Basic Electricity Flashcards
- The working voltage of a capacitor in an AC circuit should be
A— equal to the highest applied voltage.
B— at least 20 percent greater than the highest applied voltage.
C— at least 50 percent greater than the highest applied voltage.
C— at least 50 percent greater than the highest applied voltage.
Explanation:
The working voltage of a capacitor is the highest voltage that can be steadily applied to it without the danger of the dielectric breaking down. The working voltage depends upon the material used as the dielectric and on its thickness. A capacitor used in an AC circuit should have a working voltage at least 50 percent greater than the highest voltage that will be applied to it.
- The term that describes the combined resistive forces in an AC circuit is
A— resistance.
B— reactance.
C— impedance
C— impedance
Explanation:
Impedance (Z) is the vector sum of the resistance and the total reactance in a circuit. It is expressed in ohms, and found using the formula:
There are three types of resistive forces in an AC circuit: inductive reactance, which causes the current to lag the voltage; capacitive reactance, which causes the current to lead the voltage; and resistance, which allows the current and voltage to remain in phase. Inductive and capacitive reactance are 180° out of phase and cancel each other.
8002-1.
What is the opposition to the flow of AC produced by an electromagnetic field (EMF) with generated back voltage called?
A— Inductive reactance.
B— Capacitive reactance.
C— Mutual inductance.
A— Inductive reactance
Explanation:
Alternating current is in a constant state of change; EMF causes continuously inducted voltage opposition to the current in the circuit. This opposition is called inductive reactance (X L ), and is measured in ohms just as resistance is measured. Inductance is the property of a circuit to oppose any change in current and is measured in henries. Inductive reactance is a measure of how much the countering EMF in the circuit will oppose current variations.
8002-2.
Electrostatic fields are also known as
A— dielectric fields.
B— electrostatic fields.
C— static fields.
A— dielectric fields.
Explanation:
A field of force exists around a charged body. This is an electrostatic field (sometimes called a dielectric field) and it is represented by lines that extend in all directions from the charged body which terminate where there is an equal and opposite charge.
- The basis for transformer operation in the use of alternating current is mutual
A— inductance.
B— capacitance.
C— reactance.
A— inductance.
Explanation:
A transformer operates on the basis of mutual inductance. The changing current in the primary windings produces a changing magnetic field whose flux cuts across the turns of the secondary winding and induces a voltage into it.
- The opposition offered by a coil to the flow of alternating current (ignoring resistance) is called
A— impedance.
B— reluctance.
C— inductive reactance.
C— inductive reactance.
Explanation:
When alternating current flows in a coil of wire, the changing lines of flux cutting across the turns of wire in the coil induce a voltage in it. The polarity of this voltage (the counter EMF) is opposite to the polarity of the voltage that caused it. The counter EMF decreases the total voltage across the coil, and this decreases the current flowing through it. This opposition to the flow of alternating current is called inductive reactance (X L ) and is measured in ohms. It opposes the flow of current, but it does not cause heat nor use any power.
8004-1.
What factors strengthen a coil inductor?
A— Limiting and separating the coils.
B— Adding and separating the coils.
C— Adding coils close together.
C— Adding coils close together.
Explanation:
As more loops are added close together, the strength of the magnetic field increases. Many loops close together will result in a strong electromagnet.
- An increase in which of the following factors will cause an increase in the inductive reactance of a circuit?
A— Inductance and frequency.
B— Resistance and voltage.
C— Resistance and capacitive reactance.
A— Inductance and frequency.
Explanation: The inductive reactance (X L ) in an AC circuit is increased when either the frequency of the alternating current or the inductance of the circuit is increased. Resistance, voltage, or capacitive reactance have no effect on the inductive reactance of a circuit. The formula for inductive reactance is:
- (Refer to Figure 1.) When different rated capacitors are connected in series in a circuit, the total capacitance is
A— less than the capacitance of the lowest rated capacitor.
B— greater than the capacitance of the highest rated capacitor.
C— equal to the sum of all the capacitances.
A— less than the capacitance of the lowest rated capacitor.
Explanation:When capacitors of different values are connected in series, the total capacitance is less than that of the lowest rated capacitor.
8006-1.
Capacitors are sometimes used in DC circuits to
A— counteract inductive reactance at specific locations.
