Machine Design MCQs

This comprehensive collection of Machine Design MCQs is specifically crafted to enhance understanding of the principles and practices essential for designing mechanical components and systems. Covering key topics such as material selection, stress analysis, failure theories, mechanism design, and manufacturing processes, these questions aim to reinforce both theoretical knowledge and practical application. Ideal for engineering students, professionals preparing for certification exams, and individuals gearing up for interviews in mechanical engineering, this set focuses on the critical elements that contribute to effective machine design.

Who should practice Machine Design MCQs?

Engineering students preparing for exams in mechanical engineering and related fields.
Professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge of machine design principles for career advancement.
Candidates preparing for certification exams in mechanical design or engineering.
Individuals looking to refresh their understanding of design processes and analysis techniques.
Anyone interested in building a strong foundation in machine design to pursue further studies or a career in engineering.

1. What is the primary purpose of a design analysis in machine design?

A) To reduce costs
B) To ensure safety
C) To increase efficiency
D) To enhance aesthetics

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2. Which of the following is a common method for joining machine parts?

A) Welding
B) Adhesive bonding
C) Riveting
D) All of the above

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3. What is the term for the load applied to a machine element that produces a compressive or tensile force?

A) Static load
B) Dynamic load
C) Fatigue load
D) Impact load

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4. Which type of joint is designed to allow for axial movement?

A) Rigid joint
B) Pin joint
C) Fixed joint
D) Spherical joint

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5. What is the main advantage of using helical gears over spur gears?

A) Higher load capacity
B) Lower cost
C) Simplicity of design
D) Less noise

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6. In a belt drive system, what is the effect of increasing the tension in the belt?

A) Reduces friction
B) Increases power transmission capacity
C) Causes slippage
D) Decreases wear

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7. Which of the following is NOT a type of stress?

A) Bending stress
B) Shear stress
C) Thermal stress
D) Torsional stress

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8. What is the primary function of a spring in machine design?

A) To store energy
B) To transmit power
C) To support loads
D) To provide rigidity

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9. Which material is commonly used for manufacturing high-strength gears?

A) Plastic
B) Aluminum
C) Cast iron
D) Steel

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10. In a threaded fastener, what does the term “pitch” refer to?

A) The distance between adjacent threads
B) The angle of the thread
C) The diameter of the bolt
D) The length of the bolt

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11. Which type of coupling is used to connect shafts that are misaligned?

A) Rigid coupling
B) Flexible coupling
C) Flange coupling
D) Magnetic coupling

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12. What is the term for the maximum stress a material can withstand without permanent deformation?

A) Yield strength
B) Ultimate strength
C) Elastic limit
D) Fatigue strength

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13. Which of the following is a characteristic of a rigid joint?

A) Allows for rotation
B) Allows for translation
C) Resists motion in all directions
D) Provides flexibility

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14. In machine design, what does “factor of safety” refer to?

A) The ratio of maximum load to design load
B) The ratio of working stress to ultimate stress
C) The ratio of actual performance to theoretical performance
D) The margin of error in calculations

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15. Which type of load is primarily experienced by beams in structural applications?

A) Axial load
B) Shear load
C) Bending load
D) Torsional load

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16. What is the purpose of a cam in a machine?

A) To store energy
B) To convert rotary motion into linear motion
C) To transmit power
D) To support loads

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17. Which type of bearing is most commonly used in high-speed applications?

A) Ball bearing
B) Roller bearing
C) Plain bearing
D) Thrust bearing

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18. What is the term used to describe the failure of a material due to repeated loading?

A) Creep
B) Fatigue
C) Buckling
D) Fracture

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19. In a mechanical system, what is the purpose of a flywheel?

A) To reduce vibrations
B) To store rotational energy
C) To increase speed
D) To support loads

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20. Which type of fit allows for minimal clearance between mating parts?

A) Clearance fit
B) Interference fit
C) Transition fit
D) Tolerance fit

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21. Which type of stress is primarily involved in torsional loading?

A) Shear stress
B) Compressive stress
C) Tensile stress
D) Bending stress

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22. What is the primary advantage of using a hydraulic system in machine design?

A) Increased weight
B) Enhanced control and flexibility
C) Simplicity of components
D) Low cost

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23. What is the primary function of a keyway in a machine component?

A) To transmit power
B) To provide support
C) To reduce wear
D) To allow for adjustment

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24. Which type of gear is most commonly used for transmitting power between parallel shafts?

A) Bevel gear
B) Worm gear
C) Spur gear
D) Helical gear

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25. What is the primary function of a damper in a mechanical system?

A) To transmit power
B) To store energy
C) To absorb shock
D) To support loads

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26. Which type of material is preferred for manufacturing high-strength components?

A) Aluminum
B) Cast iron
C) Steel
D) Plastic

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27. In machine design, what does “creep” refer to?

