Engineering Ethics, Economics, E&M Flashcards

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1
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Front (Question)

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Back (Answer)

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2
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What are the legal considerations in engineering ethics?

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Legal considerations involve adhering to laws and regulations that affect engineering practices.

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3
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What role does sustainability play in societal considerations?

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Sustainability focuses on meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, crucial in environmental and economic planning.

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4
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How do trademarks protect intellectual property?

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Trademarks protect brands legally, preventing others from using a similar mark that can cause confusion.

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5
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What is the purpose of economic impact assessments?

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To evaluate the positive or negative impacts of projects on the local or national economy.

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6
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How does the concept of ‘economic stability’ relate to engineering projects?

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Economic stability ensures that projects are financially viable and contribute to the overall economic health without causing volatility.

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7
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What are ‘environmental impacts’ in engineering projects?

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These are effects that projects have on the natural environment, including pollution and habitat destruction.

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8
Q

Define ‘matrix operations’ in linear algebra.

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Operations involving matrices, including addition, subtraction, and multiplication.

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9
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What is the ‘rate of return’ in engineering economics?

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The gain or loss of an investment over a specified period, expressed as a percentage of the investment’s cost.

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10
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Explain ‘life cycle analysis’ in economic terms.

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A method that assesses the total cost of a project from inception to disposal, focusing on maximizing economic efficiency.

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11
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How do energy forms convert in electrical systems?

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Energy in electrical systems can be converted between kinetic, thermal, and potential forms, among others.

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12
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What is the purpose of ‘magnetic flux’ in electrical engineering?

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Magnetic flux is crucial for the operation of electrical devices like transformers and motors, as it indicates the quantity of magnetism.

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13
Q

How are confidence intervals used in statistics?

A

Confidence intervals estimate a range in which a population parameter lies, based on sample data.

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14
Q

Describe the process of ‘vector analysis’ in linear algebra.

A

Vector analysis involves operations with vectors, such as addition, scalar multiplication, and dot product.

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15
Q

What is the significance of ‘dot product’ in vector analysis?

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The dot product measures the cosine of the angle between two vectors and the product of their magnitudes, important in projecting one vector onto another.

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16
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How do ‘Laplace transforms’ simplify solving differential equations?

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Laplace transforms convert differential equations into algebraic equations, making them easier to solve.

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17
Q

Explain ‘incremental costs’ with an example.

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Incremental costs refer to the additional cost incurred from increasing production. E.g., the cost of producing one additional unit of a product.

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18
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What is the significance of ‘nonhomogeneous equations’ in differential equations?

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Nonhomogeneous equations include a non-zero right-hand side, representing external forces or inputs in a system.

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19
Q

Define ‘empirical distribution’ in probability.

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An empirical distribution represents the proportion of various outcomes in a set of data, derived from observations.

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20
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What is the ‘goodness of fit’ in statistical models?

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Goodness of fit tests how well a statistical model fits a set of observations. Measures include the correlation coefficient and chi-squared.

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21
Q

How do ‘resistors’ function in AC circuit analysis?

A

In AC circuits, resistors impede the flow of current, thereby dissipating power in the form of heat while affecting both the current’s magnitude and phase.

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22
Q

Define ‘equivalent annual worth’ in financial analysis.

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Equivalent annual worth converts a series of cash flows into equal annual amounts, facilitating comparison of different financial investments.

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23
Q

What is ‘vector analysis’ used for in physics and engineering?

A

Vector analysis is used to solve problems involving direction and magnitude in fields such as electromagnetism and fluid dynamics.

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24
Q

How does ‘present worth’ factor into investment decisions?

A

Present worth helps determine the current value of future cash flows to assess the viability of investments.

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25
Q

What are ‘sunk costs’ and why are they ignored in future planning?

A

Sunk costs are past expenditures that cannot be recovered and should not affect future economic decisions as they are irrecoverable.

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26
Q

How do ‘capacitors’ function in DC circuits?

A

In DC circuits, capacitors initially charge when connected to a power source, then maintain that charge, blocking direct current while allowing alternating current to pass in AC circuits.

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27
Q

What is the role of ‘inductors’ in electrical circuits?

A

Inductors store energy in a magnetic field when electric current passes through them, affecting the phase and amplitude of AC signals.

28
Q

What are the key principles of the NCEES Model Law?

A

Key principles focus on promoting ethical practices and safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare in engineering.

29
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What role do professional and technical societies play in engineering?

A

They provide guidelines, set ethical standards, and support professional development.

