Electricalunits

Basic Electrical interview

Questions & Answers
1.What is electricity ?

Ans : Electricity is a general term used for all phenomena caused by electric charge
whether static or in motion.

2.What are the types of electricity ?

Ans : There are two types,(1) static Electricity and (2) Current Electricity.

3.What is static electricity ?

Ans : Static electricity means electricity at rest in contradistinction to dynamic or current

electricity the effects of which are purely due to the electrostatic field produced by the
charge. As it is obtained by rubbing two substance such as glass and silk it is also called
frictional electricity.

4.What is current electricity ?

Ans : Current electricity means the electricity in motion the effects of which are due to
the flow of electrons in a conductor.

5.What are the types of current electricity ?

Ans : There are two types :- (1) Direct current and (2) Alternating current.

6.What are the different methods of producing electricity ? Give examples.

Ans : The methods are –

i) By means of frictions- Static electricity is produced.
ii) By means of chemical action in cells and batteries.
iii) By means of mechanical driving- Generator produces electricity in two dissimilar
methods.
iv) By means of heat – Thermal electricity is produced.
v) By means of lighting effect – Electricity is produced in photo electric cell.

7.What are the sources of electricity ?

Ans : (1)Battery, (2) Generator and (3) Thermocouple.

8.What are the applications of electricity ?

Ans : Heating, Lighting, Welding, Running of Motors, Battery charging, Electroplating,

Relays, telephones, Electronic Equipment, etc.

9.What are the effects of electricity ?

Ans : (1) Physiological effect (Electric shock), (2)Heating effect (Lamp, Heater, Fuse),
(3)Magnetic effect (Fan, Motor, Electric bell), (4) Chemical effect (Battery charging and
Electroplating) and (5) X – Ray effect ( X- Rays).

10.What are A.C. and D.C. ?

Ans : A.C is the abbreviation of an alternating current which flows to and from in a circuit
in alternate direction periodically with the variation of its magnitude in regular manner
that after reaching a maximum in one direction decreases to zero, finally reversing and
reaching a maximum in the opposite direction decreases to zero again the cycle of
pulsation being repeated continuously. D.C. is the abbreviation of a direct current which
flows in one direction only and which does not have any appreciable pulsation in its
magnitude.

11.Where is D.C. used ?

Ans : (1) Battery charging, (2)Electroplating, (3)Electrolysis, (4) Relays, (5) traction
motors, (6) Cinema projector.

12. Where is A.C. used ?

Ans : (1) House hold appliances, (2) Fan, (3) Refrigerators, (4)Power driving motors.
(5)Radio and T.V. Set etc.

13. How will you judge whether the supply is A.C. or D.C. in premises ?

Ans : By seeing fan and tube light connection.

14.What are conductors ?

Ans : Conductors are those metallic substances which have a large number of free
electrons and offer a little resistance to the flow of electricity through them.

15. What are insulators ?

Ans : Insulators are those nonmetallic substances which have comparatively very few
free electrons and offer enormous resistance that they do not practically allow
electricity to flow through them.

16. What materials are generally used as conductors ?

Ans : Copper, Aluminium, Brass, Iron, Phosphor Bronze, Silver, Zinc, Tungsten, Nickel, etc.

17. What materials are generally used as insulators ?

Ans : Mica, Oil impregnated paper, Vulcanised rubber, Glass, Bakelite, Porcelain,
Varnished Cotton, Wood etc.

18.What term is used for comparing the insulation materials ?

Ans : “Dielectric Strength”.

19. What is “Dielectric strength”?

Ans : Dielectric strength is the maximum kilovolts per millimeter which an insulating
medium can withstand without breakdown.

20. What are the factors on which the dielectric strength depends ?
Ans : The dielectric strength depends on the following factors – i. Thickness of the
specimen,
ii. Size and shape of electrodes used in applying stress,
iii. Form or distribution of the field of electric stress in the material,
iv. Frequency of the applied voltage,
v. Rate and duration of voltage application,
vi. Fatigue with repeated voltage application,
vii. Temperature,
viii. Moisture content and
ix. Possible chemical changes under stress.

21. What is the effect of heat on insulator ?

Ans : Insulator resistance of most solid dielectric with the possible exception of mica and
asbestos is decreased with the rise in temperature and increased when cooled.

22. What is the effect of moisture and impurities on insulating materials ?

Ans : Moisture and impurities held in the combined form on the insulating material
reduce its resistivity, increase the absorption and dielectric loss and finally reduce the
dielectric strength.

23. Why is porcelain glazed for use as outdoor insulators ?

Ans : Outdoor porcelain insulator is glazed to prevent the surface leakage owing to the
accumulation of dirt and absorption of moisture. The insulation resistance is also
increased by glazing.

