Engineering Questions with Answers - Multiple Choice Questions
Mechanical Operations MCQ’s – Mixing of Solids
1 - Question
Which one of the following rightly defines mixing?
a) Mixing converts a homogenous system to a heterogeneous system without adding any materials
b) Mixing converts a heterogeneous system to a homogeneous system without adding any materials
c) Mixing converts a heterogeneous system to a homogeneous system with or without adding any materials
d) Mixing converts a heterogeneous system to a homogeneous system with or without adding any materials
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Mixing converts a heterogeneous system to a homogeneous system. A single heterogeneous system can be agitated but not mixed without adding some other material to it. Therefore, sometimes an additional material needs to be added to ensure mixing.
2 - Question
Which of the following is the best difference between mixing and blending?
a) Mixing can only be done for a solid-solid system, while blending is done for solid-liquid mixture
b) Mixing is done for liquid-liquid, gas-liquid and solid-liquid systems, while blending is done for solid-solid mixture
c) Bending is done for liquid-liquid and gas-liquid systems, while mixing is done for solid-solid mixture
d) Mixing is done for liquid-liquid and gas-liquid systems, while blending is done for solid-solid mixture
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Mixing can be done for viscous materials, a system constituting of gases and liquids, a system consisting of solids and liquids or a system containing two liquids also. However, blending is a special term that is used only when two solids are mixed or a solid is mixed with negligible liquid.
Explanation: Mixing can be done for viscous materials, a system constituting of gases and liquids, a system consisting of solids and liquids or a system containing two liquids also. However, blending is a special term that is used only when two solids are mixed or a solid is mixed with negligible liquid.
3 - Question
Which of the following describes solid-liquid mixing the best?
a) The end result of solid-liquid mixing is always dissolution
b) Solid-liquid mixing suspends coarse solids in the liquids
c) Solid-liquid mixing cannot break lumps of aggregated solids
d) Solid-liquid mixing suspends coarse solids in the liquids and break lumps of aggregated solids
View Answer
Answer: d
Explanation: Solid-liquid mixing does not always lead to dissolution as the end product. The result of solid-liquid mixing can also be a reaction or homogenization. Adding salt to water is an example of suspending coarse solids in liquids, while mixing flour with water is an example of breaking lumps.
4 - Question
Which of the following is correct about the factors affecting mixing of solids?
a) Mixing is independent of the nature of particle surface
b) Difference in particle size can lead to segregation
c) Demixing accelerates when smaller particles have lesser density
d) Particle shape does not affect mixing
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Mixing is dependent on the nature of the surface of the particle, as mixing rough surfaces is tougher. When particles are of the same size and preferably spherical in shape, mixing is efficient and segregation does not take place. Demixing accelerates when smaller particles have higher density.
5 - Question
Which of the following is false about speed of rotation in tumblers?
a) In slow rotation, enough shear is not applied
b) Speed of rotation depends only on size and shape of the tumbler
c) Rapid rotation leads to segregation
d) Tumblers are operated at a critical and optimum speed
View Answer
Answer: b
Explanation: Efficiency of a tumbler is highly speed dependent. When the speed is low, the shear applied is less and the tumbling is not intense. On the other hand when tumbling speed is too fast, particles hit the wall and segregation takes place. The speed is not just dependent on the size and shape of the tumbler, but also the nature of the particles.
6 - Question
Which of the following is correct about a twin shell blender?
a) The material is loaded approximately 80%-90% by volume
b) Twin shell blenders are U shaped
c) Materials inside undergo tumbling motion when rotated
d) Material is loaded via apex port and emptied through shell hatches
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: The material is loaded approximately 50%-60% by volume. Twin shell blenders are V shaped and are therefore, also called V shaped blenders. Materials are loaded via small hatches and emptied through apex port.
7 - Question
Which of the following is not a disadvantage of tumbler with blades?
a) Large shear force cannot be applied
b) Potential packing
c) Scaling up the process
d) Cleaning the tumbler
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: When a tumbler has blades, large shearing force can be applied which allows an intense mixing of particles. These particles can either be very fine or coarse. The blades can be used for both wet and dry intimate mixing.
8 - Question
What is the principle of mixing?
a) Shear force
b) Perpendicular force
c) Gravitational force
d) Centrifugal force
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: The principle force of mixing is shear force. The shear force is provided by the movement of the blades and high shear rates can break lumps. These are unaligned forces that push one part of the body in one direction, and the other part in opposite direction.
9 - Question
Which of the following is a right match?
a) Static mixer – Mortar Pestle
b) Batch type – Fluidized mixer
c) Tumbling type – V cone blender
d) Continuous type – Ribbon blender
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: A correct example of static mixer is Ribbon blender and Mortar Pestle. A fluidized mixer is an air mixer. An example of batch type mixer is Mortar Pestle. Barrel type mixers and zig zag blenders are continuous type mixers.
10 - Question
Which of the following is the correct match?
I. V cone blender i. Air supported blending II. Fluidized mixers ii. Tumbling action III. Barrel type iii. Rotating shell and rotatory blade IV. Mortar pestle iv. Trituration
a) I-i, II-ii, III-iii, IV-iv
b) I-iii, II-ii, III-ii, IV-iv
c) I-ii, II-iii, III-vi, IV-i
d) I-ii, II-iv, III-iii, IV-i
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: V cone blender is a type of tumbling mixer which works on the principle of tumbling. Fluidized mixers are also called air mixers that work on the principle of air supported blending. Barrel type mixer is a type of continuous mixer. Mortar pestle is a batch type mixer that involves thorough mixing of components.