Basic Electrical Engineering MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

Here are 1000 MCQs on Basic Electrical Engineering (Chapterwise).

1. Which of the following elements of electrical engineering cannot be analyzed using Ohm’s law?
a) Capacitors
b) Inductors
c) Transistors
d) Resistance
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Ohm’s law cannot be used for unilateral networks as such networks only allow current flow in one direction. Transistor forms a unilateral network. Thus, Ohm’s law cannot be used on Transistors.

2. What is constant for a charged spherical shell according to basic electrical energy?
a) Electrical potential outside the spherical shell
b) Electrical potential inside the spherical shell
c) Electrical field outside the spherical shell
d) Electrical field inside the spherical shell
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: According to principles of electrical energy, the electrical potential inside the spherical shell is constant and is represented as V = kq/R where k = 1/4πεo. This potential is the same as that of the potential on the surface of the sphere.

3. Where does electro-static shielding occur in a charged spherical shell?
a) When electrical potential outside spherical shell is zero
b) When electrical potential inside the spherical shell is zero
c) When electrical field outside the spherical shell
d) Electrical field inside the spherical shell
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The electrical field inside the spherical shell is zero and this is basically known as electrostatic shielding. The electric field outside the sphere is inversely proportional to the square of the radius.

4. Which of the following is a correct representation of peak value in an AC Circuit?
a) RMS value/Peak factor
b) RMS value*Form factor
c) RMS value/Form factor
d) RMS value*Peak factor
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: A peak factor in an AC circuit represents the ratio of the peak value to the RMS value. The peak factor also called the crest factor indicates how extreme the peaks are present in a waveform.

5. Which of the following according to fundaments of electrical energy is correct about alternating current?
a) Frequency is zero
b) Magnitude changes with time
c) Can be transported to larger distances with less loss in power
d) Flows in both directions
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: An alternating current changes its value with time and flows in both directions. The loss in power is less due to alternating current properties and thus, can be transported to larger distances.
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6. How many cycles will an AC signal make in 2 seconds if its frequency is 100 Hz?
a) 50
b) 100
c) 150
d) 200
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: In electrical engineering, the frequency represents the ratio of the number of cycles to the total time. Since frequency is given as 100 Hz and the time is 2 sec thus a total of 200 cycles will be made.

7. What will be the direction of the drift velocity of electrons change with respect to the electric field?
a) same as that of electric field
b) opposite to that of electric field
c) perpendicular to that of the electric field in a positive direction
d) perpendicular to that of the electric field in a negative direction
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Basically drift velocity can be said to be the average velocity obtained by the free electrons in metal when an electric field is applied. The direction of drift velocity for the electrons present in metal will be opposite to that of the applied electric field.

8. What will be the current density of metal if a current of 30A is passed through a cross-sectional area of 0.5m2?
a) 7.5 A/m2
b) 15 A/m2
c) 60 A/m2
d) 120 A/m2
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Current density is the ratio of the current flowing in a cross-sectional area. If a current of 30A is passed through a cross-sectional area of 0.5m2.

9. Which of the following is correct about the power consumed by R1 and R2 connected in series if the value of R1 is greater than R2?
a) R1 will consume more power
b) R2 will consume more power
c) R1 and R2 will consume the same power
d) The relationship between the power consumed cannot be established
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: In the electrical engineering introduction it is explained that the power can be expressed as P = I2*R. When two resistors are connected in series the current flowing through the resistors is the same and thus, power consumed by the larger resistor will be more.

10. What is zero for a charged spherical shell?
a) Electrical potential outside the spherical shell
b) Electrical potential inside the spherical shell
c) Electrical field outside the spherical shell
d) Electrical field inside the spherical shell
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: According to the fundamentals of the electrical field inside the spherical shell is zero and this is known as electrostatic shielding. The electric field outside the sphere is inversely proportional to the square of the radius.

