Question 1

Load-bearing capacity

Accepted Answer

Maximum weight a soil or surface can support without failure.

Question 2

Tipping load

Accepted Answer

The point at which a machine will tip or overturn due to imbalance.

Question 3

Swing radius

Accepted Answer

The distance from the center of the machine to the outermost point of the attachment during rotation.

Question 4

Backfilling

Accepted Answer

The process of replacing excavated soil into a trench or excavation.

Question 5

Ripper attachment

Accepted Answer

A tool for breaking up hard ground or rock during excavation.

Question 6

Articulated steering

Accepted Answer

A type of steering where the front and rear sections of the machine pivot independently.

Question 7

Float mode

Accepted Answer

A control setting that allows the loader bucket to follow the contour of the ground.

Question 8

Outriggers

Accepted Answer

Extendable supports that increase stability during lifting or digging operations.

Question 9

Counterweight

Accepted Answer

A mass added to a machine to improve stability and balance.

Question 10

Differential lock

Accepted Answer

A feature that locks both drive wheels together, providing equal traction to both wheels.

Question 11

Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS)

Accepted Answer

A structure designed to protect the operator in the event of a rollover.

Question 12

Falling Object Protective Structure (FOPS)

Accepted Answer

A structure designed to protect the operator from falling objects.

Question 13

Grade control system

Accepted Answer

A technology that helps operators achieve accurate grades and reduce rework.

Question 14

Load moment indicator (LMI)

Accepted Answer

A system that monitors the load on a crane to prevent overloading.

Question 15

Cycle time

Accepted Answer

The time it takes to complete one repetitive operation, such as loading and dumping a bucket.

Question 16

Breakout force

Accepted Answer

The force exerted by a loader bucket during excavation.

Question 17

Trench box

Accepted Answer

A protective structure used in trench excavations to prevent cave-ins.

Question 18

Trench depth

Accepted Answer

The vertical distance from the surface to the bottom of a trench.

Question 19

Dewatering

Accepted Answer

The removal of water from an excavation or construction site.

Question 20

Swell factor

Accepted Answer

The increase in volume of excavated material compared to its original in-situ state.

Question 21

Ground pressure

Accepted Answer

The pressure exerted by a machine on the ground surface, typically measured in pounds per square inch (psi).

Question 22

Tractive effort

Accepted Answer

The force available for a machine to move or push material.

Question 23

Lift chart

Accepted Answer

A graphical representation of a machine's lifting capabilities at various boom angles and lengths.

Question 24

Rated operating capacity (ROC)

Accepted Answer

The maximum safe load a machine can lift and transport.

Question 25

Slew speed

Accepted Answer

The speed at which a machine rotates around its vertical axis.

Question 26

Backhoe bucket types

Accepted Answer

General-purpose, heavy-duty, rock, and ditch cleaning.

Question 27

Loader bucket types

Accepted Answer

General-purpose, light material, high-dump, and multipurpose.

Question 28

Shear force

Accepted Answer

The force that causes a material to fail by shearing along a plane.

Question 29

Compaction

Accepted Answer

The process of increasing soil density by removing air and water.

Question 30

Excavation methods

Accepted Answer

Trenching, stripping, and mass excavation.

Question 31

Soil classification

Accepted Answer

Granular, cohesive, organic, and mixed soils.

Question 32

Undercarriage components

Accepted Answer

Track assemblies, rollers, idlers, and sprockets.

Question 33

Hydraulic system components

Accepted Answer

Pumps, valves, cylinders, hoses, and fittings.

Question 34

Power shift transmission

Accepted Answer

A type of transmission that allows for seamless gear changes without stopping.

Question 35

Torque converter

Accepted Answer

A device that transfers power from the engine to the transmission.

Question 36

Final drive

Accepted Answer

The last stage of power transmission, responsible for transferring torque to the drive wheels or tracks.

Question 37

Wet clutch

Accepted Answer

A type of clutch that uses oil to cool and lubricate the friction surfaces.

Question 38

Dry clutch

Accepted Answer

A type of clutch that operates without lubrication, relying on friction between surfaces.

Question 39

Planetary gear set

Accepted Answer

A compact and efficient gear system that provides multiple gear ratios in a small space.

Question 40

Hydrostatic drive

Accepted Answer

A type of transmission that uses hydraulic fluid to transfer power from the engine to the wheels.

Question 41

Engine overspeed protection

Accepted Answer

A safety feature that prevents the engine from operating at excessively high speeds.

Question 42

Load-sensing hydraulics

Accepted Answer

A hydraulic system that adjusts flow and pressure based on the load requirements.

Question 43

Boom lock

Accepted Answer

A safety feature that prevents the boom from accidentally lowering during transport or maintenance.

Question 44

Anti-two-block device

Accepted Answer

A safety feature that prevents the hook block from contacting the boom tip, which can cause dangerous overloading.

Question 45

Fuel efficiency

Accepted Answer

The amount of work performed per unit of fuel consumed.

Question 46

Emission standards

Accepted Answer

Regulations that set limits on the amount of pollutants released by internal combustion engines.

Question 47

Diesel particulate filter (DPF)

Accepted Answer

A device that captures and stores particulate matter (PM) from diesel engine exhaust.

Question 48

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR)

Accepted Answer

A system that reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by injecting a urea solution into the exhaust stream.

Question 49

Job hazard analysis (JHA)

Accepted Answer

A systematic process to identify and evaluate hazards associated with specific tasks.

Question 50

Lockout/tagout (LOTO)

Accepted Answer

A safety procedure that prevents the accidental start-up of machinery during maintenance or repair.

Question 51

Pre-operation inspection

Accepted Answer

A routine check of a machine's condition before use to ensure it is safe to operate.

Question 52

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Accepted Answer

Safety gear worn by workers to reduce exposure to hazards, including hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and steel-toed boots.

Red Seal Exam: Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor-Loader-Backhoe) Flashcards