24. What are the properties of a good conductor ?

Ans : A good conductor must have the following properties :-

i) Low resistivity,
ii) Less variation in resistance with temperature,
iii)Good mechanical strength,
iV) Less specific weight,
v) High resistance to corrosion and
vi) High ductility.

25. What are the properties of a good insulator ?

Ans : A good insulator must have the following properties :-

 Non-hygroscopic i.e. it will not absorb moisture,

 High resistance to corrosion,
 Good mechanical strength,
 High insulation resistance and
 High breakdown voltage.

26. What are a semiconductor ?

Ans : A semiconductor is a substance whose resistivity lies in between those of good

conductor and insulator. Its resistance decreases with rising temperature and the
presence of impurities in contrast to the normal metallic conductor for which normally
behaves like an insulator.

27. What are the different types of semiconductors ?

Ans : There are two types of semiconductors :

i) Intrinsic semiconductors in pure form and
ii)Extrinsic semiconductors with added impurities.
Extrinsic semiconductors are sub divided into two types depending upon the type of
impurity added such as (1)N-type and (2) P-type.

28. Give some examples of semiconductors ?

Ans : Germanium (Ge), Silicon (Si), Selenium (Se), Carbon (C) etc.

29. Where are semiconductors used ?

Ans : Semiconductors are generally used in electronic devices such as Radio, Television
I.C.,V.C.R. etc.
30. What is resistance ?

Ans : Resistance is the property of a substance which opposes the flow of electricity
through it.

31. How are resistances classified ?

Ans : From the point of measurement resistances are classified as follows :-

i)Low resistances – All resistances of the order of 1 ohm or less.
ii)Medium resistances – Resistances ranging from about 1 ohm upwards to about
100000 ohms.
iii)High resistances – Resistances of 100000 ohms and above.

32. What is the unit of resistance ?

Ans : The unit of resistance is ‘ohm’.

33. What is resistor ?

Ans : Resistor or Rheostat is a device whose chief property is to oppose or resist the flow
of electricity.

34. On what factors does the resistance of a conductor depend ?

Ans : Resistance of a conductor depends on its (1)Length, (2)Cross section, (3) Resistivity
i.e. nature and composition of conductor material, (4) Temperature and (5) Nature of the
current flowing through the conductor.

35. What is the specific resistance of a conductor ?

Ans : The specific resistance or resistivity of a conductor is the resistance offered by unit
metre cube of the material of that conductor.

36. What is the unit of specific resistance ?

Ans : Ohm-meter.Type equation here.

37. What is the relation among resistance, length, and cross sectional area ?
Ans : Resistance ∝ Length/(Area of cross section) Resistance varies, directly proportional
to the length and inversely proportional to the cross section.

38. What is the effect of heat on resistance ?

Ans : Resistance is increased with the rise in temperature end decreased when cooled.

39. What is temperature coefficient of resistance ?

Ans : Temperature Coefficient of resistance is defined as the change in resistance per

degree change of temperature per ohm of resistance.

40. Define Ohm’s law.

Ans : Ohm’s law states that at the constant temperature, the current flowing in a circuit
is directly proportional to the potential difference across the circuit.

41. What fundamental relation does ohm’s law express ?

Ans : Ohm’s law gives the relation among the voltage, current and resistance in a circuit
and expressed by the equation, I = V/R .

42. State three equations of Ohm’s law.

Ans : I = E/R, R = E/I, and E =I.R. Where I is the current flow in amperes, R is the
resistance in ohms and E is the E.M.F. in volts.

43. Can you apply ohm’s law to all types of electrical conductor ?

Ans: No. Ohm’s law can be applied only in the cases of conductor through metals and in
electrolytic conduction. It can not be applied in the cases of conduction through ionized
gases or semiconductors.
44. A bulb is connected to a battery of F.M.F. 10V and the current is found to be 0.01
A. When the bulb is connected to 220V mains, the steady current is 0.05A. Explain
this apparent disagreement with ohm’s law.

Ans: It is due to the difference in temperature of the filament of the bulb in the two
cases. The temperature of the filament is more when the bulb is connected to 220V
main and thus the resistance also increases. Hence we have the deviation from the law.

45. What are the limitations of Ohm’s law ?

Ans : Ohm’s law is not applicable to non ohmic conductors like vacuum tubes, discharge
tubes and semiconductors.

46. What is an electric circuit ? What are its types ?

Ans : Electric circuit is a complete traversed path for the flow of electric current which
consists of source of supply, connecting wires, switches and load resistances. There are
three types of circuit, (a) Closed circuit, (b) Open circuit and (b) Short circuit.

