South Carolina Bearing Maintenance
Technician Certification License Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a bearing in rotating machinery?
A. To convert rotational motion into linear motion
B. To support and reduce friction between moving parts
C. To generate electrical current
D. To measure rotational speed
Bearings are designed to support loads and minimize friction
between moving components during rotation.
2. Which type of bearing is most suitable for handling combined radial
and thrust loads?
A. Deep groove ball bearing
B. Tapered roller bearing
C. Straight roller bearing
D. Needle bearing
Tapered roller bearings are engineered to accommodate both radial
and axial (thrust) loads due to their geometry.
3. What is the primary failure mode associated with inadequate
lubrication in bearings?
, A. Corrosion
B. Fatigue spalling
C. Excessive wear and overheating
D. Electrical erosion
Inadequate lubrication increases friction, leading to wear and heat
generation, which accelerates bearing failure.
4. Which lubricant property is most critical for high-speed bearing
applications?
A. Viscosity index
B. Pour point
C. Low friction coefficient and appropriate viscosity
D. Color
High-speed bearings require lubricants that maintain fluid film at
speed without generating excessive drag.
5. What measurement technique is commonly used to detect early
bearing defects?
A. Torque testing
B. Thermographic scanning
C. Vibration analysis
D. Ultrasonic welding
Vibration analysis identifies characteristic frequency patterns that
indicate bearing anomalies before catastrophic failure.
6. What does the term “Cage” refer to in a rolling-element bearing?
A. The inner race
B. The lubricant channel
C. The component that separates and guides rolling elements
D. The outer housing
The cage maintains the correct spacing and alignment of balls or
rollers within the bearing.
, 7. Which of the following is a characteristic of a thrust bearing?
A. Designed only for radial loads
B. Uses magnetic levitation
C. Supports axial loads
D. Operates only in vertical shafts
Thrust bearings are engineered specifically to support axial (thrust)
forces in machinery.
8. Bearing life is most influenced by which of the following factors?
A. Operating color
B. Bearing brand
C. Ambient humidity
D. Load, speed, lubrication, and alignment
These operational factors directly affect stress and wear within a
bearing, determining its life.
9. What does IR lubrication stand for in bearing maintenance?
A. Internal resistance lubrication
B. Incorporated roller lubrication
C. Infrared lubrication
D. Intermittent radial lubrication
IR lubrication refers to lubrication designed specifically for the rolling
elements and raceways.
10. What type of contamination is most harmful to bearing life?
A. Water vapor
B. Hard particulate contamination (dust/dirt)
C. Air
D. Lubricant additives
Hard particulates cause abrasive wear and micro-pitting, drastically
shortening bearing life.
Technician Certification License Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2026
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a bearing in rotating machinery?
A. To convert rotational motion into linear motion
B. To support and reduce friction between moving parts
C. To generate electrical current
D. To measure rotational speed
Bearings are designed to support loads and minimize friction
between moving components during rotation.
2. Which type of bearing is most suitable for handling combined radial
and thrust loads?
A. Deep groove ball bearing
B. Tapered roller bearing
C. Straight roller bearing
D. Needle bearing
Tapered roller bearings are engineered to accommodate both radial
and axial (thrust) loads due to their geometry.
3. What is the primary failure mode associated with inadequate
lubrication in bearings?
, A. Corrosion
B. Fatigue spalling
C. Excessive wear and overheating
D. Electrical erosion
Inadequate lubrication increases friction, leading to wear and heat
generation, which accelerates bearing failure.
4. Which lubricant property is most critical for high-speed bearing
applications?
A. Viscosity index
B. Pour point
C. Low friction coefficient and appropriate viscosity
D. Color
High-speed bearings require lubricants that maintain fluid film at
speed without generating excessive drag.
5. What measurement technique is commonly used to detect early
bearing defects?
A. Torque testing
B. Thermographic scanning
C. Vibration analysis
D. Ultrasonic welding
Vibration analysis identifies characteristic frequency patterns that
indicate bearing anomalies before catastrophic failure.
6. What does the term “Cage” refer to in a rolling-element bearing?
A. The inner race
B. The lubricant channel
C. The component that separates and guides rolling elements
D. The outer housing
The cage maintains the correct spacing and alignment of balls or
rollers within the bearing.
, 7. Which of the following is a characteristic of a thrust bearing?
A. Designed only for radial loads
B. Uses magnetic levitation
C. Supports axial loads
D. Operates only in vertical shafts
Thrust bearings are engineered specifically to support axial (thrust)
forces in machinery.
8. Bearing life is most influenced by which of the following factors?
A. Operating color
B. Bearing brand
C. Ambient humidity
D. Load, speed, lubrication, and alignment
These operational factors directly affect stress and wear within a
bearing, determining its life.
9. What does IR lubrication stand for in bearing maintenance?
A. Internal resistance lubrication
B. Incorporated roller lubrication
C. Infrared lubrication
D. Intermittent radial lubrication
IR lubrication refers to lubrication designed specifically for the rolling
elements and raceways.
10. What type of contamination is most harmful to bearing life?
A. Water vapor
B. Hard particulate contamination (dust/dirt)
C. Air
D. Lubricant additives
Hard particulates cause abrasive wear and micro-pitting, drastically
shortening bearing life.
