ASVAB — All Questions

Simplify: 2(3 + 4) - 5.

• a.12
• b.7
• c.9✓
• d.3

Following order of operations, first add inside the parentheses to get 7. Multiply by 2 to get 14, then subtract 5 to reach 9.

A circle has a radius of 5. What is its circumference? (Use pi is about 3.14.)

• a.78.5
• b.15.7
• c.31.4✓
• d.25.0

Circumference equals 2 times pi times the radius. That is 2 times 3.14 times 5, which equals 31.4. The value 78.5 is the area, not the circumference.

What is the value of the expression 5! (5 factorial)?

• a.720
• b.120✓
• c.60
• d.25

A factorial multiplies all whole numbers from the number down to 1. So 5 factorial is 5 times 4 times 3 times 2 times 1, which equals 120.

Solve for y: 2y - 6 = 10.

• a.8✓
• b.2
• c.16
• d.5

Adding 6 to both sides gives 2y equals 16. Dividing both sides by 2 gives y equals 8. Substituting 8 back confirms the solution.

What is the square root of 144?

• a.12✓
• b.72
• c.11
• d.14

The square root of a number is the value that, multiplied by itself, gives that number. Since 12 times 12 equals 144, the square root of 144 is 12.

The sum of the interior angles of a triangle is:

• a.90 degrees
• b.180 degrees✓
• c.360 degrees
• d.270 degrees

The interior angles of any triangle always add up to 180 degrees. This is a fundamental rule of Euclidean geometry. A quadrilateral, by contrast, totals 360 degrees.

If a = 3 and b = -2, what is the value of a squared minus b?

• a.-11
• b.5
• c.11✓
• d.7

First, a squared is 3 times 3, which equals 9. Subtracting b, which is negative 2, means adding 2, giving 9 plus 2, or 11.

What is 3/4 written as a decimal?

• a.1.33
• b.0.75✓
• c.0.43
• d.0.34

Dividing the numerator 3 by the denominator 4 gives 0.75. Fractions are converted to decimals by dividing the top number by the bottom number.

A rectangle has a length of 8 and a perimeter of 26. What is its width?

• a.4
• b.5✓
• c.9
• d.6

The perimeter equals twice the length plus twice the width. So 26 minus 2 times 8, which is 16, leaves 10 for the two widths. Dividing 10 by 2 gives a width of 5.

Simplify the expression 3x + 2x - x.

• a.5x
• b.2x
• c.6x
• d.4x✓

Combining like terms, 3x plus 2x equals 5x, and subtracting x leaves 4x. Only the coefficients are added and subtracted since all terms share the variable x.

What is the value of 6 divided by 0.5?

• a.3
• b.6
• c.0.083
• d.12✓

Dividing by 0.5 is the same as multiplying by 2. So 6 divided by 0.5 equals 12. Dividing by a number less than 1 produces a result larger than the original.

A cube has edges of length 3. What is its volume?

• a.27✓
• b.18
• c.9
• d.81

The volume of a cube equals the edge length raised to the third power. Three cubed is 3 times 3 times 3, which equals 27 cubic units.

Which part of the plant cell carries out photosynthesis?

• a.Mitochondrion
• b.Chloroplast✓
• c.Ribosome
• d.Nucleus

Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, the green pigment that captures light energy to make sugar during photosynthesis. The nucleus stores genetic material, while mitochondria release energy from food.

What is the chemical symbol for water?

• a.H2O✓
• b.O2
• c.NaCl
• d.CO2

Water is made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, giving the formula H2O. CO2 is carbon dioxide and NaCl is table salt.

Which gas do humans need to breathe in to survive?

• a.Helium
• b.Oxygen✓
• c.Carbon dioxide
• d.Nitrogen

The human respiratory system takes in oxygen, which cells use to release energy from food. Carbon dioxide is the waste gas that people breathe out.

The force that pulls objects toward the center of the Earth is called:

• a.Friction
• b.Magnetism
• c.Gravity✓
• d.Inertia

Gravity is the attractive force that pulls objects toward the Earth's center, giving them weight. Friction opposes motion between surfaces, and magnetism acts between magnetic materials.

Which planet is closest to the Sun?

• a.Mars
• b.Venus
• c.Mercury✓
• d.Earth

Mercury is the innermost planet, orbiting nearest to the Sun. Venus is second, Earth third, and Mars fourth.

