Need to practice your mechanical engineering skills for an upcoming job interview? Try solving these mechanical engineering interview questions that test knowledge of concepts, principles, and best practices in various engineering branches such as mechanics, thermodynamics, material science, and electricity. We’ll provide feedback on your answers, and you can use a hint if you get stuck.
These mechanical engineering interview questions are examples of real tasks used by employers to screen mechanical engineers, maintenance engineers, industrial engineers, and others that require knowledge of engineering and mathematics principles and best practices.
1. Gasoline Engine
The research and development department is looking for ways to improve engine efficiency for a gasoline engine that they'll use in a car.
Which changes would increase engine efficiency for the gasoline engine?
(Select all acceptable answers.)
2. Temperature Alarm
A company is developing a temperature alarm, based on the schema below, that should close an electric circuit when the temperature rises above 150°C:
| Linear coefficient of thermal expansion (x10-6K-1) | Volumetric mass density (kg/m3) | Melting point (°C) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brass | 13 | 8600 | 1000 |
| Copper | 17 | 8940 | 1100 |
| Iron | 11.8 | 7870 | 1500 |
| Mercury | 181 | 13540 | -39 |
| Polystyrene | 70 | 1060 | 100 |
| Steel | 12 | 7800 | 1600 |
Based on available materials and their properties, choose materials for the temperature alarm that require the smallest temperature difference to do the task.
For Material 1:
For Material 2:
3. Light Bulbs
Three light bulbs are connected to a motorcycle's battery as shown in the image below:
How much energy does the 3rd bulb consume when all three bulbs are turned on?