A) Slow deformation under constant load
B) Rapid failure under stress
C) Sudden fracture of a material
D) Change in shape due to temperature

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28. What is the primary purpose of a thrust bearing?

A) To support radial loads
B) To support axial loads
C) To provide flexibility
D) To transmit power

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29. Which type of fastening device allows for easy disassembly?

A) Welding
B) Riveting
C) Bolting
D) Adhesive bonding

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30. What is the primary advantage of using a composite material in machine design?

A) High cost
B) Lightweight and high strength
C) Low durability
D) Poor thermal resistance

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31. Which term refers to the geometric shape of a part designed to resist bending?

A) Section modulus
B) Moment of inertia
C) Polar moment of inertia
D) Area moment

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32. What is the purpose of lubrication in machine design?

A) To increase wear
B) To reduce friction
C) To provide rigidity
D) To increase temperature

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33. Which of the following is a method of preventing wear in machine components?

A) Hardening
B) Annealing
C) Quenching
D) Tempering

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34. What is the primary function of a hydraulic actuator in a machine?

A) To support loads
B) To transmit power
C) To convert fluid power into mechanical motion
D) To store energy

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35. Which type of gear is used to change the direction of rotational motion?

A) Spur gear
B) Bevel gear
C) Worm gear
D) Helical gear

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36. In a mechanical system, what is the primary purpose of a pulley?

A) To store energy
B) To transmit power
C) To change the direction of force
D) To provide flexibility

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37. What is the term for the maximum load a material can bear before failure?

A) Yield strength
B) Ultimate tensile strength
C) Fatigue strength
D) Elastic limit

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38. Which of the following is a key factor in selecting materials for machine components?

A) Cost
B) Availability
C) Performance
D) All of the above

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39. What type of failure occurs when a material fails suddenly without any prior deformation?

A) Ductile failure
B) Brittle failure
C) Fatigue failure
D) Creep failure

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40. What is the primary role of a gearbox in a machine?

A) To provide flexibility
B) To increase speed
C) To reduce speed and increase torque
D) To support loads

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41. Which type of analysis is used to determine the stresses and deformations in a structure under applied loads?

A) Finite element analysis
B) Computational fluid dynamics
C) Structural analysis
D) Modal analysis

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42. What is the purpose of a bushing in machine design?

A) To reduce friction between moving parts
B) To support loads
C) To store energy
D) To transmit power

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43. Which type of load is commonly experienced by rotating shafts?

A) Axial load
B) Radial load
C) Torsional load
D) All of the above

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44. In machine design, what is the purpose of a stress concentration factor?

A) To measure wear
B) To predict failure
C) To indicate material strength
D) To provide rigidity

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45. Which of the following is a common method for analyzing fatigue in materials?

A) S-N curve
B) Stress-strain curve
C) Load-displacement curve
D) Moment-curvature curve

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46. What is the primary purpose of a heat treatment process in material design?

A) To reduce cost
B) To improve mechanical properties
C) To increase weight
D) To provide corrosion resistance

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47. Which type of mechanism converts linear motion into rotary motion?

A) Crank and slider
B) Rack and pinion
C) Cam and follower
D) All of the above

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48. In machine design, what does “tolerance” refer to?

A) The allowable deviation from a specified dimension
B) The maximum load a material can withstand
C) The rate of wear over time
D) The angle of rotation

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49. What is the main advantage of using a pneumatic system in machine design?

A) High weight
B) Low cost
C) Simplicity of components
D) Flexibility and control

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50. Which of the following is NOT a type of spring?

A) Compression spring
B) Torsion spring
C) Extension spring
D) Friction spring

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51. What is the main disadvantage of using welded joints?

A) High cost
B) Brittle failure
C) Difficulty in disassembly
D) Weak joints

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52. In a belt drive system, what is the purpose of a tensioner?

A) To support loads
B) To maintain proper belt tension
C) To increase speed
D) To reduce wear

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53. What is the term used to describe a device that reduces vibrations in a mechanical system?

A) Damper
B) Support
C) Coupling
D) Bearing

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54. Which material is commonly used for manufacturing gears due to its high wear resistance?

A) Plastic
B) Cast iron
C) Steel
D) Bronze

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55. In machine design, what does the term “hardness” refer to?

A) Resistance to wear
B) Resistance to deformation
C) Resistance to corrosion
D) All of the above

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56. What is the primary purpose of a shock absorber in a mechanical system?

A) To transmit power
B) To reduce vibrations and impact
C) To support loads
D) To increase speed

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57. Which type of coupling is most suitable for high-speed applications?

A) Rigid coupling
B) Flexible coupling
C) Jaw coupling
D) Magnetic coupling

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58. What is the purpose of a counterweight in a machine?

