ASVAB Practice Test

A series of 4 gears (W, X, Y, Z) is driven by pulley V and a belt. If V turns in the direction shown, which gears will rotate clockwise?

1. W and X

2. W and Y

3. X and Z

4. Y and X

The correct answer is: W and X

When a pulley turns, the direction of rotation is transferred to the connected gears through the belt. In a gear arrangement, if one gear rotates in a certain direction, the adjacent gear will rotate in the opposite direction due to their interlocking teeth. For the given scenario, if pulley V turns in a specific direction, it will drive the first gear (W) to rotate in the opposite direction. As W turns, it will make the next gear (X) rotate in the opposite direction of W. Moving down the series, X will turn Y in the opposite direction of X, and finally, Y will turn Z in the opposite direction of Y. To determine which gears are rotating clockwise, you start with the rotation of pulley V. If V causes gear W to rotate counterclockwise, then gear X will rotate clockwise. Continuing this pattern, we find that W (counterclockwise) and X (clockwise) are the gears rotating in their respective directions. Therefore, the conclusion is that the gears W and X will rotate in the direction specified, which aligns with the reasoning.