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Junior Cycle Applied Technology: Rotary-to-linear mechanisms

How often Rotary-to-linear mechanisms comes up on the Applied Technology papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

CL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Rotary-to-linear mechanisms, Common Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Rotary-to-linear mechanisms.

(a)A rack must move 120 mm. The pinion moves it 30 mm per turn and turns at 20 rpm. How long does it take?
  1. 4 seconds
  2. 12 seconds
  3. 20 seconds
(b)Which cam makes its follower rise slowly and then drop suddenly?
  1. Pear-shaped cam
  2. Eccentric (circular) cam
  3. Snail (drop) cam
(c)Which mechanism in a car's steering changes the steering wheel's rotation into side-to-side movement?
  1. Rack and pinion
  2. Bevel gears
  3. Chain and sprocket
Show the answers

(a) 12 seconds

(b) Snail (drop) cam

(c) Rack and pinion

Your turn: Common Level questions on Rotary-to-linear mechanisms.

Common Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Common Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q2b(iii), Q4b(i), Q4b(ii)
2025Q2c(ii)
2024Q1c(i), Q1d(i), Q1d(ii)
2023Q2c(iv), Q2e(i)
2022Q2e(i), Q2e(ii), Q2e(iii)

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Rotary-to-linear mechanisms questions

Rotary-to-linear mechanisms, 2 marks

A cam and follower changes rotary motion into?

  1. Faster rotary motion
  2. Rotary motion at 90 degrees
  3. Reciprocating motion
Show the answer

Reciprocating motion

As the shaped cam turns, the follower resting on it rises and falls, back and forth along a line. Cams are used in engines and in toys that make figures bob up and down.

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