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FE · 4% of the exam

Engineering Sciences practice questions

10 free Engineering Sciences questions for the FE Industrial and Systems Exam (FE) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question FE quiz

What this domain covers

A small domain covering basic physical science: work, energy and power, material properties, statics and simple electrical quantities.

Exam weight
4%
On a real exam
≈ 4 questions
In our bank
24 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Work, energy and power relationships
  • Material properties and selection
  • Charge, current, voltage and power in circuits
  • Forces and equilibrium in statics
  • Unit conversions and consistent units

How to study it

Keep your units consistent all the way through each calculation; most mistakes in this domain come from mixing units, not from the physics.

Sample Engineering Sciences questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    A 1,200-W appliance runs on 120 V. It draws a current of:

    • A144,000 A
    • B10 A
    • C0.1 A
    • D1,080 A
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 10 A

    • AIncorrect. Divide, don't multiply.
    • BCorrect. I = P/V = 1,200/120.
    • CIncorrect. That's inverted.
    • DIncorrect. Divide, don't subtract.

  2. Question 2

    A current of 10 A flows through a cable with a resistance of 0.5 Ω. What is the voltage drop across the cable?

    • A20 V
    • B5 V
    • C50 V
    • D0.05 V
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 5 V

    Ohm's law gives the voltage drop as V = IR: 10 A × 0.5 Ω = 5 V.

    • AIncorrect. This divides current by resistance (10 / 0.5 = 20). Ohm's law gives voltage as the product V = IR, not the quotient I/R.
    • BCorrect. By Ohm's law, V = IR = 10 A × 0.5 Ω = 5 V.
    • CIncorrect. This is I²R = 10² × 0.5 = 50, which is the power dissipated in watts, not a voltage.
    • DIncorrect. This divides resistance by current (0.5 / 10 = 0.05). Voltage is current multiplied by resistance.

  3. Question 3

    A lift does 3,000 J of work in 10 seconds. Its average power is:

    • A0.003 W
    • B30,000 W
    • C3 W
    • D300 W
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) 300 W

    • AIncorrect. That's inverted.
    • BIncorrect. Divide, don't multiply.
    • CIncorrect. Recheck: 3,000/10.
    • DCorrect. P = W/t = 3,000 J ÷ 10 s.

  4. Question 4

    Designers of trucks, rail cars, and aircraft often choose aluminum alloys instead of steel for structural parts. The main reason is aluminum's:

    • AHigher melting point, which suits hot-running parts
    • BHigher elastic modulus, which limits part deflection
    • CLower cost per kilogram, which cuts material spend
    • DLower density, which cuts overall structural weight
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Lower density, which cuts overall structural weight

    Aluminum is chosen for transport equipment mainly because its low density (about one-third of steel's) gives much lighter structures with adequate strength. It is not stiffer, cheaper, or more heat-resistant than steel.

    • AIncorrect. Aluminum melts at about 660 °C, well below steel (roughly 1,400–1,500 °C). Melting point is not why it is chosen.
    • BIncorrect. Aluminum's elastic modulus (about 70 GPa) is roughly one-third of steel's (about 200 GPa), so steel is the stiffer material.
    • CIncorrect. Aluminum alloys usually cost more per kilogram than ordinary structural steel.
    • DCorrect. Aluminum's density is about one-third of steel's, so parts with adequate strength weigh much less. That raises payload and lowers fuel or energy use.

  5. Question 5

    A 50-kg cart moves at 2 m/s. Its kinetic energy is:

    • A100 J
    • B200 J
    • C50 J
    • D25 J
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 100 J

    • ACorrect. ½mv² = ½(50)(4).
    • BIncorrect. Include the ½ factor.
    • CIncorrect. Square the velocity.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.

  6. Question 6

    Compared with metals, engineering polymers generally have:

    • ALower density and lower stiffness
    • BHigher melting points
    • CHigher electrical conductivity
    • DHigher modulus of elasticity
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Lower density and lower stiffness

    • ACorrect. They also resist many chemicals.
    • BIncorrect. Most melt at low temperatures.
    • CIncorrect. Most are insulators.
    • DIncorrect. They're less stiff.

  7. Question 7

    A 500-N load hangs from a single movable pulley (frictionless). The effort needed is:

    • A1,000 N
    • B500 N
    • C250 N
    • D125 N
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) 250 N

    • AIncorrect. That doubles it.
    • BIncorrect. A movable pulley halves the effort.
    • CCorrect. Two rope segments share the load.
    • DIncorrect. That needs four segments.

  8. Question 8

    A worker pushes a cart with a constant 200-N force for 3 m in the force direction. The work done is:

    • A600 J
    • B66.7 J
    • C203 J
    • D6,000 J
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 600 J

    • ACorrect. W = Fd = 200 N × 3 m.
    • BIncorrect. Multiply, don't divide.
    • CIncorrect. Multiply, don't add.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck: 200 × 3.

  9. Question 9

    Resistors of 10 Ω and 20 Ω in series are connected across 60 V. The current is:

    • A2 A
    • B9 A
    • C6 A
    • D1,800 A
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 2 A

    • ACorrect. I = V/R = 60/(10 + 20).
    • BIncorrect. That uses the parallel resistance.
    • CIncorrect. Use the total 30 Ω.
    • DIncorrect. Divide, don't multiply.

  10. Question 10

    A 20-tooth driver gear meshes with a 60-tooth driven gear. The driven gear's speed is:

    • ATwo-thirds of the driver's
    • BThree times the driver's
    • CThe same as the driver's
    • DOne-third of the driver's
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) One-third of the driver's

    • AIncorrect. That isn't the ratio.
    • BIncorrect. The larger gear turns slower.
    • CIncorrect. Tooth counts differ.
    • DCorrect. The speed ratio is 20/60.

Engineering Sciences: FAQs

How much of the FE exam is Engineering Sciences?

Engineering Sciences is 4% of the FE exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 110-question form works out to roughly 4 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Engineering Sciences domain cover?

A small domain covering basic physical science: work, energy and power, material properties, statics and simple electrical quantities.

How should I study Engineering Sciences for FE?

Keep your units consistent all the way through each calculation; most mistakes in this domain come from mixing units, not from the physics.

Where can I practise more Engineering Sciences questions?

This page has 10 free Engineering Sciences questions with answers. The ExamWize FE question bank has 24 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other FE topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the FE cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Engineering Sciences exam-ready

The full FE bank has 24 Engineering Sciences questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full FE practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with NCEES; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.