47. What do you mean by closed circuit ?

Ans : Closed circuit is a complete electric circuit through which current will flow when
voltage is applied.

48. What do you mean by open circuit ?

Ans : A break in a circuit not having a complete path or circuit for the flow of electric
current is said to be open circuit or break circuit.

49. What do you mean by short circuit ?

Ans : An accidental connection of negligible resistance joining two wires of different

polarity of a circuit, through which nearly all the current will flow, is said to be short
circuit.

50. What are the combinations of resistances ?

Ans : There are three combinations of resistances : - Series combination (2) parallel
combination and (3) series parallel mixed combination.
51. What is a series circuit ?

Ans : Series circuit is a circuit in which the same current flows through all the devices.

52. What are the characteristics of a series circuit ?

Ans : The followings are the characteristics of a series circuit : The same current passes
through all the resistances in series circuit. Total voltage drop across the combination is
the sum of the voltage drop across each resistance. The total or equivalent resistance
which is the sum of the component resistance increases.

53. What is a parallel circuit ?

Ans : the Parallel circuit is a multiple circuits where the current divides and part flows
through each device connected to it.

54. What are the characteristics of a parallel circuit ?

Ans : The following are the characteristics of a parallel circuit :- The total current divides
and is the sum of the currents flowing through each resistance. Same voltage is applied
across each resistance. The total or equivalent resistance is less than the least
component i.e decreases.

55. What will be the total resistance when three equal resistances are connected in (a)
Series and (b) parallel ?

Ans : (a) In series, total resistance, R_eq = R+R+R = 3R. i.e. three times of each
resistance. (b) In parallel : 1/R_eq = 1/R + 1/R + 1/R = 3/R or R_eq = R/3 i.e. total
resistance is equal to 1/3rd of each resistance.

56. What is conductance ?

Ans : It is the property of a material for easy conducting the current. Its unit is mho.

57. What are (a)E.M.F, (b) Potential Difference & (c) Current ?

Ans : (a) Electromotive force (E.M.F) is that force which creates the pressure to cause a
flow of electrons through a conductor in any closed circuit. Potential difference between
two points in a circuit is the electrical pressure or voltage required to drive the current
between them. Current is the rate at which the electrons flow in any conductor.

58. What is voltage ?

Ans : Voltage is the potential, potential difference or electromotive force of a supply of

electricity measured in volts.

59. What are the units of E.M.F, Potential Difference and current ?

Ans : The unit of E.M.F and the potential difference is volt. and the unit of current is
ampere.

60. What is voltage drop ?

Ans : Voltage drop or potential drop is the diminution of potential along a conductor or
in an apparatus through which a current is passing against its resistance.

61. Is it possible to measure E.M.F ? If not, why ?

Ans : The E.M.F can not be measured but can be calculated in the way :-
E.M.F = Terminal voltage + Voltage drop inside the source of supply.
The E.M.F can not be measured because the measuring instrument will cause some
voltage drop due to consumption of some energy and the actual value will not come in
appearance.

62. What is potential gradient ?

Ans : The potential gradient is the space rate of change of potential with respect to
distance.

63. When a larger number of lamps are connected in (a)Series and (b) Parallel what
will happen to other lamps if one lamp is fused ?

Ans : (a) None will glow due to break circuit . Other lamps will glow as usual.
64. What do you understand by E.M.F and potential difference of a call ?

Ans : The voltage across the terminals of a cell in open circuit is called E.M.F of a cell,
and the voltage across the terminals of a cell on load is called the potential difference of
a cell.

65. How will you connect the cell (a)to increase the e.m.f and (b) to increase the
supply of current ?

Ans : (a) In series and (b) In parallel.

66. What will be the e.m.f of a battery of 6 cells each 2 volts if the cells are connected
in (a) Series and (b) Parallel ?

Ans : (a) 6 × 2V = 12 volts and (b) 2 volts.

67. What will be the internal resistance of a battery of 6 cells each of 0.3 ohm if the
cells are connected in (a) Series and (b) Parallel ?

Ans : (a) 0.3 ohm × 6 = 1.8 ohms (b) 0.3 ohm ÷ 6 = 0.05 ohm.

68. Define kirchhoff’s laws ? Are they applicable to both a.c. and d.c. circuits ?

Ans : (a) Current Law :- In any network of wires the algebraic sum of the electric currents
which meet at a point is zero.
Voltage law :- The algebraic sum of the electromotive forces in any closed circuit or mesh
is equal to the algebraic sum of the products of the resistance of each portion of the
circuit and the currents flowing through them.
Kirchhoff’s laws are applicable to both a.c and d.c circuit. In case of a.c circuit any e.m.f
of self inductance or that existing across a capacitor should be taken into account.

