Test your knowledge of Electrical Engineering with these questions!

Table of Contents

100 Basic and Advanced Electrical Engineering Questions – Jump to Answers

1. What is Ohm’s Law?

2. Define electrical current.

3. What is voltage?

4. Explain the concept of resistance.

5. What is the difference between AC and DC?

6. Define capacitance.

7. What is inductance?

8. Explain the difference between series and parallel circuits.

9. What is a resistor?

10. Define power in electrical terms.

11. What is a diode?

12. Explain the function of a transistor.

13. What are the different types of transformers?

14. Describe the operation of an operational amplifier (op-amp).

15. What is a rectifier?

16. Define electric field.

17. What is magnetic flux?

18. Explain the principle behind electromagnetic induction.

19. What is a capacitor bank?

20. Define superconductivity.

21. What is meant by the term “ground” in electrical systems?

22. Describe the operation of a relay.

23. What is the purpose of a fuse?

24. Explain the concept of impedance.

25. What is a phase angle?

26. Define reactive power.

27. What is a synchronous generator?

28. Explain the principle behind a three-phase system.

29. What is meant by power factor correction?

30. Describe the operation of a voltage regulator.

31. What is meant by harmonics in electrical systems?

32. Explain the difference between insulation and isolation in electrical systems.

33. What is a surge protector?

34. Define insulation resistance.

35. Explain the operation of a photovoltaic cell.

36. What is a piezoelectric effect?

37. Describe the operation of a stepper motor.

38. What is meant by electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)?

39. Explain the concept of creepage and clearance in PCB design.

40. What is a varistor?

41. Define transient voltage.

42. Explain the operation of a brushless DC motor.

43. What is meant by a “black start” capability in power systems?

44. Describe the operation of a flyback transformer.

45. What is meant by “skin effect” in conductors?

46. Explain the operation of a voltage multiplier circuit.

47. What is meant by “crosstalk” in signal transmission?

48. Define hysteresis in magnetic materials.

49. Explain the operation of a Hall effect sensor.

50. What is a buck-boost converter?

51. Define jitter in digital systems.

52. Explain the operation of a current transformer.

53. What is meant by a “soft start” circuit?

54. Describe the operation of a Wheatstone bridge.

55. What is meant by “load shedding” in power systems?

56. Explain the principle behind a thermocouple.

57. Define insulation coordination.

58. What is a solenoid?

59. Describe the operation of a varactor diode.

60. What is meant by “ringing” in electronic circuits?

61. Explain the operation of a resonant circuit.

62. What is a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)?

63. Define eddy currents.

64. What is meant by “electromagnetic interference” (EMI)?

65. Explain the operation of a magnetic amplifier.

66. What is meant by “power quality” in electrical systems?

67. Define jitter in analog systems.

68. Explain the operation of a thyristor.

69. What is a reed switch?

70. Describe the operation of a phase-locked loop (PLL).

71. What is meant by “creepage distance” in high-voltage systems?

72. Define slew rate in amplifiers.

73. Explain the operation of a flywheel energy storage system.

74. What is a ground loop?

75. Describe the operation of a piezoelectric sensor.

76. What is meant by “power factor” in AC circuits?

77. Define dielectric strength.

78. Explain the operation of a Jacob’s ladder.

79. What is meant by “skin depth” in conductors?

80. Describe the operation of a rotary encoder.

81. What is a crowbar circuit?

82. Explain the operation of a Peltier cooler.

83. What is meant by “impulse noise” in communication systems?

84. Define demodulation.

85. Explain the operation of a charge-coupled device (CCD).

86. What is meant by “transient response” in control systems?

87. Describe the operation of a ferrite bead.

88. What is a crowfoot connection?

89. Explain the operation of a synchrophasor.

90. What is meant by “linearity” in electronic circuits?

91. Define impedance matching.

92. Explain the operation of a Jacob’s ladder.

93. What is a surge arrester?

94. Describe the operation of a rotary switch.

95. What is meant by “harmonic distortion” in power systems?

96. Explain the operation of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO).

97. What is a static transfer switch?

98. Define attenuation in signal transmission.

99. Explain the operation of a Tesla coil.

100. What is meant by “dielectric loss” in capacitors?

Here are the answers:

1. Ohm’s Law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points.

2. Electrical current is the flow of electric charge carriers, usually electrons or ions, through a conductor.

3. Voltage is the difference in electric potential between two points.

4. Resistance is the measure of the opposition to the flow of electric current.

5. AC stands for alternating current, where the flow of electric charge periodically reverses direction. DC stands for direct current, where the flow of electric charge is unidirectional.

