Question

Difficulty: MediumScrews and Threads

A mechanic is using a C-clamp with a threaded screw that has $16$ threads per inch (TPI). The clamp is currently open to a width of $5.0$ inches. If the mechanic needs to tightly secure two steel plates that have a combined thickness of $1.5$ inches, how many full revolutions of the screw are required to close the clamp to the exact thickness of the plates?

Answer: 56 revolutions

Answer

56

The screw must travel a linear distance of

3.5

inches to close the gap from

5.0

inches to

1.5

inches. With

16

threads per inch, each inch of linear travel requires

16

full revolutions. Multiplying the

3.5

inches of travel by

16

revolutions per inch yields exactly

56

revolutions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1

Calculate the linear distance the clamp's jaw needs to travel.

5.0 - 1.5 = 3.5

inches

The screw only needs to cover the empty space between the current opening and the target thickness of the plates.

2

Calculate the total number of revolutions based on the travel distance and TPI.

3.5 \times 16 = 56

revolutions

TPI (threads per inch) indicates that one full revolution moves the screw

1/16

of an inch. Therefore, moving it

1

inch requires

16

revolutions.

Key Concept

Linear Travel and Threads Per Inch (TPI)

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Topics

Screws and Threads

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