All Free Electrical Engineering MCQs with Answers

Every Electrical Engineering question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

3,143 questions · page 29 of 158

  • A. Plugging braking
  • B. Rheostatic braking
  • C. Regenerative braking
  • D. None of the above

Explanation: Plugging applies a reverse torque by reversing the motor connections, producing rapid braking and bringing the locomotive to a dead stop.

Correct answer: Plugging braking
  • A. 12 V
  • B. 24 V
  • C. 220 V
  • D. 600 to 750 V

Explanation: D.C. suburban railway systems commonly use a third-rail or overhead supply in the range of 600 to 750 V.

Correct answer: 600 to 750 V
  • A. more on steeper gradient
  • B. more with high train resistance
  • C. less if distance between stops is more
  • D. all of the above

Explanation: Energy consumption rises with steeper gradients and greater train resistance, while longer distances between stops reduce repeated…

Correct answer: all of the above
  • A. greased
  • B. wet
  • C. sprayed with oil
  • D. cleaned with sand

Explanation: Sand removes moisture and increases friction between the wheel and rail, raising the coefficient of adhesion.

Correct answer: cleaned with sand
  • A. Cascade control
  • B. Pole changing
  • C. Rheostat control
  • D. Combination of cascade and pole changing

Explanation: Rheostat or rotor-resistance control wastes substantial power as heat in the external resistance, so its efficiency is low.

Correct answer: Rheostat control
  • A. distance between the stops is more
  • B. maximum speed reached is high
  • C. acceleration and retardation rates are low
  • D. all of the above

Explanation: Main-line trains have widely spaced stops, allowing higher speeds, while their acceleration and retardation rates are lower than those…

Correct answer: all of the above
  • A. Main line service
  • B. Urban service
  • C. Sub-urban service
  • D. Urban and sub-urban service

Explanation: The quadrilateral speed-time curve is used for urban and suburban services, where stops are relatively close and the train may have…

Correct answer: Urban and sub-urban service
  • A. Hydraulic system
  • B. Pneumatic system
  • C. Vacuum system
  • D. None of the above

Explanation: Steam locomotives traditionally use vacuum brakes, in which atmospheric pressure applies the brakes when vacuum is reduced.

Correct answer: Vacuum system
  • A. Engine power
  • B. Track curves
  • C. Passenger Discomfort
  • D. Track sizeCompare Power Rates

Explanation: Suburban trains carry standing and seated passengers and make frequent stops, so excessive acceleration or braking would cause discomfort.

Correct answer: Passenger Discomfort
  • A. 0.12
  • B. 0.25
  • C. 0.40
  • D. 0.75

Explanation: A normal wheel-to-rail coefficient of adhesion is commonly taken as about 0.25 under ordinary conditions.

Correct answer: 0.25
  • A. it has longer free running period
  • B. it has longer coasting period
  • C. accelerating and braking periods are comparatively smaller
  • D. all of the above

Explanation: Main-line trains travel longer distances between stations, so their speed-time curves have longer free-running and coasting intervals…

Correct answer: all of the above
  • A. speed
  • B. (speed)
  • C. (speed)
  • D. 1/speed

Explanation: Air resistance on a train is approximately proportional to the square of its speed, so doubling speed produces about four times the…

Correct answer: (speed)
  • A. Jolting and skidding
  • B. Hammer blow
  • C. Pitching
  • D. All of the above

Explanation: The pulsating torque of steam locomotives produces uneven tractive effort, leading to jolting and possible wheel skidding.

Correct answer: Jolting and skidding
  • A. Sand on rails
  • B. Dew on rails
  • C. Oil on the rails
  • D. both B. and C.

Explanation: Dew forms a water film and oil acts as a lubricant, both of which reduce wheel-to-rail adhesion.

Correct answer: both B. and C.
  • A. overcome the gravity component of train mass
  • B. overcome friction, windage and curve resistance
  • C. accelerate the train mass
  • D. do all of the above

Explanation: Tractive effort must overcome the train’s gravity component, running resistances such as friction, windage and curves, and the additional…

Correct answer: do all of the above
  • A. less than that of D.C. locomotive
  • B. more than that of D.C. locomotive
  • C. equal to that of D.C. locomotive
  • D. none of the above

Explanation: For the same axle load, AC locomotives can develop greater tractive effort because their traction-control systems provide better adhesion…

Correct answer: more than that of D.C. locomotive
  • A. 60 kmph
  • B. 75 kmph
  • C. 100 kmph
  • D. more than 100 kmph

Explanation: A superfast train is conventionally defined in this classification as one whose speed exceeds 100 km/h.

Correct answer: more than 100 kmph
  • A. Regenerative braking on electric locomotives
  • B. Vacuum braking on diesel locomotives
  • C. Vacuum braking on steam locomotives
  • D. All braking systems are equally costly

Explanation: Regenerative braking requires additional control and power-handling equipment so that generated energy can be returned to the supply…

Correct answer: Regenerative braking on electric locomotives
  • A. D.C. shunt motor
  • B. D.C. series motor
  • C. A.C. three phase motor
  • D. AC. single phase capacitor start motor

Explanation: A DC series motor gives very high starting torque and its speed naturally varies with load, making it well suited to tramway traction.

Correct answer: D.C. series motor
  • A. single cylinder double acting steam engine
  • B. double cylinder, single acting steam engine
  • C. double cylinder, double acting steam engine
  • D. single stage steam turbine

Explanation: Traditional steam locomotives use double-acting cylinders, in which steam produces a power stroke on both sides of the piston.

Correct answer: double cylinder, double acting steam engine