69. What do you mean by electrical network ?

Ans : An electrical network is a collection of electric elements such as resistors, coils,

capacitors and sources of energy connected together to form several interrelated circuits
for the purpose of satisfying specified requirements.

70. What do you mean by active and passive network ?

Ans : Active network means the electric network which contains one or more sources of
e.m.f’s in if passive network means the electric network in which there is no source of
e.m.fs.

71. What do you mean by linear and non linear network ?

Ans : Linear network also known as linear circuit means the network of electrical
elements in which the parameters of resistance, inductance and capacitance are
constant with respect to current or voltage and in which the voltage or current of
sources is independent of or directly proportional to other voltages and currents or their
derivatives in the net work. Non liner network also known as non linear circuit means
the network of electrical elements in which the parameters are not constant but change
with respect to current or voltage.

72. What do you mean by bilateral and unilateral circuit ?

Ans : Bilateral circuit means the electrical circuit which has same properties or
characteristics in both directions, e.g. transmission line. Unilateral circuit means the
electrical circuit in which the properties or characteristics change with the change in
direction e.g. vacuum tube rectifier.

73.What do you mean by “Eddy Current” ?

Ans : Eddy current or Foucault current means the current induced in the interior of
conducting masses by variation of the magnetic flux.

74. What do you mean by “Skin Effect” ?

Ans : Skin effect means the action of alternating current that causes more of a current to
flow near the outside surface that in the centre of a conductor.

75. Define Electrical Work, Electrical power & Electrical Energy ?

Ans : Electrical work is said to be done when an electric charge flows under a potential
difference.
In mechanic power is simply the rate of doing work. Electrical power is the rate of
transfer of electrical energy i.e the rate of electrical work done to mark a flow of change
‘Q’ under a potential difference ‘V’.
In mechanics energy is simply the capacity of doing work. Electrical energy is the amount
of work done which is equal to the product of the rate of doing work by time i.e power x
time.

76. What are the units of electrical power and electrical energy ?

Ans : The unit of electrical power is watt. The bigger units are kilo watt (1000 watt) and
Mega watt = (〖10〗^6watt). The unit of electrical energy is watt hour (Wh). The bigger
unit s kilo watt hour (kwh = 1000 Wh).

77.Define “British H.P” and “Metric H.P”.

Ans : British horse power is said to be the mechanical unit of power in F.P.S. system
when it does the work at the rate of 550 ft lbs/sec or 33,000 ft lbs/min,
Metric horse power is said to be the mechanical unit of power in M.K.S. system when it
does the work at the rate of 75 kg-m/sec or 4500 kg-m/minute.

78. What is the relation between H.P. and kW. ?

Ans : 1 H.P (Bitish) = 746 watts = 0.746 kW.

H.P (Metric) = 735.5 watts = o.7355 kW.

79. Give three formulas for power.

Ans : W = V2/R ,
W = V.I,
W = I2R.

80.What is the relation among power, resistance and volts ?

Ans : Power (W) = ([Voltage (V)]2)/(Resistance (R))

In unit relation, Watt = ((Volts)2)/(Ohm.)

81. What is B.O.T.U. ?

Ans : Board of Trade unit (B.O.T.U) is the commercial unit of electrical energy on the
basic of which electrical energy is charged. It is also known as k.W.h. unit.
82.How will you calculate the resistance of a lamp from the monogram of given
voltage and watt ?

Ans : From the formula of power, W =V2/R Resistance = ((Voltage)2)/Wattage i.e R =V2/W

83. Whose resistance is more between one 25 watt and one 200 watt lamp of same
voltage.

Ans : R = V2/W. Resistance is inversely proportional to wattage of lamp, voltage

remaining same.
Therefore, the resistance of lower wattage 25 W lamp will be more than higher wattage
200 W. lamp.

84. What will happen when one 110 volt, 25 watt lamp and one 11ovolt, 200 watt
lamp are connected in series with 220 volts supply ?

Ans : Voltage drop being higher than its rated voltage across higher resistance of W lamp
it will burst.

85. How much energy will be consumed by a 220 volt, 60 watt lamp when it is
connected in 110 volts supply ?

Ans : From the formula W = V2/R, resistance of the lamp remaining same power
consumed is proportional to square of the voltage. Therefore when voltage is reduced to
half the rated voltage the power consumption will be reduced to (1/2) 2 or ¼ of 60W i.e
15 watt.

86. A 1000 watt heater has a wire length of 5 meters. What will be the capacity of the
heater if the length of the wire is halved ?

Ans : The power W1 = V2/R

The resistance will be halved for half length.
Therefore W2 = V2/(R/2) = 2. V2/R = 2× W1
If W1 =1000 W. then for half length, W2 = 2 × 1000W = 2000W.