What is the basic unit of heredity that carries traits from parents to offspring?

• a.Tissue
• b.Gene✓
• c.Cell
• d.Organ

A gene is a segment of DNA that carries the instructions for inherited traits. Cells, tissues, and organs are structural levels of the body, not units of heredity.

At what temperature does pure water freeze at sea level, in degrees Celsius?

• a.100 degrees
• b.-10 degrees
• c.32 degrees
• d.0 degrees✓

Pure water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius at standard sea-level pressure. That same point is 32 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale, while water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Which blood cells help fight infection in the body?

• a.Plasma proteins
• b.White blood cells✓
• c.Red blood cells
• d.Platelets

White blood cells are part of the immune system and defend the body against germs and infection. Red blood cells carry oxygen, and platelets help blood clot.

The process by which liquid water turns into water vapor is called:

• a.Freezing
• b.Precipitation
• c.Condensation
• d.Evaporation✓

Evaporation is the change of a liquid into a gas as molecules gain enough energy to escape the surface. Condensation is the reverse, when vapor turns back into liquid.

Which of these is an example of a chemical change?

• a.Tearing paper
• b.Water boiling
• c.Iron rusting✓
• d.Ice melting

Rusting forms a new substance, iron oxide, so it is a chemical change. Melting, boiling, and tearing are physical changes that do not create new substances.

The Richter scale is used to measure the strength of:

• a.Earthquakes✓
• b.Floods
• c.Tornadoes
• d.Hurricanes

The Richter scale measures the magnitude, or energy released, of earthquakes. Hurricanes and tornadoes are rated on different scales based on wind speed.

Which organ system is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body?

• a.Circulatory system✓
• b.Respiratory system
• c.Digestive system
• d.Nervous system

The circulatory system, centered on the heart and blood vessels, pumps blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients. The respiratory system handles breathing, and the digestive system processes food.

What type of energy is stored in a stretched rubber band?

• a.Thermal energy
• b.Sound energy
• c.Potential energy✓
• d.Kinetic energy

A stretched rubber band stores potential energy because of its position or state. When released, that stored energy converts into kinetic energy, the energy of motion.

Which part of the atom carries a negative electric charge?

• a.Electron✓
• b.Nucleus
• c.Neutron
• d.Proton

Electrons carry a negative charge and orbit the atom's nucleus. Protons carry a positive charge and neutrons have no charge, both residing in the nucleus.

Photosynthesis produces oxygen and which sugar?

• a.Lactose
• b.Glucose✓
• c.Sucrose
• d.Fructose

During photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide and water to make glucose and release oxygen. Glucose is the simple sugar plants use for energy and growth.

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth is called the:

• a.Atmosphere✓
• b.Lithosphere
• c.Biosphere
• d.Hydrosphere

The atmosphere is the envelope of gases held around Earth by gravity. The lithosphere is the solid crust, and the hydrosphere includes the planet's water.

According to Ohm's law, voltage equals current multiplied by:

• a.power
• b.resistance✓
• c.frequency
• d.capacitance

Ohm's law states that voltage equals current times resistance, written as V equals I times R. This relationship links the three basic quantities in a circuit.

The unit used to measure electrical resistance is the:

• a.watt
• b.ohm✓
• c.volt
• d.ampere

Resistance is measured in ohms, symbolized by the Greek letter omega. The volt measures voltage, the ampere measures current, and the watt measures power.

A device that stores electrical charge is a:

• a.inductor
• b.resistor
• c.transformer
• d.capacitor✓

A capacitor stores electrical energy in an electric field between two plates. A resistor limits current, while an inductor stores energy in a magnetic field.

In a circuit, current is measured in:

• a.farads
• b.ohms
• c.amperes✓
• d.volts

Electric current, the flow of charge, is measured in amperes, often shortened to amps. Ohms measure resistance, volts measure voltage, and farads measure capacitance.

What is the total resistance of two 10-ohm resistors connected in series?

• a.10 ohms
• b.5 ohms
• c.100 ohms
• d.20 ohms✓

In a series circuit, resistances add together directly. Ten ohms plus ten ohms equals 20 ohms. In parallel, the total would instead be lower than either resistor.