A) To store energy
B) To balance loads
C) To provide support
D) To transmit power

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59. Which type of bearing is best suited for high-load applications?

A) Ball bearing
B) Roller bearing
C) Plain bearing
D) Thrust bearing

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60. In machine design, what is the primary advantage of using aluminum as a material?

A) High strength
B) Lightweight
C) Low cost
D) High hardness

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61. What is the primary function of a spacer in a machine assembly?

A) To transmit power
B) To support loads
C) To maintain distance between components
D) To absorb vibrations

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62. Which type of load is primarily experienced by a cantilever beam?

A) Axial load
B) Shear load
C) Bending load
D) Torsional load

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63. What is the purpose of a limit switch in a mechanical system?

A) To provide power
B) To control motion
C) To reduce friction
D) To store energy

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64. Which of the following is a common application of gears in machines?

A) Speed reduction
B) Torque multiplication
C) Direction change
D) All of the above

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65. What is the primary advantage of using a rack and pinion mechanism?

A) High cost
B) Simplicity of design
C) Limited range of motion
D) High precision

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66. Which term refers to the maximum bending moment a beam can withstand before failure?

A) Section modulus
B) Moment of inertia
C) Bending stress
D) Bending strength

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67. In machine design, what does “modulus of elasticity” refer to?

A) The ratio of stress to strain in the elastic region
B) The maximum stress before failure
C) The ability to resist wear
D) The degree of ductility

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68. What is the primary function of a valve in a hydraulic system?

A) To store energy
B) To control the flow of fluid
C) To transmit power
D) To support loads

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69. Which type of material is preferred for making gears in high-load applications?

A) Aluminum
B) Steel
C) Plastic
D) Cast iron

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70. In a mechanical system, what is the primary function of a damper?

A) To absorb shock
B) To transmit power
C) To support loads
D) To increase speed

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71. Which of the following is NOT a type of gear?

A) Helical gear
B) Spur gear
C) Bevel gear
D) Linear gear

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72. What is the primary purpose of a bearing in a machine?

A) To transmit power
B) To reduce friction between moving parts
C) To store energy
D) To support loads

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73. In machine design, what does “fatigue limit” refer to?

A) The maximum load a material can withstand
B) The stress level below which a material will not fail
C) The maximum stress a material can handle
D) The point of permanent deformation

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74. Which type of load is primarily experienced by a tension member?

A) Axial load
B) Bending load
C) Torsional load
D) Shear load

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75. What is the main advantage of using a worm gear?

A) High efficiency
B) Low torque transmission
C) High torque transmission
D) Simple design

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76. Which type of mechanism is used to convert rotary motion into linear motion?

A) Rack and pinion
B) Cam and follower
C) Belt and pulley
D) All of the above

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77. In machine design, what does “ductility” refer to?

A) Ability to withstand stress
B) Ability to deform without breaking
C) Ability to resist wear
D) Ability to withstand corrosion

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78. What is the primary purpose of a brake in a mechanical system?

A) To transmit power
B) To absorb shock
C) To reduce speed
D) To support loads

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79. Which of the following is a common application of a hydraulic system?

A) Lift systems
B) Automotive brakes
C) Construction machinery
D) All of the above

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80. What is the purpose of a return spring in a mechanical system?

A) To provide rigidity
B) To store energy
C) To absorb shock

D) To transmit power

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81. In machine design, what does “creep” refer to?

A) Gradual deformation under constant load over time
B) Sudden failure due to overload
C) Wear caused by friction
D) Bending of materials

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82. Which type of joint is used to connect two shafts at an angle?

A) Rigid joint
B) Flexible joint
C) Universal joint
D) Fixed joint

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83. What is the purpose of a gear train in a machine?

A) To increase torque
B) To change speed
C) To change direction of rotation
D) All of the above

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84. In machine design, what is the purpose of a key?

A) To transmit power
B) To reduce friction
C) To support loads
D) To absorb vibrations

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85. Which type of analysis is used to evaluate the stability of a mechanical system?

A) Modal analysis
B) Stress analysis
C) Thermal analysis
D) Dynamic analysis

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86. What is the primary function of a clutch in a mechanical system?

A) To connect and disconnect power transmission
B) To reduce friction
C) To absorb vibrations
D) To store energy

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87. Which of the following is a common method for joining two metal parts?

A) Welding
B) Riveting
C) Bolting
D) All of the above

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88. What is the main advantage of using composite materials in machine design?

A) High weight
B) High strength-to-weight ratio
C) Low cost
D) Easy to manufacture

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89. In machine design, what does “wear” refer to?

A) The gradual removal of material due to friction
B) The maximum load a material can withstand
C) The point of permanent deformation
D) The ability to resist corrosion

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90. What is the purpose of a foundation in machine design?

A) To transmit loads to the ground
B) To support moving parts
C) To store energy
D) To reduce friction

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91. Which type of energy is primarily stored in a spring?

