Associate Certified Electronic Technician Practice Exam

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• What component causes a generator to produce DC voltage instead of AC?
• Which component in a PC is responsible for disk operations?
• For analog signals, which property is critical for high-frequency performance in circuits?
• What does 0 dBm, when referring to audio signals, mean?
• A power supply with what percent regulation would have an output voltage that remains constant regardless of load variations?
• What is the effect of applying positive voltage to the P end and negative voltage to the N end of a germanium diode?
• What does a byte represent in digital data?
• With a positive voltage to the drain or source of an N channel JFET and a negative voltage to the gate, what is the internal resistance of the JFET?
• Which component effectively becomes a short when turned on, and is turned off by disconnecting the path from the anode to cathode?
• When capacitors are connected in series, how is the total capacitance calculated?
• The fifth color band on a 5% resistor indicates what?
• In an electronic circuit, what is the behavior of an inductor regarding AC current?
• If a 12V product is dissipating 50W, what is the load resistance it represents?
• Which type of capacitor is least likely to be classified as a high-voltage capacitor?
• When soldering transistor or IC chip legs, which component should be used to prevent overheating?
• In an RC circuit, if resistance is kept constant, what happens to the time constant when capacitance increases?
• Decimal 50 would appear as ____ in Hex.
• How many bits are there in a byte?
• What is true about an inductor concerning AC and DC signals?
• What is the total inductance when three inductors with values of 20 mH, 30 mH, and 40 mH are connected in series?
• What is the primary function of a Digital Storage Oscilloscope?
• What is the average of a full sine wave rectified voltage expressed as a fraction of its peak value?
• What is the primary function of a thermistor?
• The unit of capacitive reactance is measured in what?
• What is the primary function of a power transformer in a power supply?
• What should be done before servicing a product that contains high voltage?
• In an LCD, by how many degrees does the fluid rotate the polarized light?
• What is the main advantage of a digital voltmeter over an analog meter?
• What must laminations used for the core of a transformer do?
• Which of the following describes the output of a differential amplifier when provided with anti-phase inputs?
• In a circuit, what does a negative temperature coefficient thermistor typically indicate?
• To simplify the following of an electrical signal path through circuitry, what could you use?
• An inductor opposes any change in what?
• What type of component decreases in resistance as it is heated?
• How is a "video signal" defined in electronics?
• When working with lead-acid batteries, what precaution should always be taken?
• Which process produces sideband frequencies in a radio carrier?
• What occurs when a voltage is initially applied to a capacitor?
• What is the primary function of an inductor in a circuit?
• What are two other names for internal memory types in PCs?
• What is the total capacitance when connecting three capacitors of 0.05 uF, 20 uF, and 40 uF in series?
• What is one advantage of using a Triac in a power circuit?
• What device is typically used to trace a logic path?
• Which components are considered "basic" in a non-switching power supply?
• What is a ripple counter?
• Which parameters does a spectrum analyzer typically display?
• When soldering high voltage connections, what is important to achieve on the terminal?
• What is the effective voltage of a 100V Peak-to-Peak sine wave?
• What type of modulation leads to the generation of sideband frequencies?
• What component is commonly used to convert AC voltage to DC voltage?
• How is a track on a computer removable disk divided?
• RF signal propagation that is generally considered "line-of-sight" primarily operates in which frequency range?
• What should be used first to clean a corroded soldering iron tip?
• Which frequency will have a higher loss when using coaxial cable transmission line?
• Which component is essential in converting AC to DC in generators?
• What should you expect the frequency response of a video amplifier in a radar or TV receiver to be?
• What is the result of poor termination on a transmission cable?
• Which of these IC or semiconductor devices normally requires the most careful handling to avoid damage by static electricity?
• Which component is typically associated with voltage regulation in electrical circuits?
• Which of these voltages would you normally choose to cause an LED to light?
• How would you calculate the percent regulation of a power supply that measures 50 volts under a small load and 40 volts under a heavy load?
• What is the primary function of solder flux in electronics?
• What does a pi filter inductor have at each end?
• Carbon microphones function similarly to which component?
• When a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field perpendicular to the lines of flux, it tends to move in which direction?