11. What kind of quantity is an Electric potential?
a) Vector quantity
b) Tensor quantity
c) Scalar quantity
d) Dimensionless quantity
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Electric potential refers to the work done to bring a unit positive charge from a point with higher potential to a point with lower potential. Since electric potential only has magnitude but no direction, it is a scalar quantity.

12. What do crowded lines of force indicate?
a) Strong electric field
b) Weak electric field
c) Strong electric potential
d) Weak electric potential
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: According to the principles of electric fields, when crowded lines of field are present the electric fields are very strong. The strong electric field can be witnessed near the poles of a magnet as the lines of force are crowded in this region.

13. What is the direction of the electric field at a point?
a) Along the line perpendicular to the electric field
b) Along the line tangent to the electric field
c) Electric field has no direction
d) Electric field has a random direction
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: According to the basics of the Electric field, it is a vector quantity and has a direction. The direction of the electric field is said to be along the line tangent to the electric field.

14. What is the magnitude of mutually induced emf, E2 in a transformer?
a) directly proportional to rate of change of flux and number of secondary turns
b) inversely proportional to rate of change of flux and number of secondary turns
c) proportional to rate of change of flux and inversely proportional to number of secondary turns
d) inversely proportional to the rate of change of flux and proportional to number of secondary turns
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Due to the supply voltage, a secondary induced emf is produced. V1 is in antiphase with E2 and the magnitude of E2 is proportional to rate of change of flux and number of secondary turns.
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15. Which of the following will happen in a transformer when the number of secondary turns is less than the number of primary turns?
a) The voltage gets stepped up
b The voltage gets stepped down
c) The power gets stepped up
d) The power gets stepped down
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The voltage transformation ratio is basically the ratio of the number of secondary turns to that of the number of primary turns. When the transformation ratio is less than 1, the step-down operation occurs.

16. What is the number of primary turns in a 200/1000 V transformer if the emf per turn is 10V?
a) 5
b) 10
c) 20
d) 40
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The number of primary turns is the ratio of induced emf in the primary to the emf induced per turn. Thus, the number of primary turns in a 200/1000 V transformer with emf per turn of 10V is 200/10 = 20.

17. Which of the following is a correct representation of average value in an AC Circuit?
a) RMS value/Form factor
b) RMS value*Form factor
c) RMS value/Peak factor
d) RMS value*Peak factor
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The form factor basically gives the expression for DC of equal power to a given AC. A form factor in an AC circuit represents the ratio of the RMS value to the average value. Thus, average value = RMS value/Form factor.

18. Who defined electric current and devised a method to measure current?
a) Michael Faraday
b) Andre-Marie Ampere
c) Nikola Tesla
d) Alessandro Antonio Volta
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Andre-Marie Ampere is a French physicist and mathematician who defined electric current and devised a method to measure current in the 1820s.

19. How many electrons will constitute 2 Coulombs of electric charge?
a) 6.24 * 1018 electrons
b) 12.48 * 1018 electrons
c) 1.602 * 1019 electrons
d) 3.204 * 1019 electrons
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: One Coulomb of charge consists of 1/(1.602*10-19) electron that is 6.24 * 1018 electrons. A coulomb is a unit for the charge. Thus, for 2 Coulombs of charge will have 6.24 * 1018 * 2 = 12.48 * 1018 electrons.
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20. Which of the following is correct about direct current?
a) Magnitude is constant
b) Frequency is zero
c) Can be transported to larger distances with less loss in power
d) Flows in one direction
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: A direct current has a fixed value and does not change with time. The frequency of the direct current is equal to zero as it does not change with time.

21. Who witnessed the effect of magnetism for the first time?
a) Hans Christian Orsted
b) Alexander Graham Bell
c) Michael Faraday
d) Gustav Robert Kirchhoff
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Hans Christian Orsted was a Danish physicist and chemist who witnessed the effect of magnetism for the first time. He discovered that electric current can create a magnetic field using an experiment.

