Questions related to mechanical reasoning test your understanding of the fundamental principles of simple machines. As mentioned in the introduction, the wheel and axle, lever, and inclined plane are examples of simple machines. Other simple machines that are modifications of these three include pulleys and gears, the wedge, and the screw. In this section, we will present typical types of mechanical reasoning questions involving wheels and axles, levers, inclined planes, wedges, and screws (threaded hardware).

Wheels and Axles (pulleys and gears)

Both pulleys and gears are variations of a wheel and axle. The following basic information about these simple machines can help you answer questions about how they work.