B— smooth out slight pulsations in current/voltage.
C— assist in stepping voltage and current up and/or down.
B— smooth out slight pulsations in current/voltage.
Explanation: Capacitors store electrical charges and are sometimes used in DC circuits to smooth out slight pulsations in current or voltage. Capacitors accept electrons when there is an excess and release them back into the circuit when the values decrease.
- In an AC circuit, the effective voltage is
A— equal to the maximum instantaneous voltage.
B— greater than the maximum instantaneous voltage.
C— less than the maximum instantaneous voltage.
C— less than the maximum instantaneous voltage.
Explanation: The effective voltage of sine wave alternating current is 0.707 time its peak voltage. The effective voltage, also called the root mean square (rms) voltage, is the voltage measured by most of the AC voltmeters. Peak voltage is measured with a special peak voltmeter or an oscilloscope.
- The amount of electricity a capacitor can store is directly proportional to the
A— distance between the plates and inversely proportional to the plate area.
B— plate area and is not affected by the distance between the plates.
C— plate area and inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.
C— plate area and inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.
Explanation: Three factors affect the amount of electricity a capacitor can store:
- The area of the plates. The larger the plate area, the greater the capacity.
- The thickness of the dielectric (the distance between the plates). The closer the plates are together, the stronger the electrical field will be and the greater the capacity.
- The material from which the dielectric is made (its
dielectric constant). The higher the dielectric constant, the greater the capacity.
- (Refer to Figure 2.) What is the total capacitance of a certain circuit containing three capacitors with capacitances of .02 microfarad, .05 microfarad, and .10 microfarad, respectively?
A— .170 μF.
B— 0.125 pF.
C— .0125 μF.
C— .0125 μF.
Explanation: When a 0.02-microfarad, a 0.05-microfarad, and a 0.10-microfarad capacitor are connected in series, the total capacitance is 0.0125 microfarad
8009-1.
What is the total capacitance of a circuit containing three capacitors in parallel with capacitances of .02 microfarad, .05 microfarad, and .10 microfarad, respectively?
A— .170 μF.
B— 0.125 μF.
C— .0125 μF.
A— .170 μF.
Explanation: Use the formula C T = C 1 + C 2 + C 3. When capacitors are connected together in parallel, the plate area of all the capacitors add together and the total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances.
.02 + .05 + .10 = .170 µF
8009-2.
Convert farads to microfarads by
A— multiplying farads by 10 to the power of 6
B— multiplying picofarads by 10 to the power of 6
C— multiplying microfarads by 10 to the power of 6
A— multiplying farads by 10 to the power of 6
One farad is equal to 10 6 microfarads. Example: 2 farads is equal to 2 × 10 6 (2,000,000) microfarads.
8009-3.
Convert farads to picofarads by:
A— multiplying farads by 10 to the power of 12
B— multiplying microfarads by 10 to the power of -12
C— multiplying picofarads by 10 to the power of 12
A— multiplying farads by 10 to the power of 12
Explanation: One farad is equal to 10 12 picofarads. Example: 2 farads is equal to 2 × 10 12 (2,000,000,000) picofarads.
- Unless otherwise specified, any values given for current or voltage in an AC circuit are assumed to be
A— instantaneous values.
B— effective values.
C— maximum values.
B— effective values.
Explanation: Almost all measuring instruments used for electrical system servicing measure the effective rms values of alternating current. Unless peak values, peak-to-peak values, or average values are specifically called out, effective rms values are assumed.
- When different rated capacitors are connected in parallel in a circuit, the total capacitance is (Note: C T = C 1 + C 2 + C 3 . . .)
A— less than the capacitance of the lowest rated capacitor.
B— equal to the capacitance of the highest rated capacitor.
C— equal to the sum of all the capacitances.
C— equal to the sum of all the capacitances.
Explanation: When capacitors are connected in parallel, the effective area of the plates combine, and the total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances.
- When inductors are connected in series in a circuit, the total inductance (where the magnetic fields of each inductor do not affect the others) is (Note: L T = L 1 + L 2 + L 3 . . .)
A— less than the inductance of the lowest rated inductor.
B— equal to the inductance of the highest rated inductor.
C— equal to the sum of the individual inductances.