• In VOM's, what is the function of voltage multiplier resistors?
• When a filter is used, what is the primary goal of filtering?
• What happens to the voltage across a load when a zener diode is used correctly?
• What is the primary method of information transmission through optic fiber?
• When a transformer is designed, what most determines the output voltage from the secondary?
• For R = 200 ohms and I = 0.02 amps, what is the value of P (power)?
• What type of display would a Digital Multimeter (DMM) most likely have?
• What is the main characteristic of a transformer in an electrical circuit?
• Germanium diodes typically drop how much voltage with forward current?
• A variable capacitor operates based on what principle?
• Which component would you likely find in a DC motor speed control circuit?
• Which video system features the highest resolution?
• What does a NOR block signify in digital circuit diagrams?
• If you increase the value of an inductor, what will happen to the inductive reactance?
• Which component is primarily used for energy storage in a circuit?
• What type of component is commonly used for filtering signal noise in an electronic circuit?
• It is desired to raise the power to a speaker from 15 W to 30 W. This is a:
• Which wire gauge represents the largest diameter?
• FM modulation utilizes what type of variations compared to AM modulation?
• Which of the following terms is most closely associated with types of resistors?
• Which of the following is NOT a type of logic gate?
• What is the typical application for a series motor?
• The rechargeable cells commonly used in consumer portable products are typically which type?
• What will the output of a differential amplifier be when both inputs receive identical in-phase signals?
• What does a reduction of 6 dB in RF signal imply in terms of power?
• Which of the following accurately describes schematic diagrams of electronic devices?
• How is an "Audio signal" categorized?
• The term for the voltage drop measured across a circuit component is known as:
• What is the typical amplitude of audio signals from devices like DVD players for input to other equipment?
• Which component typically needs to have high voltage discharged before servicing?
• Which material would normally be used for the core of a transformer?
• A 10W signal is received at 5 W. This is a _____ dB loss:
• What could cause a capacitor to leak current?
• What common issue is often exhibited by integrated circuit failures?
• What happens to the voltage output of a thermocouple as temperature varies?
• What can cause standing waves on a transmission cable?
• What effect does increasing the frequency have on the inductive reactance of an inductor?
• What does the Z axis on an oscilloscope represent?
• What is the ripple frequency of a half wave rectifier operating from 60 Hz electrical power?
• What is a significant difference between a TV antenna and a CB antenna?
• What happens to an LED when current flows in the reverse direction?
• A differential amplifier whose two input signals are equal, but 180 degrees out of phase, will have a/an ________ output signal.
• In a power supply capacitive filter, where is the capacitor located in relation to the load?
• What are the Common Intermediate Frequencies (IF's) for AM and FM commercial broadcast receivers?
• Which material is least likely to cause ESD damage to a MOSFET?
• For an N channel JFET, a negative voltage at the gate typically causes what change in resistance?
• Phototransistors are sensitive to which type of light?
• What is the function of an electrolytic capacitor in a voltage doubler circuit?
• What happens to the capacitance in variable capacitors when the plates separate?
• In what unit is the energy stored in a coil measured?
• In terms of electrical components, what does the acronym SCR stand for?
• Which of the following describes the ripple frequency in a bridge rectifier?
• When servicing a power supply, what is essential to do with several 250 uF capacitors connected in parallel?
• The velocity factor in an RF transmission line is determined by:
• What is the result of adding the binary numbers 101011 and 001110?
• Which application would most likely require the use of a Zener diode?
• Are diodes made from a single type of material?
• What is the term describing many operational amplifier circuits?
• If you increase the value of a capacitor, what happens to the capacitive reactance?
• What happens to the output of a differential amplifier when the inputs are the same and in phase?
• A printer connected directly to a personal computer typically uses which type of connection?
• The output of a thermocouple is most likely measured in which unit?
• Which device measures voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit?
• The 9 pin DB9 connector serial port on a PC is commonly referred to as which standard?
• What happens if a power supply is not properly discharged before servicing?
• What does a MOSFET do?
• What happens to a germanium diode when properly forward biased?
• When using fiber optic to transfer a signal, what must happen to the light?
