Mechanical Aptitude Tests

aloft

aloft

New Member
Some airlines (notably, one I want to work for in the not-too-distant future) employ a mechanical aptitude test as part of the screening process. In browsing through one of the mechanical aptitude test prep books at Barnes & Noble last night, I realized how much I *don't* know about that sort of stuff--like, in a boiling pot of water, which metal spoon will heat up faster, a silver or steel one? I'm good with all the spatial relationship sorts of things, but I'm just a dumbass when it comes to the mechanical stuff. Anyone got any advice?
 
I can't remember the name of the book but when I studied for aptitude tests, there's some military OCS book that helped beyond belief.
 
I took the Air Force Officer's Qualifying Test and it had a lot of mechanical questions. I used a study guide i got at Borders called Officer Canidate Tests. It was a big help for taking the SkyW aptidude test. The ASVAB guide is also good.
 
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in a boiling pot of water, which metal spoon will heat up faster, a silver or steel one?

[/ QUOTE ]

Silver has the highest level of electrical conductivity of any metal. I imagine it's thermal rating would be fairly high too.



The ASVAB test prep book would be a good study guide.

Other than that, buy a used A&P textbook(s) and study the summaries.

If you have some time that you're not busy, find a mechanic who will give you a bit of his time and ask questions about anything you've wondered how it works.

"how does the engine know to adjust the fuel flow?"
 
I would pick up a high school physics text book and go from there.

That's exactly what I did and am still doing. You will learn a lot by doing this, despite the fact that it may require some research on your part.

Many aviation books often fail to get into the nitty-gritty details of why things happen the way they do (although some books are very good at going into detail). If you supplement these books with a physics book, you will learn a heck of a lot.

Good luck, and never stop learning!!
 
You mean to tell me they teach physics in high school?
grin.gif
So much for my so-called "guidance counselor".
mad.gif
 
I used the ASVAB book for the skywest interview but I didn't think it helped that much. There was some questions that I had no clue on. Ive read in other pilot gouges that there is a "mechanical appitude" book where skywest had some word for word from it. I havent found or seen one though.
 
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