreases over time
Remains constant
Becomes zero at the highest point
An object in free fall experiences constant:
Velocity
Speed
Acceleration
Displacement
The acceleration due to gravity near the Earth's surface is approximately:
9.8 m/s² downwards
9.8 m/s² upwards
0 m/s²
Dependent on the object's mass
The path followed by a projectile is typically a:
Straight line
Circle
Parabola
Hyperbola
The range of a projectile depends on the initial velocity, launch angle, and:
The mass of the projectile
The color of the projectile
The acceleration due to gravity
The air density
The time of flight of a projectile launched horizontally depends on its:
Initial horizontal velocity
Initial vertical velocity (which is zero)
Launch height
The launch angle
If two projectiles are launched with the same initial speed but at different angles (one at 30° and the other at 60°), their horizontal ranges will be (neglecting air resistance):
The same
Different, with the 30° angle having a greater range
Different, with the 60° angle having a greater range
Dependent on the mass of the projectiles
A force is a vector quantity because it has both:
Mass and inertia
Energy and power
Magnitude and direction
Speed and velocity
A free body diagram is a representation of:
The internal forces within a body
A body isolated from its surroundings showing all external forces acting on it
The motion of a body over time
The energy transformations occurring in a system
For an object to be in static equilibrium, the sum of the forces in the x-direction must be equal to:
The sum of the forces in the y-direction
The mass of the object
Zero
The weight of the object
For an object to be in static equilibrium, the sum of the moments about any point must be equal to:
The net force on the object
The inertia of the object
Zero
The angular velocity of the object
A structural member subjected to a pulling force is said to be in:
Compression
Tension
Shear
Bending
A structural member subjected to a pushing force is said to be in:
Tension
Shear
Compression
Torsion
In truss analysis using the method of joints, each joint is treated as a body in:
Motion
Equilibrium
Acceleration
A truss is a structure composed of slender members joined together at their:
Midpoints
Ends
Surfaces
Centers of gravity
The forces in the members of a statically determinate truss can be found using the equations of:
Motion
Energy conservation
Static equilibrium
Fluid dynamics
A support that prevents translation in all directions but allows rotation is a:
Fixed support
Roller support
Pinned support
Cantilever support
A support that prevents translation in one direction and allows translation in the perpendicular direction and rotation is a:
Fixed support
Pinned support
Roller support
Truss support
The turning effect of a force about a point is called:
Work
Energy
Power
Moment (Torque)
If several concurrent forces act on a point, their resultant force can be found by:
Adding their magnitudes algebraically
Vector addition
Multiplying their magnitudes
Energy sources that can be replenished over a relatively short period of time are called:
Non-renewable
Exhaustible
Renewable
Inexhaustible
Which of the following is an example of a renewable energy source?
Coal
Natural gas
Solar energy
Nuclear fuel
Solar panels convert sunlight directly into:
Thermal energy
Chemical energy
Electrical energy
Mechanical energy
Wind turbines harness the kinetic energy of wind and convert it into:
Light energy
Sound energy
Electrical energy
Heat energy
Hydroelectric power plants generate electricity using the energy of:
Ocean tides
Flowing water
Geothermal heat
Biomass combustion
Which of the following is generally considered an environmental advantage of renewable energy sources?
High energy density
Low initial cost
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Consistent availability
The number of vehicles that can pass a point on a roadway during a specified time period is known as:
Traffic flow (or Traffic volume)
Traffic density
Traffic speed
Traffic signal
Which of the following is used to measure the quality of traffic flow?
Traffic density
Traffic flow rate
Speed limit
Level of service
Which of the following factors can affect traffic flow?
The color of the vehicles
The time of day
The weather conditions
The types of cargo being transported
Transportation engineers consider which of the following when designing roadways?
The aesthetic appeal of the road
The comfort of the vehicle occupants
Safety and efficiency of movement
The cost of the vehicles using the road
Different modes of transportation include:
Walking, biking, and personal vehicles
Trains, planes, and ships
Pipelines and conveyor belts
All of the above
A shape is formed by a rectangle (width 4 in, height 6 in) with a right triangle (base 4 in, height 3 in) attached to the top along the 4-inch width. Find the y-coordinate of the centroid of the combined shape, measured from the bottom of the rectangle.
3.15 in
3.8 in
4.0 in
4.15 in
A circular hole with a radius of 1 inch is cut out from a rectangular plate with a width of 4 inches and a height of 6 inches. The center of the hole is located at the center of the rectangle. Find the y-coordinate of the centroid of the remaining shaded area. (Assume the bottom left corner of the rectangle is at the origin (0,0)).
2 in
2.75
3 in
3.25
A 20-foot solid aluminum rod is subjected to a tensile load of 5,000 lb. This load causes the rod to stretch 0.08 inches. The modulus of elasticity of the aluminum is 10,000,000 psi. Determine the approximate diameter of the rod.
0.50 inches
0.75 inches
1.00 inches
1.25 inches
An 11,000-pound load is suspended from a ceiling using a 20-foot solid steel rod. The modulus of elasticity of the steel is 30,000,000 psi. If the maximum rod elongation must be limited to 0.40 inch and the maximum stress must be limited to 36,000 psi, determine the minimum diameter that can be used for the rod.
If I want the second motor to stop what would the line of code look like and where should I put it?
line 14
motor.stop()
line 12
motor.stop()
line 14
motor2.stop()
line 9
motor.stop()
Explain, in detail, what the Python program shown in the image does. Describe the behavior of the motors, the role of the button sensor, and the overall sequence of events.