• What is the primary use of a Yagi antenna?
• In what scenario might you use a dual trace oscilloscope instead of a single trace?
• What are the primary causes of coaxial cable line losses at RF frequencies?
• In power electronics, what does PWM stand for?
• What term describes the residual magnetism in electronic devices?
• The discharge time of a capacitor is influenced by which of the following factors?
• What percent of full charge will a capacitor charge to in one RC time?
• What is a common application of a Triac?
• What role does a diode play in an electronic circuit?
• When using a thermistor, one must consider that:
• Ohm's law provides equations relating to which of the following?
• In the binary number 100000, what weight does the "1" carry?
• Which device would you typically use to observe the waveform of an electronic signal?
• What does the term "Cellular" refer to in telephone communication?
• What action is necessary to check the functioning of a SCR using an ohmmeter?
• When electrons flow through a semiconductor material, what happens at the junction of a diode?
• What does a logic probe indicate?
• What is the result of correctly connecting a properly rated zener diode across a power supply load?
• In a half wave rectifier, the output consists of which type of waveform?
• A thermistor:
• What is a disadvantage of LCD (liquid crystal display)?
• In what scenario would an analog VOM be preferred over a DMM?
• What characteristic of a digital signal is represented by a NOT gate?
• What is the total capacitance of three capacitors in parallel with values of 470 pf, 560 pf, and 0.47 pf?
• What should be done to prevent further damage if an internal short is suspected in a unit?
• In a 3-input AND gate, how many inputs must be high for a high output?
• A fuse, marked 250v, 650ma can be used in circuits with an "open-fuse" supply voltage of:
• What is the binary representation of the decimal number 164?
• Which component generally provides feedback in a closed-loop control system?
• In the use of a transformer, which parameter is particularly important?
• In Personal Computer technology, what does ROM stand for?
• What component is typically used alongside a power supply to regulate voltage?
• What type of component is commonly used as an audio detector circuit in an AM radio?
• What does a Zener diode rated at 6.3V indicate?
• "Microwave," in the context of radio electronics, refers to what range of frequencies?
• How should an SCR be tested with an ohmmeter?
• If an RF signal voltage is reduced by 6 dB, what happens to its size?
• What happens when you move one plate of a capacitor further away from the other?
• What can an LED be used as in a communication setup?
• If a class A differential amplifier is using only one of its two possible inputs, what will the output signal shape be?
• What type of data storage is ROM?
• Which formula would you use to find the total inductance in a series circuit?
• When troubleshooting audio reproduction equipment, what approximate RMS level should be expected at the input of the audio amplifier?
• What is the ripple frequency of a full-wave single-phase bridge rectifier operating at 60Hz?
• What characteristic of an amplifier determines its ability to amplify a signal without distortion?
• True or False: The rotor in an induction motor is connected to AC or DC power.
• Which of these can be used to control the output level of a generator?
• What could happen to a series DC motor with no load?
• Why must a technician be knowledgeable about ESD?
• What type of memory is used primarily for data storage that does not change?
• What is one function of a diode in electronic circuits?
• In an audio circuit, what is the typical frequency range that defines audio signals?
• What is the recommended fast charging rate for a NiCad or Ni-MH battery, in relation to its AHr rating?
• In a typical electrical generator, what effect does a small DC voltage have on the field windings?
• In an inverting amplifier configuration, what determines the gain of an op-amp?
• Which component most closely compares to the output of a solar cell?
• Which ohm meter range would you use to check if a capacitor is shorted, open, or leaky?
• What is another name for a free-running oscillator?
• A solid-state regulator is used to:
• Why would one prefer a digital VOM over an ordinary analog meter?
• What impact does ESD have on electronic components?
• A transformer’s efficiency is primarily affected by:
• A capacitor opposes any change in what?
• What is the effect of using a resistor instead of an inductor in a power supply pi filter?
• What component in a radio receiver generates most of the noise level?
• A capacitor marked 47k is indicative of which capacitance value?
• Which type of motor maintains a constant speed with changing loads?
• Which filtering component is preferred for minimizing undesirable effects at high frequencies?
• Why don't VHF or UHF antennas use waveguides as feed lines?
