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AMG · 8% of the exam

Weight and Balance practice questions

10 free Weight and Balance questions for the Aviation Mechanic General (AMG) Knowledge Test exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question AMG quiz

What this domain covers

Calculating aircraft weight and balance and the centre of gravity.

Exam weight
8%
On a real exam
≈ 5 questions
In our bank
48 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Datum, arm and moment
  • CG calculations
  • Empty weight and useful load
  • Adding and removing equipment
  • Weighing procedures

How to study it

Do several full weight-and-balance problems by hand; the method is the same every time.

Sample Weight and Balance questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    For weight and balance, aviation gasoline is usually figured at 6 pounds per gallon. How much do 40 gallons weigh?

    • A46 pounds
    • B240 pounds
    • C6.7 pounds
    • D400 pounds
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 240 pounds

    • AIncorrect. This adds the values.
    • BCorrect. 40 × 6 = 240 lb.
    • CIncorrect. This does not match the figures.
    • DIncorrect. This uses 10 lb per gallon.

  2. Question 2

    Equipment is installed behind the aircraft's current center of gravity. What happens to the CG?

    • AIt moves aft
    • BIt moves forward
    • CIt does not change
    • DIt moves to the datum
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) It moves aft

    • ACorrect. Adding weight aft of the CG moves the CG rearward.
    • BIncorrect. Weight added forward moves the CG forward.
    • CIncorrect. Added weight away from the CG shifts it.
    • DIncorrect. The datum is fixed.

  3. Question 3

    When an aircraft is placed on scales to find its empty weight and empty-weight CG, what attitude should it be in?

    • ALevel, using the leveling means or points the manufacturer specifies
    • BResting normally on its landing gear, with no leveling adjustment
    • CNose raised to the takeoff rotation attitude to load the main gear
    • DTilted along its longitudinal axis so the fuel sumps drain completely
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Level, using the leveling means or points the manufacturer specifies

    An aircraft is weighed in a level attitude, set with the manufacturer's leveling means. This gives a repeatable condition so the measured weights and arms produce an accurate empty-weight CG.

    • ACorrect. The aircraft is leveled using the manufacturer's leveling means. This gives a well-defined, repeatable condition so the arms used in the CG calculation are valid.
    • BIncorrect. A tailwheel aircraft, or one with uneven strut extension, sits off-level at rest. That shifts the effective arms and makes the CG calculation wrong.
    • CIncorrect. A nose-high attitude moves the horizontal distances between the weighing points and the datum, which gives a false CG.
    • DIncorrect. Fuel is drained according to the manufacturer's procedure before weighing. The aircraft is then weighed level, not tilted.

  4. Question 4

    When weighing an aircraft, what is tare weight?

    • AChocks and blocks on scales
    • BThe weight of the usable fuel
    • CThe empty weight
    • DThe pilot's weight
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Chocks and blocks on scales

    • ACorrect. Tare is the weight of items on the scales that are not part of the aircraft; it is subtracted.
    • BIncorrect. Fuel is handled separately.
    • CIncorrect. Tare is subtracted to find it.
    • DIncorrect. Tare is equipment on the scales.

  5. Question 5

    Water weighs about how much per gallon for weight and balance purposes?

    • AAbout 6 pounds
    • BAbout 8.35 pounds
    • CAbout 7.5 pounds
    • DAbout 1 pound
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) About 8.35 pounds

    • AIncorrect. That is avgas.
    • BCorrect. Water weighs about 8.35 lb per gallon.
    • CIncorrect. That is the standard figure for oil.
    • DIncorrect. This is far too light.

  6. Question 6

    Which fuel is included in an aircraft's basic empty weight?

    • AHalf of the usable fuel
    • BFull usable fuel
    • CUnusable fuel
    • DNo fuel of any kind
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Unusable fuel

    • AIncorrect. No usable fuel is counted in empty weight.
    • BIncorrect. Usable fuel is part of the useful load.
    • CCorrect. Unusable fuel stays in the system and is part of empty weight.
    • DIncorrect. Unusable fuel is included in empty weight.

  7. Question 7

    Fuel tanks are located aft of an aircraft's CG. As fuel burns during flight, which way does the CG move?

    • ALaterally to the right
    • BAft
    • CIt does not move
    • DForward
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Forward

    • AIncorrect. Fore-and-aft fuel location affects longitudinal CG.
    • BIncorrect. Removing aft weight shifts the CG forward.
    • CIncorrect. Burning fuel off-CG changes the CG.
    • DCorrect. Removing weight behind the CG moves the CG forward.

  8. Question 8

    Using 6 pounds per gallon, how much do 40 gallons of avgas weigh?

    • A268 pounds
    • B240 pounds
    • C46 pounds
    • D6.7 pounds
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 240 pounds

    • AIncorrect. 268 lb uses jet fuel's 6.7 lb/gal.
    • BCorrect. 40 × 6 = 240 pounds.
    • CIncorrect. Gallons and weight per gallon are multiplied.
    • DIncorrect. That is jet fuel per gallon.

  9. Question 9

    An aircraft weighs 2,000 pounds with a total moment of 150,000 inch-pounds. Where is its center of gravity?

    • A300 inches aft of datum
    • B7.5 inches aft of datum
    • C75 inches aft of datum
    • D13.3 inches aft of datum
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) 75 inches aft of datum

    • AIncorrect. This does not match the figures.
    • BIncorrect. This is off by a factor of ten.
    • CCorrect. CG = total moment ÷ total weight = 150,000 ÷ 2,000 = 75 in.
    • DIncorrect. This divides weight by moment.

  10. Question 10

    A 20-lb item is located at an arm of −10 inches. What is its moment?

    • A−2,000 in-lb
    • B−200 in-lb
    • C−2 in-lb
    • D10 in-lb
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) −200 in-lb

    • AIncorrect. Recheck the multiplication: 20 × 10 is 200, not 2,000.
    • BCorrect. Moment = 20 × (−10) = −200 in-lb, an item forward of the datum.
    • CIncorrect. Weight and arm are multiplied, not divided.
    • DIncorrect. Weight and arm are multiplied, not added.

Weight and Balance: FAQs

How much of the AMG exam is Weight and Balance?

Weight and Balance is 8% of the AMG exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 60-question form works out to roughly 5 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Weight and Balance domain cover?

Calculating aircraft weight and balance and the centre of gravity.

How should I study Weight and Balance for AMG?

Do several full weight-and-balance problems by hand; the method is the same every time.

Where can I practise more Weight and Balance questions?

This page has 10 free Weight and Balance questions with answers. The ExamWize AMG question bank has 48 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other AMG topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the AMG cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Weight and Balance exam-ready

The full AMG bank has 48 Weight and Balance questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full AMG practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with FAA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.