Electrical power in watts is calculated by multiplying voltage by:

• a.current✓
• b.resistance
• c.capacitance
• d.time

Power equals voltage times current, written as P equals V times I. This gives the rate at which electrical energy is used, measured in watts.

A component that allows current to flow in only one direction is a:

• a.diode✓
• b.switch
• c.resistor
• d.capacitor

A diode conducts current in one direction and blocks it in the other, acting like a one-way valve. This property makes diodes useful for converting AC to DC.

The abbreviation AC stands for:

• a.alternating current✓
• b.active charge
• c.ampere current
• d.automatic circuit

AC stands for alternating current, in which the direction of electron flow reverses periodically. DC, or direct current, flows steadily in one direction.

Which material is the best conductor of electricity?

• a.Copper✓
• b.Glass
• c.Rubber
• d.Wood

Copper is an excellent conductor and is widely used in electrical wiring. Rubber, glass, and wood are insulators that resist the flow of current.

A transformer is used to change the level of:

• a.resistance
• b.current direction
• c.voltage✓
• d.frequency

A transformer increases or decreases AC voltage using two coils of wire. Stepping voltage up or down helps electricity travel efficiently and power different devices.

If voltage is 12 volts and resistance is 4 ohms, what is the current?

• a.3 amperes✓
• b.48 amperes
• c.4 amperes
• d.2 amperes

Using Ohm's law, current equals voltage divided by resistance. That is 12 volts divided by 4 ohms, which equals 3 amperes.

A material that strongly resists the flow of electric current is called a(n):

• a.semiconductor
• b.battery
• c.conductor
• d.insulator✓

An insulator resists the flow of electricity and is used to protect and separate conductors. Rubber and plastic are common insulators used to coat wires.

The component that provides a source of stored electrical energy in a portable device is the:

• a.battery✓
• b.fuse
• c.switch
• d.antenna

A battery stores chemical energy and converts it to electrical energy to power a device. A fuse protects the circuit, and a switch simply opens or closes it.

A fuse protects a circuit by:

• a.increasing the voltage
• b.breaking the circuit when current is too high✓
• c.reversing the current
• d.storing extra charge

A fuse contains a thin wire that melts and breaks the circuit when current exceeds a safe level. This prevents overheating and damage to the rest of the circuit.

Which simple machine is a doorknob an example of?

• a.Wheel and axle✓
• b.Wedge
• c.Pulley
• d.Inclined plane

A doorknob turns a shaft, so the large knob and thin spindle form a wheel and axle. Turning the larger wheel produces a stronger turning force on the smaller axle.

A lever is used mainly to:

• a.reduce weight
• b.increase force✓
• c.store electricity
• d.produce heat

A lever multiplies the force applied to it, making it easier to move a load. Placing the fulcrum closer to the load increases this mechanical advantage.

If two people push on a box from opposite sides with equal force, the box will:

• a.move toward the stronger side
• b.speed up
• c.stay still✓
• d.spin in place

Equal and opposite forces cancel out, producing a net force of zero. With no net force, the box remains at rest, an example of balanced forces.

A pulley system is used to:

• a.reduce friction to zero
• b.change the direction of a force✓
• c.increase temperature
• d.create electricity

A single fixed pulley lets you pull down to lift a load up, changing the direction of the applied force. Adding more pulleys can also reduce the effort needed.

Which of these is an example of an inclined plane?

• a.A ramp✓
• b.A seesaw
• c.A wheelbarrow
• d.A ceiling fan

A ramp is a flat surface set at an angle, which is the definition of an inclined plane. It makes raising a load easier by spreading the effort over a longer distance.

The force that opposes the motion of two surfaces sliding against each other is:

• a.buoyancy
• b.friction✓
• c.gravity
• d.tension

Friction acts between contacting surfaces and resists their relative sliding motion. Rougher surfaces generally produce more friction than smooth ones.

In a class-one lever, the fulcrum is located:

• a.outside the lever
• b.between the effort and the load✓
• c.at the effort end only
• d.at the load end only

A class-one lever, such as a seesaw, has its fulcrum between the effort and the load. A crowbar prying a nail is another common example.

Two gears mesh together. If the driving gear turns clockwise, the driven gear will turn:

• a.clockwise
• b.not at all
• c.in both directions
• d.counterclockwise✓

When two gears mesh directly, they turn in opposite directions. So if the driving gear turns clockwise, the meshed driven gear turns counterclockwise.