A) Kinetic energy
B) Potential energy
C) Thermal energy
D) Chemical energy

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92. In machine design, what does “stiffness” refer to?

A) The ability to resist deformation
B) The ability to absorb vibrations
C) The ability to transmit power
D) The ability to conduct heat

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93. What is the primary function of a frame in a mechanical system?

A) To transmit loads
B) To absorb shock
C) To support components
D) To provide rigidity

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94. Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting the performance of a mechanical system?

A) Material properties
B) Environmental conditions
C) Aesthetics
D) Design geometry

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95. What is the purpose of a torque converter in an automotive system?

A) To increase speed
B) To increase torque
C) To reduce emissions
D) To store energy

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96. In machine design, what is the main disadvantage of using plastic materials?

A) High weight
B) Low strength
C) High cost
D) Poor corrosion resistance

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97. What is the primary purpose of a mechanical lock?

A) To transmit power
B) To secure a position
C) To absorb shock
D) To support loads

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98. Which type of analysis is typically performed to predict the performance of a machine component under varying loads?

A) Thermal analysis
B) Fatigue analysis
C) Modal analysis
D) Static analysis

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99. In machine design, what is the primary advantage of using carbon fiber?

A) High weight
B) High corrosion resistance
C) High strength and lightweight
D) Low cost

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100. What is the purpose of a safety factor in machine design?

A) To increase efficiency
B) To provide a margin of safety against failure
C) To reduce manufacturing costs
D) To improve aesthetics

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101. What is the main purpose of machine design?

A) To create aesthetic products
B) To improve product marketing
C) To design functional and efficient mechanical systems
D) To minimize production costs

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102. Which of the following is a common material used in machine design?

A) Plastic
B) Wood
C) Steel
D) Glass

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103. What does the term “factor of safety” refer to in machine design?

A) The maximum load a component can handle
B) The ratio of the material strength to the expected load
C) The safety measures taken during production
D) The minimum design requirement

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104. In machine design, what is meant by “tolerance”?

A) The allowable variation in a dimension
B) The ability of a material to withstand stress
C) The weight of a component
D) The length of a component

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105. Which of the following components is typically used to transmit rotary motion?

A) Shaft
B) Bolt
C) Bearing
D) Gear

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106. What is a “bending moment” in the context of machine design?

A) A measure of the force acting on a rotating object
B) The tendency of a force to cause rotation about an axis
C) The stress experienced by a material
D) The torque applied to a shaft

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107. In machine design, what is the primary purpose of a bearing?

A) To connect two components
B) To reduce friction between moving parts
C) To support heavy loads
D) To transfer heat

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108. Which type of gear is used to change the direction of motion?

A) Spur gear
B) Bevel gear
C) Worm gear
D) Rack and pinion

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109. What is the role of a key in mechanical assemblies?

A) To lock two components in place
B) To transmit torque between a shaft and a component
C) To provide support for heavy loads
D) To reduce friction between moving parts

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110. Which of the following is NOT a method of joining components in machine design?

A) Welding
B) Adhesive bonding
C) Threading
D) Painting

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111. What type of loading causes shear stress in a beam?

A) Axial loading
B) Bending loading
C) Torsional loading
D) Shear loading

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112. What is the main function of a clutch in a machine?

A) To connect two shafts
B) To increase the speed of a rotating object
C) To disconnect power between shafts
D) To reduce friction

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113. In gear design, what does “pitch circle” refer to?

A) The circle on which the gears mesh
B) The diameter of the gear
C) The center of the gear
D) The outer edge of the gear

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114. What does the term “fatigue limit” mean in materials science?

A) The maximum stress a material can withstand without failing
B) The stress level below which a material can endure an infinite number of load cycles
C) The point at which a material begins to deform permanently
D) The minimum load required to cause failure

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115. Which of the following is an example of a fastener?

A) Bearing
B) Spring
C) Bolt
D) Gear

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116. What is the purpose of a spring in a machine design?

A) To store energy and release it
B) To connect two parts
C) To transmit torque
D) To reduce weight

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117. In mechanical design, what is the term “corrosion” referring to?

A) The weakening of materials due to fatigue
B) The gradual destruction of materials due to chemical reactions
C) The distortion of shapes under load
D) The wear and tear from friction

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118. Which of the following is used to measure angular displacement?

A) Caliper
B) Goniometer
C) Ruler
D) Micrometer

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119. What does “stress concentration” refer to in machine design?

A) Uniform distribution of stress across a component
B) Areas in a material where stress is significantly higher than in the surrounding areas
C) The average stress experienced by a component
D) The minimum stress required for failure

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120. What is a “cam” used for in mechanical systems?

A) To provide rotational motion
B) To convert rotary motion into linear motion
C) To reduce friction
D) To transmit torque

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