Question 1

Basic electrical component: Made from materials such as carbon, which component inhibits the flow of electric current? Identify the component defined by opposition to current. Choose the correct device.

Accepted Answer

Concept A resistor provides electrical resistance; common types use carbon film, metal film, or wirewound elements to impede current. Final Answer Resistor

Question 2

Building services (UPS): What is a UPS used for in a building? Consider the function of an Uninterruptible Power Supply in electrical services. Choose the correct purpose.

Accepted Answer

Concept A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) bridges power interruptions by delivering instantaneous, short-duration backup and conditioning (voltage regulation, surge suppression) to critical equipment (e.g., servers, computers, control panels). Final Answer To provide clean, instantaneous backup power to critical loads during mains failure

Question 3

Electronics fundamentals: Identify the full form of EMF in electrical engineering.  Voltage is sometimes referred to as EMF. What does EMF stand for in this context? Choose the correct expansion.

Accepted Answer

Given Term: EMF used interchangeably with voltage. Concept/Approach EMF is a standard electrical term meaning the energy provided per unit charge to move charges through a circuit. It is historically called 'electromotive force' even though it is not a mechanical force. Explanation EMF = work done per unit charge (measured in volts).It denotes the potential difference generated by a source (cell, generator). Common pitfalls Confusing EMF with magnetic field (B-field). Thinking it represents a mechanical force. Final Answer Electromotive Force.

Question 4

Radio communications: Expand the abbreviation AM.  In broadcast engineering and signal processing, what does the term AM stand for? Choose the correct expansion.

Accepted Answer

Given Abbreviation: AM in radio communications. Concept/Approach AM is a method where the amplitude of a carrier wave is varied in proportion to the message (audio) signal. Key point AM = Amplitude Modulation. Common pitfalls Do not confuse with FM (Frequency Modulation) or PM (Phase Modulation). Final Answer Amplitude Modulation.

Question 5

Laser physics basics: Identify the process that produces the first photons.  Once a laser’s active medium is excited (population inversion initiated), which fundamental process produces the initial photons that start the light amplification? Choose …

Accepted Answer

Given A laser medium after excitation/population inversion. Concept/Approach Laser action begins when an excited atom decays spontaneously, emitting a photon that then triggers stimulated emission in other excited atoms, leading to coherent amplification. Sequence Excitation → Spontaneous emission (seed photon) → Stimulated emission (amplification). Final Answer Spontaneous emission.

Question 6

File formats: Recognize the purpose of the .TXT extension.  On computers and operating systems, a filename ending with .TXT typically represents which kind of file? Choose the correct file type.

Accepted Answer

Given File extension: .TXT. Concept/Approach .TXT is a conventional extension for human-readable, unformatted plain text files. Final Answer Plain text document.

Question 7

Computing abbreviations: Expand DTP.  In publishing and design workflows, the computer abbreviation DTP refers to which activity? Choose the correct expansion.

Accepted Answer

Given Acronym: DTP in computing/publishing context. Concept/Approach DTP stands for Desktop Publishing, i.e., creating page layouts digitally for print or electronic distribution. Final Answer Desktop Publishing.

Question 8

Memory technologies: Identify the EEPROM family device.  Which of the following is a type or example of Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)? Choose the correct option.

Accepted Answer

Given Asked: a type of Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. Concept/Approach PROM: one-time programmable, not erasable. EPROM: erasable with UV light, not electrically. EEPROM: erasable and programmable electrically, cell-by-cell or in blocks. Flash memory: a high-density block-erasable form of EEPROM. Final Answer EEPROM. (Note: Flash is a specialized EEPROM variant.)

Question 9

Materials science: Relate resistivity and conductivity with a simple formula.  Given the resistivity (ρ) of a material and its conductivity (σ), what is the correct mathematical relationship between these two properties? Choose the correct relation.

Accepted Answer

Given Material properties: resistivity (ρ) and conductivity (σ). Concept/Approach By definition, conductivity is the reciprocal of resistivity for homogeneous isotropic materials. Formula σ = 1 / ρ Final Answer σ = 1 / ρ.