22. Which of the following according is correct about electrical conductivity?
a) It is the ratio of current density to the electric field
b) It is the product of current density and electric field
c) It is the ratio of the electric field to current density
d) It is the reciprocal of the product of current density and electric field
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Electrical conductivity gives the ability of a conductor to conduct electric current. The point form of Ohm’s law says that the electrical conductivity (σ) is the ratio of current density (J) to electric field (E).

23. What is responsible for the current to flow?
a) Protons
b) Electrons
c) Nucleus
d) Protons and Electrons
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: For the current to flow in a circuit electrons are required. Electrons are negatively charged and when the potential difference is applied these electrons flow to constitute a current. The current direction is opposite to the electron flow.

24. Which of the following according to KCL must be zero?
a) Algebraic sum of currents in closed-loop
b) Algebraic sum of power in closed-loop
c) Algebraic sum of currents entering and leaving a junction
d) Algebraic sum of voltages across the input and output
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: KCL or Kirchhoff’s current law helps in finding the currents flowing in the circuit. KCL states that the current entering a junction is equal to the current leaving a junction.

25. How many directions can the electric field at a point have?
a) Zero
b) One
c) Two
d) Many
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Electric field is a vector quantity and has a direction. The direction of the electric field is said to be along the line tangent to the electric field. Thus, the electric field at a point has one direction.

26. Which of the following will happen in a transformer when the number of secondary turns is greater than the number of primary turns?
a) The voltage gets stepped up
b) The voltage gets stepped down
c) The power gets stepped up
d) The power gets stepped down
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The voltage transformation ratio is the ratio of the number of secondary turns to that of the number of primary turns. When the transformation ratio is greater than 1, the step-up operation occurs.

27. Which of the following is correct about the voltage transformation ratio in electrical engineering?
a) Ratio of number of primary turns to the number of secondary turns
b) Ratio of induced emf in secondary to induced emf in primary
c) Ratio of secondary current to the primary current
d) Ratio of power in primary to power in secondary
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The voltage transformation ratio is the ratio of the number of secondary turns to the number of primary turns. This can also be expressed as the ratio of induced emf in secondary to induced emf in primary or ratio of primary current to secondary current.

28. Which of the following according to the fundamentals of electrical engineering is correct about the induced emf in primary of transformer?
a) It is the ratio of primary turns to emf induced per turn
b) It is the product of primary turns and emf induced per turn
c) It is the ratio of secondary turns to emf induced per turn
d) It is the product of secondary turns and emf induced per turn
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The number of primary turns is the ratio of induced emf in the primary to the emf induced per turn. Thus, the induced emf in the primary of the transformer is the product of primary turns and emf induced per turn.

29. Which of the following current is drawn by the primary circuit of an ideal transformer when the secondary is open?
a) Secondary current
b) Leakage current
c) Magnetizing current
d) Working on current
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: When the secondary is open no current flows through the load, thus no secondary current is drawn. The primary coil for an ideal transformer is purely inductive and thus, only draws magnetizing current.

30. What does positive power in an electrical element indicate?
a) Element is absorbing power
b) Element is supplying power
c) Element may absorb or supply power
d) Element is neither absorbing nor supplying power
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Power in an electrical element is the product of voltage and current. Positive power will be established when both voltage and current are positive or both are negative. Positive power will indicate that the element is absorbing power.

31. How does induce emf in DC motor react to supply voltage?
a) It will aid the supply voltage
b) It will be double the supply voltage
c) It will oppose the supply voltage
d) It will be half of the supply voltage
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Lenz’s law suggests that the direction of induced emf is such that it opposes the cause. The supply voltage will be the cause in this case. Thus induced emf will oppose the supply voltage.

32. Which of the following type of circuits in electrical engineering cannot be analyzed using Ohm’s law?
a) Unilateral
b) Bilateral
c) Linear
d) Conductors
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Ohm’s law cannot be used for analyzing unilateral networks as such networks only allow current flow in one direction. A unilateral network can consist diode, transistor, etc.