C— equal to the sum of the individual inductances.
Explanation: When several inductors are connected together in such a way that there is no inductive coupling, the total inductance is the sum of the individual inductances.
- (Refer to Figure 3.) When more than two inductors of different inductances are connected in parallel in a circuit, the total inductance is
A— less than the inductance of the lowest rated inductor.
B— equal to the inductance of the highest rated inductor.
C— equal to the sum of the individual inductances.
A— less than the inductance of the lowest rated inductor.
Explanation: When two or more inductors having different inductances are connected in parallel, the total inductance is less than the inductance of the lowest rated inductor.
- What is the total capacitance of a certain circuit containing three capacitors with capacitances of .25 microfarad, .03 microfarad, and .12 microfarad, respectively? (Note: C T = C 1 + C 2 + C 3 )
A— .4 μF.
B— .04 pF.
C— .04 μF.
A— .4 μF.
When three capacitors are connected in parallel, their total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances.
- Which requires the most electrical power during operation? (Note: 1 horsepower = 746 watts)
A— A 12-volt motor requiring 8 amperes.
B— Four 30-watt lamps in a 12-volt parallel circuit.
C— Two lights requiring 3 amperes each in a 24-volt parallel system.
C— Two lights requiring 3 amperes each in a 24-volt parallel system.
Explanation:
The 12-volt motor requires 96 watts of power.
The four 30-watt lamps require 120 watts of power. The two 24-volt, 3-amp lights require 144 watts of power.
- How much power must a 24-volt generator furnish to a system which contains the following loads?
Unit Rating
One motor (75 percent efficient) ………………………. 1/5 hp Three position lights …………………………… 20 watts each One heating element ……………………………………… 5 amp One anticollision light …………………………………….. 3 amp (Note: 1 horsepower = 746 watts)
A— 402 watts.
B— 385 watts.
C— 450 watts.
C— 450 watts.
Explanation:The motor is 1/5 hp, therefore 746 watts (1 hp) ÷ 5 = 149 watts. This is the output of the engine. It takes more energy to produce 149 watts; find this with the efficiency rating: 149/X = 75/100; X = 199. Therefore, the 1/5 hp motor that is 75 percent efficient requires 199 watts.
The three position lights require a total of 60 watts.
The heating element requires 120 watts.
The anticollision light requires 72 watts.
The total power the generator must produce is 451 watts.
- A 12-volt electric motor has 1,000 watts input and 1 horsepower output. Maintaining the same efficiency, how much input power will a 24-volt, 1-horsepower electric motor require? (Note: 1 horsepower = 746 watts)
A— 1,000 watts.
B— 2,000 watts.
C— 500 watts.
A— 1,000 watts.
Explanation:The power produced by an electric motor is the product of its voltage and its current. A 12-volt motor will require 83.3 amps of current for its 1,000 watts of input power to produce 746 watts (1 horsepower) of output power. A 24-volt motor operating at the same efficiency will also require 1,000 watts of input power for its 746 watts of output power, but it will need only 41.7 amps of current.
- How many amperes will a 28-volt generator be required to supply to a circuit containing five lamps in parallel, three of which have a resistance of 6 ohms each and two of which have a resistance of 5 ohms each?
A— 1.11 amperes.
B— 1 ampere.
C— 25.23 amperes.
C— 25.23 amperes.
A current of 4.67 amps flows through each of the three six-ohm lamps. And a current of 5.6 amps flows through each of the 5-ohm lamps. Since all of these lamps are in parallel, the total current is the sum of the currents flowing through each lamp. The total current is 25.21 amps.
- A 24-volt, 1-horsepower DC electric motor that is 80 percent efficient requires 932.5 watts. How much power will a 12-volt, 1-horsepower DC electric motor that is 75 percent efficient require? (Note: 1 horsepower = 746 watts)
A— 932.5 watts.
B— 1,305.5 watts.
C— 994.6 watts.
C— 994.6 watts.
Explanation: When we know the horsepower output and the efficiency of an electric motor, the voltage does not enter into the computation. To find the number of watts required, divide the wattage for the total horsepower by the decimal equivalent of the efficiency. 746 ÷ 0.75 = 994.6 watts
- The potential difference between two conductors which are insulated from each other is measured in
A— volts.
B— amperes.
