If the cut-off plate is removed from a blower assembly, how does it affect blower performance?

Removing the cut-off plate from a blower assembly primarily affects airflow by reducing it. The cut-off plate plays a crucial role in directing and optimizing the path of air through the blower. When this plate is removed, the designed airflow dynamics are disrupted, leading to inefficient airflow distribution. This disruption can cause air to escape or circulate in unintended patterns, ultimately decreasing the overall efficiency of the blower system.

The other options suggest scenarios that do not align with the functions and effects of the cut-off plate. For instance, increased airflow would imply that removing the plate actively boosts performance, which is contrary to the intended design. Being left with no effect on airflow would mean the same level of performance regardless of the plate's presence, which is also inaccurate, as the plate is integral to maintaining optimal airflow. Generating vibrations could happen in some cases due to improper air handling, but that is not a direct or primary consequence of simply removing the cut-off plate. Thus, the correct understanding points toward a reduction in airflow efficiency when the cut-off plate is absent.