CAE Exam 2 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
What is a mechanism? - Answers A mechanism is a group of connected parts that work
together to move in a specific way.
What is a machine? - Answers A machine is a group of parts that work together to move and
use energy in a controlled way.
What are degrees of freedom? - Answers The number of independent parameters
(measurements, coordinates) which are needed to uniquely define a system's position in space
at any point of time.
How many DOF does a rigid body in plane motion have? - Answers 3
How many DOF does a rigid body in 3D space have? - Answers 6
What is a link? - Answers A rigid body which possesses at least two nodes which are points for
attachment to other links
How many nodes does a binary link have? - Answers 2 nodes
How many nodes does a ternary link have? - Answers 3 nodes
How many nodes does a quaternary link have? - Answers 4 nodes
What is a joint? - Answers a connection between two or more links (at their nodes) which allows
some motion, or potential motion between the kinetic links
AKA kinetic pairs
What are two ways of classifying joints/kinematic pairs? - Answers types of contact and
number of DOF
What are the six types of surface contact between the elements? - Answers revolute (R),
prismatic (P), helical (H), cylindric (C), spherical (S), flat planar (F)
Where can a revolute surface contact be observed? How many degrees of freedom? - Answers
constrained pin, 1 degree of freedom (delta theta)
Where can a helical surface contact be observed? How many degrees of freedom? - Answers
screw, 1 degree of freedom (delta theta)
Where can a prismatic surface contact be observed? How many degrees of freedom? - Answers
slider, 1 degree of freedom (delta x)
Where can a cylindric surface contact be observed? How many degrees of freedom? - Answers
sliding pin, 2 DOF (delta x, delta theta)
What is a mechanism? - Answers A mechanism is a group of connected parts that work
together to move in a specific way.
What is a machine? - Answers A machine is a group of parts that work together to move and
use energy in a controlled way.
What are degrees of freedom? - Answers The number of independent parameters
(measurements, coordinates) which are needed to uniquely define a system's position in space
at any point of time.
How many DOF does a rigid body in plane motion have? - Answers 3
How many DOF does a rigid body in 3D space have? - Answers 6
What is a link? - Answers A rigid body which possesses at least two nodes which are points for
attachment to other links
How many nodes does a binary link have? - Answers 2 nodes
How many nodes does a ternary link have? - Answers 3 nodes
How many nodes does a quaternary link have? - Answers 4 nodes
What is a joint? - Answers a connection between two or more links (at their nodes) which allows
some motion, or potential motion between the kinetic links
AKA kinetic pairs
What are two ways of classifying joints/kinematic pairs? - Answers types of contact and
number of DOF
What are the six types of surface contact between the elements? - Answers revolute (R),
prismatic (P), helical (H), cylindric (C), spherical (S), flat planar (F)
Where can a revolute surface contact be observed? How many degrees of freedom? - Answers
constrained pin, 1 degree of freedom (delta theta)
Where can a helical surface contact be observed? How many degrees of freedom? - Answers
screw, 1 degree of freedom (delta theta)
Where can a prismatic surface contact be observed? How many degrees of freedom? - Answers
slider, 1 degree of freedom (delta x)
Where can a cylindric surface contact be observed? How many degrees of freedom? - Answers
sliding pin, 2 DOF (delta x, delta theta)