C— coulombs.
A— volts.
The potential difference between two conductors is a measure of the electrical pressure difference between the conductors. Electrical pressure is measured in volts.
8020-1.
Which effect does not apply to the movement of electrons flowing in a conductor?
A— Magnetic energy.
B— Thermal energy.
C— Static energy.
C— Static energy.
Explanation:Current flowing through a conductor produces a magnetic field and also dissipates thermal energy.
- A 24-volt source is required to furnish 48 watts to a parallel circuit consisting of four resistors of equal value. What is the voltage drop across each resistor?
A— 12 volts.
B— 6 volts.
C— 24 volts.
C— 24 volts.
Explanation: Since the resistors are all in parallel across the 24-volt power source, each resistor has the entire 24 volts dropped across it.
- When calculating power in a reactive or inductive AC circuit, the true power is
A— more than the apparent power.
B— less than the apparent power in a reactive circuit and more than the apparent power in an inductive circuit.
C— less than the apparent power.
C— less than the apparent power.
Explanation:True power in an AC circuit is the product of the circuit voltage and only that part of the current in phase with the voltage. Apparent power is the circuit voltage multiplied by all of the current. True power is always less than the apparent power in a reactive circuit which is any AC circuit containing either inductance or capacitance.
- (Refer to Figure 4.) How much power is being furnished to the circuit?
A— 575 watts.
B— 2,875 watts.
C— 2,645 watts.
C— 2,645 watts.
Explanation: This is a resistive circuit. The power is the product of the square of the current times the resistance. P = I 2 × R = 23 2 × 5 = 2,645 watts
- (Refer to Figure 5.)
What is the impedance of an AC-series circuit consisting of an inductor with a reactance of 10 ohms, a capacitor with a reactance of 4 ohms, and a resistor with a resistance of 8 ohms?
A— 22 ohms.
B— 5.29 ohms.
C— 10 ohms.
C— 10 ohms.
Explanation:The total reactance in this circuit is the difference between the inductive reactance and the capacitive reactance. Total reactance is 10 – 4 = 6 ohms. The impedance is the square root of the resistance squared plus the reactance squared. This is the square root of 64 plus 36, or the square root of 100. The circuit impedance is 10 ohms.
- (Refer to Figure 6.) If resistor R 5 is disconnected at the junction of R 4 and R 3 as shown, what will the ohmmeter read?
A— 2.76 ohms.
B— 3 ohms.
C— 12 ohms.
B— 3 ohms.
With resistor R 5 disconnected, the ohmmeter reads the parallel resistance of R 1 and R 2 in parallel with R 4 and R 3 , which are in series. The total resistance is found by the formula:
- (Refer to Figure 7.) If resistor R 3 is disconnected at terminal D, what will the ohmmeter read?
A— Infinite resistance.
B— 10 ohms.
C— 20 ohms.
A— Infinite resistance.
Explanation: When resistor R 3 is disconnected at terminal D, it is isolated from the rest of the circuit, and the ohmmeter will read only the resistance of R 3 . Because R 3 is open (it has a break in it), its resistance is infinite.
- (Refer to Figure 8.) With an ohmmeter connected into the circuit as shown, what will the ohmmeter read?
A— 20 ohms.
B— Infinite resistance.
C— 10 ohms.
C— 10 ohms.
Explanation:The ohmmeter will read the resistance of R 1 and R 2 in parallel; this is 10 ohms. The open circuit (break) in resistor R 3 gives it an infinite resistance, and it does not affect the reading of the ohmmeter.
- (Refer to Figure 9.) How many instruments (voltmeters and ammeters) are installed correctly?
A— Three.
B— One.
C — Two.
C — Two.
Explanation: The first ammeter is installed across the voltage. This is wrong; the ammeter will burn out. The first voltmeter will measure the source voltage (the voltage of the battery), but its polarity is wrong. It will read backward. The voltmeter across the light bulb is installed correctly. The ammeter in series with the light bulb and the battery is correct. It will read the current flowing through the light bulb.
- The correct way to connect a test voltmeter in a circuit is
A— in series with a unit.
B— between the source voltage and the load.
C— in parallel with a unit.
C— in parallel with a unit
Explanation:A voltmeter must always be connected in a circuit in parallel with the unit whose voltage is to be measured.
