NEIEP Mechanics Practice Exam

How much must the counterweight weigh if the assembled car weighs 3800 lbs and has a capacity of 2500 lbs?

1. 4000 lbs

2. 4600 lbs

3. 5100 lbs

4. 5500 lbs

The correct answer is: 5100 lbs

To find the required weight of the counterweight, you need to consider the total weight that the assembled car must safely support when fully loaded. The car already weighs 3800 lbs, and the maximum load it can carry is 2500 lbs. Therefore, the total weight that must be counterbalanced when the car is at full capacity is calculated by adding these two weights together. The total weight (which is the sum of the car's weight and its capacity) is: 3800 lbs (weight of the car) + 2500 lbs (capacity) = 6300 lbs. In crane and lifting applications, the counterweight must match or exceed the total load being lifted to ensure stability and prevent tipping. Because the question asks for the weight of the counterweight and not the total weight, the correct interpretation is that the counterweight must provide sufficient balance against the total load. However, the problem can mislead into only selecting the options presented rather than using the exact computation. When analyzing the options, the closest choice that accounts for the balance needed, factoring in the vehicle weight against a maximum safe load, suggests that the acceptable counterweight must be less than or very close to the combined total to maintain balance effectively without exceeding safety margins. Therefore