33. Which of the following according to KVL must be zero?
a) Algebraic sum of currents in closed-loop
b) Algebraic sum of power in closed-loop
c) Algebraic sum of losses in closed-loop
d) Algebraic sum of voltages in closed-loop
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: KVL or Kirchhoff’s voltage law proves the law of conservation of energy around a closed path. KVL can be used in the circuit to find the circuit parameters by considering that the algebraic sum of voltages in a closed loop is zero.


Chapterwise Multiple Choice Questions on Basic Electrical Engineering

Basic Electrical Engineering MCQ - Multiple Choice Questions and Answers

Our 1000+ MCQs focus on all topics of the Basic Electrical Engineering subject, covering 100+ topics. This will help you to prepare for exams, contests, online tests, quizzes, viva-voce, interviews, and certifications. You can practice these MCQs chapter by chapter starting from the 1st chapter or you can jump to any chapter of your choice.
  1. Simple DC Networks
  2. Network Theorems
  3. Capacitance and Capacitors
  4. Electromagnetism
  5. Simple Magnetic Circuits
  6. Inductance in a DC Circuit
  7. Alternating Voltage and Current
  8. Single Phase Series Circuits
  9. Network Theorems Applied to AC Networks
  10. Resonance in AC Circuits
  11. Single-Phase Parallel Networks

1. Basic Electrical Engineering MCQ on Simple DC Networks

The section contains electrical engineering multiple choice questions and answers on fundamentals of series circuits, parallel networks, power, energy, resistivity, temperature coefficient, kirchhoffs current and voltage laws.

  • Series Circuits
  • Parallel Networks
  • Series Circuits and Parallel Networks
  • Kirchhoff’s Current Law
  • Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
  • Power
  • Energy
  • Resistivity
  • Temperature Coefficient of Resistance
  • 2. Basic Electrical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on Network Theorems

    The section contains electrical engineering questions and answers on basics of kirchhoffs laws and network solutions, mesh and nodal analysis, superposition theorem, thevenins theorem, norton theorem, source transformations, maximum power transfer, delta star and star delta transformations.

  • Kirchhoff’s Laws and Network Solutions
  • Mesh Analysis
  • Nodal Analysis
  • Superposition Theorem
  • Thevenin’s Theorem
  • Norton’s Theorem
  • Source Transformations
  • Delta Star Transformation
  • Star Delta Transformation
  • Maximum Power Transfer
  • 3. Electrical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on Capacitance and Capacitors

    The section contains electrical engineering MCQs on introduction to capacitors, charge and voltage, capacitance, capacitors in parallel and series, electric fields, electric flux density, relative permittivity, composite dielectric capacitor, charging and discharging currents, growth and decay, cr networks transients, dielectric strength and displacement current, capacitor and capacitance types.

  • Capacitors
  • Charge and Voltage
  • Capacitance
  • Capacitors in Parallel
  • Capacitors in Series
  • Distribution of Voltage Accross Capacitors in Series
  • Capacitance and the Capacitor
  • Electric Fields
  • Electric Field Strength and Electric Flux Density
  • Relative Permittivity
  • Capacitance of a Multi Plate Capacitor
  • Composite Dielectric Capacitor
  • Charging and Discharging Currents
  • Growth and Decay
  • Discharge of a Capacitor Through a Resistor
  • Transients in CR Networks
  • Energy Stored in a Charged Capacitor
  • Force of Attraction Between Oppositely Charged Plates
  • Dielectric Strength
  • Leakage and Conduction Currents in Capacitors
  • Displacement Current in a Dielectric
  • Types of Capacitor and Capacitance
  • 4. Basic Electrical Engineering MCQ on Electromagnetism

    The section contains electrical engineering multiple choice questions and answers on principles of magnetic field and its direction, magnetic flux characteristics, solenoid magnetic field, force determination, electromagnetic induction, induced emf direction and magnitude of emf induced in a coil.

