North Carolina General Contractors Practice Exam

When a dozer is on a negative 40% slope, how does the blade capacity and production change?

1. Doubles, cut in half, doubles

2. Cut in half, cut in half, doubles

3. Remains the same, increases by half, cuts in half

4. Decreases by 30%, stays the same, increases by 25%

The correct answer is: Doubles, cut in half, doubles

In the context of a dozer working on a negative 40% slope, understanding the effects on blade capacity and production is essential for effective operation. When working on a steep negative slope, the geometry of the dozer's blade and the gravitational forces at play significantly influence its performance. The blade capacity does not literally double; instead, it becomes more challenging to efficiently move material downhill, and the overall effectiveness may reduce due to the slope's influence on the machine's balance and traction. Production is also affected by the slope. As the dozer's ability to efficiently push material downhill is limited, work rates may decrease. A negative slope may require additional care in operation, as stability becomes a concern for both efficiency and safety. This means the blade's ability to move resources isn't as effective as in flat or less steep conditions, impacting overall production output. Thus, when evaluating the impacts on blade capacity and production in this specific scenario, the operations on such a slope highlight the inherent challenges that come with managing heavy machinery on steep terrains, rather than the simplified replication of output metrics like 'doubling' or 'cutting in half'. Each position of the dozer on a slope presents unique operational challenges that deviate from standard performance expectations.