Question 10

Signal analysis: Define the second harmonic relative to the base tone.  In frequency-domain terms, a signal’s second harmonic is how many times the signal’s fundamental frequency? Choose the correct description.

Accepted Answer

Given Harmonic relationship to a base (fundamental) frequency f. Concept/Approach The n-th harmonic has frequency n·f. Therefore, the second harmonic = 2f. Final Answer Twice the fundamental frequency.

Question 11

File formats: Recognize the purpose of the .BAK extension.  On many systems and applications, files with the .BAK extension are typically used for what? Choose the correct file type.

Accepted Answer

Given Extension: .BAK. Concept/Approach .BAK is a common convention for a backup version of another file, often auto-created before overwriting. Final Answer Backup copy file.

Question 12

Drives and controls: Expand VVVF in power electronics.  In variable-speed motor drives, the abbreviation VVVF stands for what? Choose the correct expansion.

Accepted Answer

Given Acronym used in motor drives: VVVF. Concept/Approach VVVF inverters control motor speed/torque by varying the supply voltage and frequency. Final Answer Variable Voltage Variable Frequency.

Question 13

File formats: Recognize the purpose of the .MPG extension.  In multimedia files, the .MPG extension is commonly associated with which content type or standard? Choose the correct file type.

Accepted Answer

Given Extension: .MPG. Concept/Approach .MPG/.MPEG denotes a video (and audio) file compressed using Moving Picture Experts Group standards (e.g., MPEG-1/2). Final Answer MPEG video file.

Question 14

Television standards: Identify a country using NTSC.  The NTSC (National Television System Committee) analog TV standard has been used in several countries. Which of the following countries used NTSC? Choose the correct country.

Accepted Answer

Given NTSC television standard usage. Concept/Approach NTSC was historically used in the USA, Canada, Japan, parts of Latin America, and a few Asian countries, while the UK/Germany used PAL and France used SECAM. Final Answer Japan.

Question 15

Computing abbreviations: Expand DB.  In software and information systems, the abbreviation DB is commonly used to refer to what? Choose the correct expansion.

Accepted Answer

Given Acronym: DB in computing context. Concept/Approach DB overwhelmingly refers to a database, i.e., an organized collection of data accessed electronically. Final Answer Database.

Question 16

Electronics components: Expand FET.  In semiconductor electronics, “FET” stands for which type of transistor? Choose the correct expansion.

Accepted Answer

Given Abbreviation: FET. Concept/Approach FET devices (e.g., JFET, MOSFET) control current by an electric field at the gate, hence Field Effect Transistor. Final Answer Field Effect Transistor.

Question 17

History of communications: Date the first transatlantic radio broadcast.  In which decade did the first successful transatlantic radio signal/broadcast occur (Marconi’s milestone)? Choose the correct decade.

Accepted Answer

Given Milestone: first transatlantic radio signal. Concept/Approach Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901, which falls in the 1900s decade. Final Answer 1900s.

Question 18

Internet history: Identify the first ARPANET message.  According to historical records, what exact text was successfully transmitted first over ARPANET before the system crashed? Choose the correct message.

Accepted Answer

Given First ARPANET message content. Concept/Approach The intended message was “LOGIN”, but the system crashed after the first two characters were sent, so the first message recorded was “LO”. Final Answer LO.

Question 19

Electrical basics: Expand AC and DC.  In electric power and circuits, what do the abbreviations AC and DC stand for respectively? Choose the correct pair.

Accepted Answer

Given Abbreviations: AC and DC. Concept/Approach AC = Alternating Current (periodically reverses direction).DC = Direct Current (flows in one direction). Final Answer Alternating Current and Direct Current.

Question 20

Electronic components: Name the device with two plates and a dielectric.  Which electronic component consists of two conductive plates separated by a dielectric (insulator) and stores electric charge? Choose the correct component.

Accepted Answer

Given Structure: two plates + dielectric. Concept/Approach A capacitor (condenser) stores energy in the electric field between plates separated by an insulating medium. Formula Capacitance: C = εA/d (for parallel plates). Final Answer Capacitor.

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