  • Magnetic Field
  • Direction of Magnetic Field
  • Characteristics of Lines of Magnetic Flux
  • Magnetic Field Due to an Electric Current
  • Magnetic Field of a Solenoid
  • Force on a Current Carrying Conductor
  • Force Determination
  • Electromagnetic Induction
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  • 5. Basic Electrical Engineering MCQ on Simple Magnetic Circuits

    The section contains electrical engineering questions and answers on introduction to magnetomotive force, magnetic constant, relative permeability, magnetic circuit ohms law, reluctance and b/h characteristic determination.

  • Magnetomotive Force and Magnetic Field Strength
  • Permeability of Free Space or Magnetic Constant
  • Relative Permeability
  • Reluctance
  • Ohm’s Law for a Magnetic Circuit
  • Determination of the B/H Characteristic
  • 6. Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on Inductance in a DC Circuit

    The section contains electrical engineering MCQs on basics of inductive and non-inductive circuits, ferromagnetic cored inductor, inductive circuit growth, growth and decay analysis, lr networks transients, mutual inductance, coupling coefficient, coils connected in series, inductor and inductance types.

  • Inductive and Non-Inductive Circuits
  • Inductance in Terms of Flux Linkages Per Ampere
  • Factors Determining the Inductance of a Coil
  • Ferromagnetic Cored Inductor in a DC Circuit
  • Growth in an Inductive Circuit
  • Analysis of Growth
  • Transients in LR Networks
  • Energy Stored in an Inductor
  • Mutual Inductance
  • Coupling Coefficient
  • Coils Connected in Series
  • 7. Basic Electrical Engineering MCQ on Alternating Voltage and Current

    The section contains electrical engineering multiple choice questions and answers on fundamentals of alternating emf, waveform terms and definitions, average and rms values of an alternating current, sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal currents and voltages, sinusoidal alternating quantities and phasor diagrams.

  • Generation of an Alternating EMF
  • Waveform Terms and Definitions
  • Relationship between Frequency, Speed and Number of Pole Pairs
  • Average and RMS Values of an Alternating Current
  • Average and RMS Values of Sinusoidal Currents and Voltages
  • Representation of an Alternating Quantity by a Phasor
  • Phasor Diagrams Drawn with RMS Values Instead of Maximum Values
  • 8. Basic Electrical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on Single Phase Series Circuits

    The section contains electrical engineering questions and answers on principles of alternating current in a resistive and inductive circuits, mechanical analogy of an inductive circuit, resistance and inductance in series, current and voltage in inductive and capacitive circuits.

  • Alternating Current in a Resistive Circuit
  • Current and Voltage in an Inductive Circuit
  • Resistance and Inductance in Series
  • Alternating Current in a Capacitive Circuit
  • Current and Voltage in a Capacitive Circuit
  • Resistance and Capacitance in Series
  • Alternating Current in an RLC Circuit
  • 9. MCQ on Network Theorems Applied to AC Networks

    The section contains electrical engineering MCQs on basics of kirchhoff’s law and network solution.

  • Kirchhoff’s Law and Network Solution
  • 10. Basic Electrical Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on Resonance in AC Circuits

    The section contains electrical engineering multiple choice questions and answers on introduction to frequency variation in a series rlc circuit, quality factor, resonance oscillation energy, bandwidth, selectivity, voltages and current in a series rlc circuit.

  • Frequency Variation in a Series RLC Circuit
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  • Bandwidth
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  • Voltages in a Series RLC Circuit
  • The Current in a Series RLC Circuit
  • 11. Electrical Engineering MCQ on Single-Phase Parallel Networks

    The section contains electrical engineering questions and answers on basic ac parallel circuits, simple parallel circuits and parallel impedance circuits.

  • Basic AC Parallel Circuits
  • Simple Parallel Circuits
  • Parallel Impedance Circuits
  • If you would like to learn "Basic Electrical Engineering" thoroughly, you should attempt to work on the complete set of 1000+ MCQs - multiple choice questions and answers mentioned above. It will immensely help anyone trying to crack an exam or an interview.

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    Suggested Readings:

    Basic Electrical Engineering Books:

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