TCC Technical Cadet Initial Test key terms

A comparison of two quantities showing how many times one contains the other, written as 2:3 or as a fraction. Ratios let you scale recipes, mixtures and drawings up or down without changing proportions.

A number expressed as a part of one hundred, so 25% means 25 out of every 100. Used to compare proportions, calculate discounts, efficiency and error regardless of the original size.

The agreed sequence for evaluating an expression: brackets first, then powers or roots, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction, working left to right within each level.

In a right-angled triangle, the square of the longest side equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Written a² + b² = c², it finds unknown lengths and diagonals in workshop layouts.

The digits in a measurement that carry real meaning, starting from the first non-zero digit. They show how precise a value is and control how many figures you keep in a final answer.

A push or pull acting on an object, measured in newtons. Force can change an object's speed, direction or shape, and several forces acting together combine into a single resultant.

The turning effect of a force about a pivot, calculated as force multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the pivot. Measured in newton metres and central to levers and spanners.

The internal force carried by a material divided by its cross-sectional area, measured in pascals or newtons per square millimetre. High stress relative to a material's strength leads to deformation or failure.

Force spread over an area, calculated as force divided by area and measured in pascals. The same force concentrated on a small area produces much higher pressure, as with a sharp cutting edge.

The useful output of a machine or system divided by the total input, usually written as a percentage. No real machine reaches 100% because friction and other losses convert some energy into heat.

The number of teeth on a driven gear divided by the number of teeth on the driving gear. It predicts how output speed and turning force change relative to the input.

The ratio of the load a machine moves to the effort applied to it. A value above one means the machine multiplies force, though the load then moves a shorter distance.

A rigid bar that turns about a fixed point called the fulcrum. Load and effort sit on opposite sides, or both on one side, giving three classes with different force and movement trade-offs.

A direction measured clockwise from north and always written with three digits, so east is 090° and south-west is 225°. Used to describe the position or heading of objects and components.

The relationship stating that voltage across a conductor equals the current through it multiplied by its resistance (V = IR). It allows any one of the three quantities to be calculated from the other two.

A circuit where components are connected one after another so the same current flows through each. Total resistance is the sum of the parts, and a break anywhere stops current in the whole circuit.

A circuit where components are connected across the same two points, so each receives the full supply voltage and carries its own branch current. Total resistance is always lower than the smallest branch resistance.

The rate at which electrical energy is transferred, calculated as voltage multiplied by current (P = VI) and measured in watts. It states how much energy a device uses each second.

The central point a passage is making, which the supporting details explain or prove. Finding it means asking what the writer most wants the reader to understand or accept.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in a text rather than stated directly. Readers combine the stated facts with general knowledge to work out what the writer implies.

Information surrounding an unfamiliar word that helps reveal its meaning, such as a definition, an example, a contrast or a cause-and-effect relationship in nearby sentences.

A verb form that gives a command or direction, such as isolate, tighten or check. Procedure writing relies on imperatives, usually placed at the start of each step.

Reasoning that moves from general rules to a guaranteed conclusion: if the premises are true and the logic is valid, the conclusion must be true. Used in fault-finding and rule checks.

Reasoning that builds a general rule from specific observations or examples. The conclusion is probable rather than certain, because a new case could always contradict the pattern.

An unstated condition a person takes for granted when presenting an argument or a plan. Hidden assumptions are common weak points and are often what a question asks you to identify.

Overlapping circles that show how sets of items relate, with shared members placed in the overlap. Useful for sorting categories and testing whether a logical statement must be true.

Equipment worn to reduce the risk of injury, such as safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection and safety footwear. It is the last line of defence, used after hazards are removed or controlled.

A measuring tool with a sliding jaw and a secondary scale that reads to fractions of a millimetre, typically 0.02 mm. It measures outside, inside and depth dimensions on a workpiece.

A wrench that clicks or otherwise signals when a set turning force is reached, ensuring fasteners are tightened to a specified value. Over-tightening can strip threads or distort parts.

A metal made by mixing one main metal with other elements to improve properties such as strength, hardness or corrosion resistance. Steel and brass are common examples used in manufacturing.

A document supplied with a hazardous substance that lists its hazards, safe handling, first aid, storage and spill response. It should be read before the substance is used.

A drawing method that shows a three-dimensional object as separate flat views, usually front, top and side, arranged so each view aligns with the others. Dimensions are true in each view.

A pictorial drawing on three axes spaced 120° apart, showing length, width and height together. Vertical edges stay vertical and distances along the three axes are drawn to scale.

The ratio between a drawn length and the real length it represents, such as 1:50. It lets large or small objects be shown on a sheet of practical size.

A drawing that shows an object as if cut open, revealing internal features that hidden lines would otherwise describe. Material cut by the cutting plane is shown with hatching.

A standard simplified shape representing a component such as a resistor, switch or valve on a circuit diagram. Symbols are not drawn to scale; their meaning is fixed by convention.

The permitted variation between a specified dimension and the actual manufactured size, for example 20.00 ± 0.05 mm. Tighter tolerance costs more but is needed where parts must fit together.