30
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What is a conflict of interest in engineering ethics?

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A situation where personal or financial interests could improperly influence professional duties.

31
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How is confidentiality protected in engineering?

A

Through confidentiality agreements that legally bind parties to not disclose protected information.

32
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What is the significance of public health in engineering decisions?

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Ensuring that engineering projects do not adversely affect the health of the public and comply with safety regulations.

33
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Define copyright in the context of intellectual property.

A

A legal right granted to the creator of original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and certain other intellectual works.

34
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What is a trade secret and how is it protected?

A

Information that is not generally known and is subject to reasonable steps to maintain its secrecy. Protection involves non-disclosure agreements and security measures.

35
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Describe the patent application process.

A

Involves filing a patent application with detailed descriptions and claims of the invention, which is then reviewed for originality and usefulness.

36
Q

What are trademarks and their significance?

A

Trademarks protect symbols, names, and slogans used to identify goods or services; significant for branding and legal protection against infringement.

37
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What is life-cycle analysis and its application?

A

A technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life, used for improving sustainability.

38
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What is the principle of financial equivalence?

A

The concept that different sums of money at different times can be equivalent in economic value when considering interest rates or inflation.

39
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How is present worth calculated?

A

By discounting future cash flows to the present using a discount rate, reflecting the time value of money.

40
Q

What differentiates fixed and variable costs?

A

Fixed costs do not change with production levels, whereas variable costs vary directly with the level of production.

41
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What is break-even analysis?

A

A calculation to determine the point at which revenue received equals the costs associated with producing the revenue.

42
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What is the significance of overhead considerations in project costing?

A

Overhead costs, which are not directly tied to production levels, need to be accurately allocated to understand the total cost of a project.

43
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Describe the charge property in electrical fundamentals.

A

Charge is a property of matter that causes it to experience a force when near other electrically charged matter.

44
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How does Ohm’s law define the relationship in a circuit?

A

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

45
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What is the role of capacitors in AC circuits?

A

Capacitors store electrical energy temporarily and affect the phase and amplitude of AC signals.

46
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What is the purpose of Kirchhoff’s laws in circuit analysis?

A

Kirchhoff’s laws address the conservation of charge and energy in electrical circuits, helping analyze complex networks.

47
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How do series and parallel circuits differ?

A

In series circuits, components are connected end-to-end, so the same current flows through each; in parallel circuits, components are connected across the same voltage, allowing separate current paths.

48
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What are the types of annuities in financial calculations?

A

Includes ordinary (payments at end of periods) and annuities due (payments at beginning of periods).

49
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What is the internal rate of return?

A

The discount rate at which the net present value of all cash flows from a particular project equals zero.

50
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Explain the concept of incremental cost.

A

The additional cost associated with producing one additional unit of output.

51
Q

How are sunk costs relevant in economic decision-making?

A

Sunk costs are costs that have already been incurred and should not be considered in making future economic decisions.

52
Q

Define the economic and environmental perspectives of life cycle analysis.

A

Economic perspective focuses on cost over a product’s lifespan, while environmental perspective assesses the ecological impact during the same period.

53
Q

What are DC motors and how do they differ from AC motors?

A

DC motors allow for variable speed control and have a simpler design, whereas AC motors are powered by alternating current and are typically used for constant speed operations.

54
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What is the role of resistors in AC circuits?

A

Resistors impede the flow of electrons, thereby regulating the current or voltage in an AC circuit according to Ohm’s law.

55
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A. Codes of ethics (e.g., NCEES Model Law, professional and technical societies, ethical and legal considerations)

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56
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B. Public health, safety, and welfare

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57
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C. Intellectual property (e.g., copyright, trade secrets, patents, trademarks)

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58
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D. Societal considerations (e.g., economic, sustainability, life-cycle analysis, environmental)

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59
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A. Time value of money (e.g., equivalence, present worth, equivalent annual worth, future worth, rate of return, annuities)

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60
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B. Cost types and breakdowns (e.g., fixed, variable, incremental, average, sunk)

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61
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C. Economic analyses (e.g., cost-benefit, break-even, minimum cost, overhead, life cycle)

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62
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A. Electrical fundamentals (e.g., charge, current, voltage, resistance, power, energy, magnetic flux)

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63
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B. DC circuit analysis (e.g., Kirchhoff’s laws, Ohm’s law, series, parallel)

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64
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C. AC circuit analysis (e.g., resistors, capacitors, inductors)

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65
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D. Motors and generators

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