6. Capacitance is the ability of a component or circuit to store electrical energy in an electric field.

7. Inductance is the property of an electrical conductor by which a change in current flowing through it induces an electromotive force in both the conductor itself and in any nearby conductors.

8. In a series circuit, components are connected end-to-end, so the current has only one path to follow. In a parallel circuit, components are connected across common points, providing separate paths for the current to flow.

9. A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element.

10. Power in electrical terms is the rate at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit.

11. A diode is a semiconductor device that allows current to flow in one direction only.

12. A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power.

13. Transformers are devices that transfer electrical energy from one circuit to another through electromagnetic induction.

14. An operational amplifier (op-amp) is a DC-coupled high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with a differential input and, usually, a single-ended output.

15. A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction.

16. An electric field is a vector field surrounding an electric charge that exerts force on other charges.

17. Magnetic flux is a measure of the quantity of magnetism, taking into account the strength and the extent of a magnetic field.

18. Electromagnetic induction is the production of an electromotive force across an electrical conductor in a changing magnetic field.

19. A capacitor bank is a group of

 several capacitors interconnected in parallel or series, often used in electrical power systems.

20. Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance and expulsion of magnetic flux fields occurring in certain materials when cooled below a characteristic critical temperature.

21. “Ground” in electrical systems typically refers to a common reference point for all circuits in a system.

22. A relay is an electrically operated switch that typically includes an electromagnet to mechanically operate a switch mechanism.

23. A fuse is a safety device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level.

24. Impedance is a measure of the opposition that a circuit presents to the passage of a current when a voltage is applied.

25. Phase angle is the angular difference between the voltage and current waveforms in an AC circuit.

26. Reactive power is the component of electrical power that represents the energy stored and released by the electric and magnetic fields.

27. A synchronous generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy by rotating coils of wire through a magnetic field.

28. A three-phase system is a method of electrical power transmission that utilizes three alternating currents that are 120 degrees out of phase with each other.

29. Power factor correction is the process of improving the power factor of a power supply.

30. A voltage regulator is an electronic circuit that maintains a constant output voltage regardless of changes in input voltage or load conditions.

31. Harmonics in electrical systems are currents or voltages with frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency.

32. Insulation is a material or method used to prevent the passage of electricity, heat, or sound between conductors.

33. A surge protector is a device designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes by limiting the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or shorting to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe threshold.

34. Insulation resistance is the electrical resistance of an insulating material that helps to prevent leakage of current between conductors.

35. A photovoltaic cell, also known as a solar cell, is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.

36. The piezoelectric effect is the ability of certain materials to generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress.

37. A stepper motor is a type of brushless DC electric motor that divides a full rotation into a number of equal steps.

38. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is the ability of electrical equipment and systems to operate in their intended electromagnetic environment without causing or suffering from interference.

39. Creepage and clearance are measures used to ensure that high-voltage components on a printed circuit board (PCB) are safely isolated from each other to prevent electrical arcing or short circuits.

40. A varistor is an electronic component with a non-linear resistance–voltage characteristic, typically used to protect circuits from excessive transient voltage.

41. Transient voltage is a temporary and unwanted variation in voltage, typically lasting from a fraction of a second to a few seconds.

42. A brushless DC motor is a synchronous electric motor that uses a digital drive controller instead of a commutator and brushes.

43. “Black start” capability refers to the ability of a power plant to restart its operation without relying on an external power source.

44. A flyback transformer is a type of transformer used in flyback converters that generates high voltage for CRT displays, among other applications.

45. Skin effect is the tendency of alternating electric current to flow mostly near the surface of a conductor, rather than through its entire cross-section.

46. A voltage multiplier circuit is an electrical circuit that converts AC electrical power from a lower voltage to a higher DC voltage.

47. Crosstalk is the unwanted transfer of signals between communication channels.

48. Hysteresis in magnetic materials is the lagging of the magnetic induction in a magnetic material behind the changing magnetic field that produces it.

49. A Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage in response to changes in magnetic field strength.

50. A buck-boost converter is a type of DC-to-DC converter that provides an output voltage that can be either greater or less than the input voltage.

51. Jitter in digital systems refers to the deviation from true periodicity of a presumably periodic signal, often in relation to a reference clock signal.

52. A current transformer is a type of instrument transformer designed to provide a current in its secondary winding that is proportional to the current flowing in its primary winding.

