A(n) __________ bearing has inner and outer races that allow it to carry heavier axial loads than a standard ball bearing.

• A. angular contact
• B. radial
• C. ball
• D. thrust

Answer: (A)

Angular contact bearings are designed with the raceways tilted relative to each other, so the balls contact both the inner and outer races at an angle. This angled contact converts part of the load into an axial (along the shaft) component, allowing the bearing to carry heavier axial loads than a standard radial ball bearing, which is optimized mainly for radial forces. The inner and outer races are essential to this design, giving the bearing stiffness and the ability to support thrust alongside radial loads. Radial bearings focus on radial load and don’t provide the same axial capacity, while thrust bearings are built specifically to handle axial loads and don’t combine the inner/outer race arrangement in the same way.