8029-1.
What will a voltmeter read if properly connected across a closed switch in a circuit with electrical power on?
A— Voltage drop in the component(s) the switch is connected to.
B— System voltage.
C— Zero voltage.
C— Zero voltage.
Explanation: When a voltmeter is connected across a closed switch in perfect condition or a good fuse, it will read zero voltage. A voltage drop of up to 0.2 volts is acceptable with maximum circuit current flow through the switch.
8029-2.
What does the letter Q symbolize when measuring electrical charge?
A— Farad.
B— Electron.
C— Coulomb.
C— Coulomb.
Explanation:The general formula for capacitance in terms of charge and voltage is C = Q/E, where:
C = Capacitance measured in farads
E = Applied voltage measured in volts
Q = Charge measured in coulombs
- Which term means .001 ampere?
A— Microampere.
B— Kiloampere.
C— Milliampere.
C— Milliampere.
Explanation:The metric prefix “milli-” means one thousandth. 0.001 ampere is one milliampere.
- A cabin entry light of 10 watts and a dome light of 20 watts are connected in parallel to a 30-volt source. If the voltage across the 10-watt light is measured, it will be
A— equal to the voltage across the 20-watt light.
B— half the voltage across the 20-watt light.
C— one-third of the input voltage.
A— equal to the voltage across the 20-watt light.
Explanation: When lights are connected in parallel across a voltage source, the voltage across each of the lights will be the same as the voltage of the source.
- A 14-ohm resistor is to be installed in a series circuit carrying .05 ampere. How much power will the resistor be required to dissipate?
A— At least .70 milliwatt.
B— At least 35 milliwatts.
C— Less than .035 watt.
B— At least 35 milliwatts
Explanation: Power dissipated in a resistor is found by multiplying its resistance by the square of the current. P = I 2 × R = 0.05 2 × 14 = 0.035 watts 0.035 watts is 35 milliwatts.
- .002 kV equals
A— 20 volts.
B— 2.0 volts.
C— .2 volt.
B— 2.0 volts.
Explanation: One kilovolt (kV) is 1,000 volts. Two thousandths (.002) of a kilovolt is equal to 2.0 volts.
- (Refer to Figure 10.) What is the measured voltage of the series-parallel circuit between terminals A and B?
A— 1.5 volts.
B— 3.0 volts.
C— 4.5 volts.
B— 3.0 volts.
Explanation: The two batteries on the left side are connected in series and the two batteries on the right side are connected in series. The two pairs of batteries are connected in parallel. The series connections between terminals A and B give this circuit a voltage of 3.0 volts.
- (Refer to Figure 64.) A 24-volt source is required to furnish 48 watts to a parallel circuit consisting of two resistors of equal value. What is the value of each resistor?
A— 24 ohms.
B— 12 ohms.
C— 6 ohms.
A— 24 ohms.
Explanation: To solve this problem, first find the total resistance of the circuit.
R T = E 2 ÷ P
= 24 2 ÷ 48
= 12 Ω
There are two resistors of equal value in parallel that provide this resistance, therefore each resistor must have a resistance of twice this value, or 24 ohms.
- Which requires the most electrical power? (Note: 1 horsepower = 746 watts)
A— A 1/5-horsepower, 24-volt motor which is 75 percent efficient.
B— Four 30-watt lamps arranged in a 12-volt parallel circuit.
C— A 24-volt anticollision light circuit consisting of two light assemblies which require 3 amperes each during operation.
A— A 1/5-horsepower, 24-volt motor which is 75 percent efficient.
Explanation: The 1/5-horsepower motor operating at 75 percent efficiency uses 198.93 watts of power. The four 30-watt lamps use 120 watts of power. The anticollision light circuit uses 144 watts of power.
- What unit is used to express electrical power?
A— Volt.
B— Watt.
C— Ampere.
B— Watt.
Explanation:A watt is a measure of electrical power. A volt is a measure of electrical pressure. An ampere is a measure of electrical current flow
8037-1.
What is the basic unit of electrical quantity?
A— Electromotive force.
B— Ampere.
C— Coulomb.
C— Coulomb.
The coulomb is the basic unit of electrical quantity. One coulomb is equal to 6.28 × 10 18 electrons.