53. A soft start circuit is a circuit that gradually increases the voltage supplied to a device to prevent sudden voltage spikes and reduce stress on components.

54. A Wheatstone bridge is a device used to measure an unknown electrical resistance by balancing two legs of a bridge circuit, one leg of which includes the unknown component.

55. “Load shedding” refers to the intentional reduction of electrical power in response to high demand or system instability.

56. A thermocouple is a type of temperature sensor that consists of two dissimilar metals joined together at one end, producing a voltage that varies with temperature.

57. Insulation coordination is the design and selection of insulation levels in electrical systems to ensure safe and reliable operation.

58. A solenoid is a coil of wire that, when carrying an electric current, produces a magnetic field.

59. A varactor diode is a diode whose capacitance varies with the applied voltage.

60. Ringing in electronic circuits is the tendency of a system to oscillate at its natural frequency in response to a transient input.

61. A resonant circuit is an electrical circuit that displays resonance, which occurs when the circuit responds strongly to a specific frequency or range of frequencies.

62. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a device that quickly breaks an electrical circuit to prevent serious harm from an ongoing electric shock.

63. Eddy currents are loops of electrical current induced within conductors by a changing magnetic field.

64. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is the disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction.

65. A magnetic amplifier is an electromagnetic device for amplifying electrical signals.

66. Power quality refers to the suitability of electrical power to consumer devices.

67. Jitter in analog systems refers to the deviation from true periodicity of an analog signal.

68. A thyristor is a solid-state semiconductor device with four layers of alternating P- and N-type materials.

69. A reed switch is an electrical switch operated by an applied magnetic field.

70. A phase-locked loop (PLL) is an electronic circuit that generates an output signal whose phase is related to the phase of an input signal.

71. Creepage distance is the shortest path between two conductive parts measured along the surface of an insulating material.

72. Slew rate in amplifiers refers to the rate of change of the output voltage per unit of time.

73. A flywheel energy storage system stores energy by spinning a rotor up to a very high speed.

74. A ground loop is an unwanted current flow in a ground connection.

75. A piezoelectric sensor is a device that uses the piezoelectric effect to measure changes in pressure, acceleration, temperature, or force by converting them to an electrical charge.

76. Power factor in AC circuits is the ratio of real power to apparent power.

77. Dielectric strength is the ability of an insulating material to withstand a high electric field without breaking down, often

 expressed in volts per unit distance.

78. A Jacob’s ladder is a device used to produce a continuous train of electrical arcs that rise upwards.

79. Skin depth in conductors is the depth at which the amplitude of an electromagnetic wave falls to 1/e (about 37%) of its surface value.

80. A rotary encoder is an electro-mechanical device that converts the angular position or motion of a shaft or axle to an analog or digital signal.

81. A crowbar circuit is an electrical circuit used to protect other circuits from high-voltage transients.

82. A Peltier cooler is a thermoelectric device that uses the Peltier effect to create a heat flux between the junctions of two different types of materials.

83. Impulse noise in communication systems refers to short bursts of noise that can interfere with the transmission of signals.

84. Demodulation is the process of extracting the original information-bearing signal from a modulated carrier wave.

85. A charge-coupled device (CCD) is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example, conversion into a digital value.

86. Transient response in control systems refers to the behavior of the system as it moves from one steady state to another in response to a change in input.

87. A ferrite bead is a passive electric component that suppresses high-frequency noise in electronic circuits.

88. A crowfoot connection is a type of electrical connection used in power distribution systems.

89. A synchrophasor is a time-synchronized measurement of electrical quantities on the electric grid.

90. Linearity in electronic circuits refers to the proportionality between input and output signals.

91. Impedance matching is the process of maximizing the power transfer between two electrical systems by ensuring that the output impedance of one system matches the input impedance of the other.

92. A surge arrester is a device designed to protect electrical devices from overvoltage transients by diverting them to ground.

93. A rotary switch is a type of switch that rotates in a circular motion to select or change functions.

94. Harmonic distortion in power systems is the distortion of the voltage or current waveform in a power system due to the presence of harmonics.

95. A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is an electronic oscillator whose oscillation frequency is controlled by a voltage input.

96. A static transfer switch is an electrical switch that automatically transfers a load between two power sources in the event of a power failure or other disruption.

97. Attenuation in signal transmission refers to the gradual loss of signal strength as it travels through a medium.

98. A Tesla coil is a type of resonant transformer circuit used to produce high-voltage, low-current, high-frequency alternating-current electricity.