• What will be the output of a three-input NAND gate with two low inputs and one high input?
• Doubling the power in a transmitter output signal results in what gain in dB?
• What is the purpose of a fuse in an electrical circuit?
• What is the primary use of a fuse in an electrical circuit?
• What is the vertical axis of an oscilloscope display commonly referred to as?
• What is the function of a regulator in a power supply circuit?
• In Class AB operation of an audio amplifier, how many degrees of the input signal wave allows current to flow through the active device?
• Which of the following is a good indication of the quality of an analog meter?
• Historically, what is the approximate wattage of soldering stations used for electronics circuit-board work?
• When a capacitor is charging, what happens to the current flow?
• What type of fuse has its fusible wire wrapped around an insulator?
• What does "voltage" refer to in electrical terms?
• What specification should NOT concern a technician regarding wire conductors?
• What is typically the primary function of a rectifier?
• The antenna that serves as a reference for comparing the gain of other antennas is called a:
• In a power control circuit, what role does a Triac perform?
• When testing between the source and drain of an N channel JFET using the R x 100 range, what should the readings indicate?
• Which radio communication mode utilizes the basic frequency and one of the sidebands?
• Which of the following components is part of a "basic" power supply?
• How does a dual trace oscilloscope differ from a single trace oscilloscope?
• Which frequency range makes pure filtering easiest with a given filter type?
• Which wire size is physically the largest?
• If I = 1 amp and R = 10,000 ohms, what is the value of the voltage?
• What is the purpose of a schematic in electronic servicing?
• What is a reference antenna that all other antennas with gain are compared to?
• What feature might a dual-trace oscilloscope have?
• In an electronic circuit, which component primarily serves the role of converting alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC)?
• What is the total capacitance when three capacitors valued at 100μF, 100μF, and 50μF are connected in series?
• Which component is commonly used to provide protection against voltage surges in electrical circuits?
• A power source such as a generator or battery can be compared to which component in a water supply system?
• What principle does the "cone of acceptance" relate to in fiber optics?
• What is the received TV signal level for 0 dBmV?
• Adding armature windings in parallel to a generator's existing windings:
• What effect does increasing the length of an antenna have on its resonant frequency?
• What is the term for the digital method of representing characters using combinations of zeroes and ones?
• Which of the following is most commonly used to measure electrical current?
• Which parameter is NOT typically an indicator of a capacitor’s quality?
• What term is sometimes used to refer to switching power supplies?
• What is the primary purpose of a resistor in an electronic circuit?
• In a motor, the counter-emf voltage induced in the armature does what to the source current?
• AC power outlet strips with surge suppressors typically include at least one of which component?
• What term describes the combination of resistance and reactance that restricts the flow of alternating current?
• What is the normal open circuit voltage for each nickel-cadmium cell?
• What is the key characteristic of an autotransformer?
• Impedance (Z, in ohms) includes:
• A decrease in power level is measured in decibels. This measurement is commonly referred to as:
• What does analog radio receiver signal compression do to high frequency received signals?
• A resistor with color stripes yellow, violet, violet, silver is valued at what resistance?
• How is the gain of an operational amplifier related to its bandwidth as input frequency increases?
• Which device emits a voltage when heated or cooled?
• What do high wattage resistors typically help with when placed in series with power input?
• To increase the resonant frequency in a series-tuned circuit, what must be done to the inductance?
• What happens when the gate level on an SCR drops below the trigger point while anode and cathode voltages are maintained?
• What condition causes a light emitting diode (LED) to illuminate?
• Lead-free type solder for electronics work is primarily made from which materials?
• In a phase-locked-loop circuit, the output of the VCO generates what type of signal?
• What decimal number is represented by the binary number 01101010?
• What device converts ordinary alpha/numeric information to binary?
• An 8-bit binary code allows for how many logical combinations?
• What RF frequency corresponds to a full wavelength of 8.33 meters in air?
• A high frequency antenna is generally ______ than a low frequency one.
• A transformer with two leads connected to the primary and three to the secondary is called what?
• What is a primary use for a dual trace oscilloscope?
• Impedance in an AC circuit can be influenced by: