Arkansas AR-GEG Geothermal Contractor
Practice Exam | Questions, Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales | Complete
Contractor License Exam Prep Study Guide
| Updated 2026
1.
What is the primary function of a geothermal heat pump?
A. Transfer heat between a building and the ground or water source
B. Generate electricity from underground steam
C. Burn fuel to produce heating
D. Increase groundwater pressure
Answer: Transfer heat between a building and the ground or water source
Rationale: A geothermal heat pump moves heat rather than creating heat
through combustion. In heating mode it extracts heat from the ground or
water; in cooling mode it rejects building heat to the ground or water.
2.
Which property of the ground makes geothermal heat pump systems
practical?
A. The ground temperature changes dramatically every hour
B. The ground is always colder than outdoor air
C. Ground temperatures are relatively stable compared with outdoor air
temperatures
D. Groundwater always remains at 100°F
Answer: Ground temperatures are relatively stable compared with outdoor
air temperatures
,Rationale: Below the influence of short-term weather fluctuations, earth
temperatures are comparatively stable, allowing a geothermal system to
operate against a more predictable heat source or heat sink.
3.
Which component transfers heat between the refrigerant circuit and the
ground loop?
A. Compressor
B. Heat exchanger
C. Expansion tank only
D. Thermostat
Answer: Heat exchanger
Rationale: A heat exchanger separates the refrigerant circuit from the
circulating ground-loop fluid while allowing thermal energy to pass
between them.
4.
In heating mode, a geothermal heat pump generally removes heat from the:
A. Compressor
B. Building interior
C. Ground loop or water source
D. Electrical panel
Answer: Ground loop or water source
Rationale: During heating operation, the heat pump extracts available
thermal energy from the ground or water and transfers it into the building.
5.
What is the purpose of the compressor in a heat pump?
,A. Filter loop water
B. Raise refrigerant pressure and temperature
C. Reduce electrical voltage
D. Remove air from the loop
Answer: Raise refrigerant pressure and temperature
Rationale: The compressor raises the refrigerant's pressure, which also
raises its saturation temperature and prepares it to reject heat at the
condenser.
6.
What is the function of an expansion device?
A. Increase refrigerant pressure
B. Increase compressor horsepower
C. Reduce refrigerant pressure and control refrigerant flow
D. Increase loop-water temperature
Answer: Reduce refrigerant pressure and control refrigerant flow
Rationale: The expansion device meters refrigerant into the evaporator and
produces the pressure drop necessary for the refrigerant to absorb heat at
a lower temperature.
7.
A closed-loop geothermal system normally circulates:
A. Refrigerant through the earth
B. Natural gas through the earth
C. A heat-transfer fluid through buried piping
D. Domestic water through the compressor
Answer: A heat-transfer fluid through buried piping
Rationale: Closed-loop systems circulate water or an approved antifreeze
solution through a sealed piping circuit that exchanges heat with the
surrounding ground.
, 8.
Which is a common closed-loop configuration?
A. Horizontal loop
B. Chimney loop
C. Combustion loop
D. Exhaust loop
Answer: Horizontal loop
Rationale: Horizontal loops are installed in trenches and are commonly
used where sufficient land area is available.
9.
When land area is limited, which loop configuration is often advantageous?
A. Horizontal shallow trench only
B. Vertical loop
C. Open combustion loop
D. Roof loop
Answer: Vertical loop
Rationale: Vertical boreholes can provide substantial heat-exchange
capacity while using relatively little surface area.
10.
What is the primary purpose of grout in a vertical geothermal borehole?
A. Lubricate the compressor
B. Increase refrigerant pressure
C. Seal the borehole and provide thermal contact with surrounding
formations
D. Prevent electrical current from reaching the thermostat
Practice Exam | Questions, Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales | Complete
Contractor License Exam Prep Study Guide
| Updated 2026
1.
What is the primary function of a geothermal heat pump?
A. Transfer heat between a building and the ground or water source
B. Generate electricity from underground steam
C. Burn fuel to produce heating
D. Increase groundwater pressure
Answer: Transfer heat between a building and the ground or water source
Rationale: A geothermal heat pump moves heat rather than creating heat
through combustion. In heating mode it extracts heat from the ground or
water; in cooling mode it rejects building heat to the ground or water.
2.
Which property of the ground makes geothermal heat pump systems
practical?
A. The ground temperature changes dramatically every hour
B. The ground is always colder than outdoor air
C. Ground temperatures are relatively stable compared with outdoor air
temperatures
D. Groundwater always remains at 100°F
Answer: Ground temperatures are relatively stable compared with outdoor
air temperatures
,Rationale: Below the influence of short-term weather fluctuations, earth
temperatures are comparatively stable, allowing a geothermal system to
operate against a more predictable heat source or heat sink.
3.
Which component transfers heat between the refrigerant circuit and the
ground loop?
A. Compressor
B. Heat exchanger
C. Expansion tank only
D. Thermostat
Answer: Heat exchanger
Rationale: A heat exchanger separates the refrigerant circuit from the
circulating ground-loop fluid while allowing thermal energy to pass
between them.
4.
In heating mode, a geothermal heat pump generally removes heat from the:
A. Compressor
B. Building interior
C. Ground loop or water source
D. Electrical panel
Answer: Ground loop or water source
Rationale: During heating operation, the heat pump extracts available
thermal energy from the ground or water and transfers it into the building.
5.
What is the purpose of the compressor in a heat pump?
,A. Filter loop water
B. Raise refrigerant pressure and temperature
C. Reduce electrical voltage
D. Remove air from the loop
Answer: Raise refrigerant pressure and temperature
Rationale: The compressor raises the refrigerant's pressure, which also
raises its saturation temperature and prepares it to reject heat at the
condenser.
6.
What is the function of an expansion device?
A. Increase refrigerant pressure
B. Increase compressor horsepower
C. Reduce refrigerant pressure and control refrigerant flow
D. Increase loop-water temperature
Answer: Reduce refrigerant pressure and control refrigerant flow
Rationale: The expansion device meters refrigerant into the evaporator and
produces the pressure drop necessary for the refrigerant to absorb heat at
a lower temperature.
7.
A closed-loop geothermal system normally circulates:
A. Refrigerant through the earth
B. Natural gas through the earth
C. A heat-transfer fluid through buried piping
D. Domestic water through the compressor
Answer: A heat-transfer fluid through buried piping
Rationale: Closed-loop systems circulate water or an approved antifreeze
solution through a sealed piping circuit that exchanges heat with the
surrounding ground.
, 8.
Which is a common closed-loop configuration?
A. Horizontal loop
B. Chimney loop
C. Combustion loop
D. Exhaust loop
Answer: Horizontal loop
Rationale: Horizontal loops are installed in trenches and are commonly
used where sufficient land area is available.
9.
When land area is limited, which loop configuration is often advantageous?
A. Horizontal shallow trench only
B. Vertical loop
C. Open combustion loop
D. Roof loop
Answer: Vertical loop
Rationale: Vertical boreholes can provide substantial heat-exchange
capacity while using relatively little surface area.
10.
What is the primary purpose of grout in a vertical geothermal borehole?
A. Lubricate the compressor
B. Increase refrigerant pressure
C. Seal the borehole and provide thermal contact with surrounding
formations
D. Prevent electrical current from reaching the thermostat