99. Dielectric loss in capacitors refers to the energy dissipated as heat in the dielectric material of a capacitor when an electric field is applied.

100. Dielectric loss in capacitors refers to the energy dissipated as heat in the dielectric material of a capacitor when an electric field is applied.

Inductors, Diodes and Transistors Multiple Choice Questions

10 Questions in this block – Jump to Answers

1. What is the SI unit of measurement for inductance?

   a) Volts

   b) Farads

   c) Henrys

   d) Ohms

2. In a standard diode, which pin is typically the cathode?

   a) Pin 1

   b) Pin 2

   c) Pin 3

   d) Pin 4

3. In a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), what are the three pins typically labeled as?

   a) Emitter, Collector, Base

   b) Source, Drain, Gate

   c) Cathode, Anode, Gate

   d) Drain, Source, Emitter

4. Which direction does current flow through a forward-biased diode?

   a) From anode to cathode

   b) From cathode to anode

   c) It doesn’t conduct in forward bias

   d) It flows randomly between anode and cathode

5. What is the correct biasing condition for a transistor to operate in the active region?

   a) Reverse bias

   b) Forward bias

   c) Zero bias

   d) Active bias

6. What is the typical unit for the base-emitter voltage (VBE) in a transistor?

   a) Amperes

   b) Volts

   c) Watts

   d) Farads

7. In an inductor, what does the direction of the current determine?

   a) The resistance

   b) The voltage drop

   c) The inductance

   d) The direction of the electromagnetic field

8. What is the unit of measurement for the time constant of an inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit?

   a) Ohms

   b) Farads

   c) Seconds

   d) Henrys

9. Which pin of a transistor controls the flow of current between the other two pins?

   a) Emitter

   b) Collector

   c) Base

   d) Drain

10. What is the direction of induced voltage across an inductor when the current passing through it, is increasing?

    a) The induced voltage opposes the increase in current

    b) The induced voltage supports the increase in current

    c) The induced voltage is zero

    d) The induced voltage flows in the same direction as the current

ANSWERS TO Inductors, Diodes and Transistor Questions

1. Correct answer: c) Henry

2. Correct answer: b) Pin 2

3.   Correct answer: a) Emitter, Collector, Base

4. Correct answer: a) From anode to cathode

5. Correct answer: c) Zero bias

6. Correct answer: b) Volts

7. Correct answer: d) The direction of the electromagnetic field

8. Correct answer: c) Seconds

9. Correct answer: c) Base

10. Correct answer: a) The induced voltage opposes the increase in current

Multiple Choice questions related to Resistors and Capacitors basic knowledge:

Jump to Answers

1. What does the color coding on a resistor indicate?

   a) Voltage rating

   b) Resistance value

   c) Capacitance value

   d) Power rating

2. What unit is used to measure resistance?

   a) Volts (V)

   b) Ohms (Ω)

   c) Farads (F)

   d) Amperes (A)

3. What is the symbol used to represent a resistor in a circuit diagram?

   a) R

   b) C

   c) A

   d) S

4. A resistor with color bands of red, red, and orange has a resistance value of:

   a) 22 ohms

   b) 220 ohms

   c) 2200 ohms

   d) 22,000 ohms

5. Capacitors are commonly measured in:

   a) Amperes (A)

   b) Farads (F)

   c) Ohms (Ω)

   d) Volts (V)

6. What is the symbol used to represent a capacitor in a circuit diagram?

   a) R

   b) C

   c) A

   d) S

7. What does the size of a capacitor typically indicate?

   a) Its capacitance value

   b) Its voltage rating

   c) Its resistance value

   d) Its power rating

8. A capacitor with a value of 47 micro Farads would be represented as:

   a) 47F

   b) 47uF

   c) 47mF

   d) 47nF

9. What unit is used to measure capacitance?

   a) Volts (V)

   b) Ohms (Ω)

   c) Farads (F)

   d) Amperes (A)

10. A capacitor with a voltage rating of 25V can handle a maximum voltage of:

    a) 25 volts

    b) 250 volts

    c) 2.5 volts

    d) 2.5 millivolts

Answers to Resistors and Capacitors

1. b) Resistance value

2. b) Ohms (Ω)

3. a) R

4. b) 220 ohms

5. b) Farads (F)

6. b) C

7. a) Its capacitance value

8. b) 47uF

9. c) Farads (F)

10. a) 25 volts