Chapter 17 Engineering Fundamentals:
An Introduction to Engineering
1. In general the properties of materials may be divided into three groups.
a. electrical, mechanical, thermal
b. viscosity, density, temperature
c. resilience, toughness, heat capacity
d. none of the above
Analysis:
2. The value of electrical resistivity is a measure of the resistance of material to the flow
of electricity.
a. True
b. False
3. Modulus of elasticity is a measure of how easily a material will stretch when pulled or
how well the material will shorten when pushed.
a. True
b. False
4. Steel is approximately
a. two times stiffer than aluminum alloys.
b. four times stiffer than aluminum alloys.
c. three times stiffer than aluminum alloys.
d. ten times stiffer than aluminum alloys.
5. Concrete is stronger in tension than it is in compression.
a. True
b. False
6. The strength-to-weight ratio is defined as
a. the ratio of the strength of the material to its weight.
b. the ratio of the strength of the material to its specific weight.
c. the ratio of the strength of the material to its mass.
d. the ratio of the strength of the material to its modulus of elasticity.
Analysis:
7. Alcohol has a lower vapor pressure value than water.
a. True
b. False
8. Which of the following materials are considered lightweight metals?
Engineering Fundamental, 5th ed. Chapter 17
Saeed Moaveni
Analysis:
9. When copper is alloyed with zinc it is commonly called
a. brass.
b. bronze.
c. aluminum bronze.
d. zinc-copper.
Analysis:
10. Steel is an alloy of iron with approximately
a. 2% or less carbon.
b. 20% or less carbon.
c. 35% or less carbon.
d. 50% or less carbon.
Analysis:
11. High alloy steels contain more than 8% of alloying elements.
Engineering Fundamental, 5th ed. Chapter 17
Saeed Moaveni
a. True
b. False
12. The 18/8 stainless steel tableware and kitchenware products contain
a. 18% chromium and 8% copper.
b. 18% copper and 8% chromium.
c. 18% chromium and 8% aluminum.
d. 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
Analysis:
13. Cast iron is considered a ductile material.
a. True
b. False
14. Concrete is commonly reinforced with steel bars or steel mesh to
a. increase its rigidity.
b. increase its weight.
c. increase its load-bearing capacity.
d. none of the above
Analysis:
15. Concrete is stronger in tension than it is in compression.
a. True
b. False
16. Precast concrete slabs, blocks, and structural members are fabricated in less time with
less cost in factory settings where surrounding conditions are controlled.
a. True
b. False
17. In general, under axial loading (when pulled), wood is stronger in a direction parallel
to the grain than it is in a direction across the grain.
a. True
b. False
18. Wood is stronger in a direction normal to the grain when it is bent.
a. True
b. False
19. In general, the higher the density of wood, the lower the strength.
a. True
b. False
20. Timber is commonly classified as
21. Polymers are the backbone of what we call plastics.
a. True
b. False
22. Plastics are often classified into two categories:
a. foams and vinyls
b. thermoplastics and thermosets
c. flexible and rigid
d. transparent and opaque
Analysis:
23. Silicone is a synthetic compound that is commonly used in lubricants, varnishes, and
waterproofing products.
a. True
b. False
24. Silicon is a nonmetallic chemical element that is used in the manufacture of
transistors and electronic computer chips.
a. True
b. False
25. The most widely used form of glass is soda-lime-silica glass.
a. True
b. False
26. Which type of glass has the higher coefficient of thermal expansion?
a. Ordinary glass
b. Silica glass
27. Which type of glass is better in high-temperature applications?
a. Ordinary glass
b. Silica glass
28. Metallic oxides are added to give glass various colors.
a. True
b. False
29. Fiber optics is the branch of science that deals with transmitting data, voice, and
images through thin plastic or glass fibers.
a. True
b. False
30. Composites are created by combining two or more solid materials to make a new
material that has properties that are superior to those of the individual components.
a. True
b. False
31. Composite materials consist of two main ingredients: matrix material and fibers.
a. True
b. False
32. Examples of fibers used in the construction of composite materials include
a. glass.
b. graphite.
c. silicon carbide fibers.
d. all of above
Analysis:
33. Composites may be classified into
a. polymer-matrix composites.
b. metal-matrix composites.
c. ceramic-matrix composites.
d. all of the above
Analysis:
34. The term fluids refers to liquids, not gases.
a. True
b. False
35. Air and water are among the most abundant fluids on earth.
a. True
b. False
36. Air is often used
a. as a cooling and heating medium.
b. in controlling thermal comfort in buildings.
c. as a controlling medium to turn equipment on and off.
d. to drive power tools.
e. all of the above
Analysis:
37. The earth’s atmosphere, which we refer to as air, is a mixture of approximately
a. 78% oxygen, 21% nitrogen, and less than 1% carbon dioxide.
b. 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and less than 1% argon.
c. 78% oxygen, 21% carbon dioxide, and less than 1% helium.
d. 78% oxygen, 21% water vapor, and less than 1% ozone.
Engineering Fundamental, 5th ed. Chapter 17
Saeed Moaveni
Analysis:
38. Most of the ultraviolet radiation arriving on earth from the sun is absorbed by
a. air.
b. nitrogen.
c. water vapor.
d. ozone.
39. There are two common ways of expressing the amount of water vapor in air:
a. dew point and relative humidity.
b. dew point and absolute humidity.
c. absolute humidity and relative humidity.
d. none of the above
40. The ratio of the mass of water vapor to the mass of dry air is known as
a. dew point.
b. absolute humidity.
Engineering Fundamental, 5th ed. Chapter 17
Saeed Moaveni
c. relative humidity.
d. none of the above
Analysis:
41. The ratio of the amount of moisture in the air to the maximum amount of moisture
that air can hold is known as
a. dew point.
b. absolute humidity.
c. relative humidity.
d. none of the above
Analysis:
42. Most people feel comfortable when the relative humidity is around
a. 10% to 30%.
b. 30% to 50%.
c. 50% to 70%.
d. 70% to 90%.
Analysis:
43. The higher the air temperature, the less water vapor the air can hold before it is fully
saturated.
a. True
b. False
44. Approximately what fraction of the earth’s surface is covered with water?
a.
4
1
b.
3
1
c.
2
1
d.
3
2
Analysis:
45. Surface water refers to water in reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and streams.
a. True
b. False
46. Groundwater refers to water that has collected on the ground.
a. True
b. False
47. Water is a common engineering material.
a. True
b. False
48. Mechanical engineers need to understand the thermophysical properties of liquid
water and steam when designing power plants.
a. True
b. False
49. Understanding the properties of liquid water and steam is important to which
engineering discipline?
a. Mechanical engineering
b. Civil engineering
c. Manufacturing engineering
d. All of the above
Analysis:
50. Water is used as a cutting tool to cut stone and steel.
a. True
b. False