1
NYC Radio Repair Mechanic Exam: 100 Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Section 1: Basic Electronics & Circuit Analysis (Questions 1-15)
1. A radio repair technician measures voltage across a resistor and needs to calculate
current. Which law should be applied?
A. Kirchhoff's Law
B. Ohm's Law
C. Faraday's Law
D. Coulomb's Law
Answer: B
Ohm's Law (I = V/R) relates voltage, current, and resistance, making it the correct choice for
calculating current when voltage and resistance are known .
2. What is the primary function of a capacitor in a radio circuit?
A. To amplify signals
B. To store and release electrical energy
C. To convert AC to DC
D. To regulate current flow
Answer: B
Capacitors temporarily store electrical energy and release it when needed, often used for
filtering, coupling, and tuning circuits .
3. What unit is used to measure electrical resistance?
A. Volt
B. Ampere
C. Ohm
D. Watt
Answer: C
Resistance, which opposes current flow, is measured in ohms (Ω) .
4. Which component stores electrical energy in an electric field between its plates?
A. Resistor
B. Capacitor
C. Inductor
D. Diode
Answer: B
A capacitor stores electrical energy in an electric field between its plates .
5. A technician measures a resistor marked 1 kΩ and obtains approximately 1.02 kΩ. What
is the most reasonable conclusion?
A. The resistor is necessarily defective
B. The meter must be recalibrated
C. The circuit has an open ground
, 2
D. The measured value is reasonably close to the nominal value
Answer: D
A 1.02 kΩ measurement is close to the nominal 1 kΩ value and may fall within the
component's specified tolerance .
6. Which component is primarily used to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current
(DC) in a power supply?
A. Transformer
B. Capacitor
C. Inductor
D. Rectifier
Answer: D
A rectifier utilizes diodes to convert AC voltage into pulsating DC voltage .
7. What is the main function of a transformer in a radio power supply?
A. Store energy
B. Increase or decrease voltage
C. Filter noise
D. Convert DC to AC
Answer: B
Transformers transfer electrical energy between circuits and can step voltage up or down .
8. Which type of diode allows current to flow in only one direction?
A. Zener diode
B. Light-emitting diode
C. Rectifier diode
D. Tunnel diode
Answer: C
Rectifier diodes conduct current in a single direction, essential for converting AC to DC .
9. What is a varactor diode primarily used for?
A. Voltage regulation
B. Electronic tuning
C. Signal rectification
D. Light emission
Answer: B
A varactor diode is reverse-biased, and its depletion region capacitance varies as a function
of the reverse bias voltage, enabling electronic tuning .
10. What is the primary purpose of an amplifier in electronic equipment?
A. To reduce signal level
B. To increase the signal's power or amplitude using energy from a power source
C. To convert DC to AC
, 3
D. To store electrical energy
Answer: B
An amplifier uses energy from its power supply to produce a larger output signal
corresponding to the input .
11. Which device is commonly used to change the level of an RF signal without changing
its basic frequency?
A. Attenuator
B. Fuse
C. Rectifier
D. Thermostat
Answer: A
An attenuator reduces signal level by a specified amount while maintaining the signal's basic
frequency characteristics .
12. What does a decibel value commonly express in radio communications?
A. Physical antenna length
B. A logarithmic ratio of signal levels or power
C. Battery temperature
D. Wire diameter
Answer: B
The decibel is a logarithmic unit used to express ratios, including power gain, power loss,
and signal levels .
13. What is a relay primarily used for in an electrical or electronic system?
A. Electrically control one circuit using another circuit
B. Store large amounts of digital information
C. Measure radio frequency
D. Increase antenna bandwidth
Answer: A
A relay uses an electrically controlled mechanism to open or close contacts in another circuit
.
14. What is the purpose of a voltage regulator in a radio's power supply?
A. Maintain a specified output voltage despite permitted changes in input or load
B. Increase the frequency of the output
C. Convert DC to AC
D. Store excess energy
Answer: A
A voltage regulator maintains a stable output voltage despite variations in input voltage or
load conditions .
NYC Radio Repair Mechanic Exam: 100 Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Section 1: Basic Electronics & Circuit Analysis (Questions 1-15)
1. A radio repair technician measures voltage across a resistor and needs to calculate
current. Which law should be applied?
A. Kirchhoff's Law
B. Ohm's Law
C. Faraday's Law
D. Coulomb's Law
Answer: B
Ohm's Law (I = V/R) relates voltage, current, and resistance, making it the correct choice for
calculating current when voltage and resistance are known .
2. What is the primary function of a capacitor in a radio circuit?
A. To amplify signals
B. To store and release electrical energy
C. To convert AC to DC
D. To regulate current flow
Answer: B
Capacitors temporarily store electrical energy and release it when needed, often used for
filtering, coupling, and tuning circuits .
3. What unit is used to measure electrical resistance?
A. Volt
B. Ampere
C. Ohm
D. Watt
Answer: C
Resistance, which opposes current flow, is measured in ohms (Ω) .
4. Which component stores electrical energy in an electric field between its plates?
A. Resistor
B. Capacitor
C. Inductor
D. Diode
Answer: B
A capacitor stores electrical energy in an electric field between its plates .
5. A technician measures a resistor marked 1 kΩ and obtains approximately 1.02 kΩ. What
is the most reasonable conclusion?
A. The resistor is necessarily defective
B. The meter must be recalibrated
C. The circuit has an open ground
, 2
D. The measured value is reasonably close to the nominal value
Answer: D
A 1.02 kΩ measurement is close to the nominal 1 kΩ value and may fall within the
component's specified tolerance .
6. Which component is primarily used to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current
(DC) in a power supply?
A. Transformer
B. Capacitor
C. Inductor
D. Rectifier
Answer: D
A rectifier utilizes diodes to convert AC voltage into pulsating DC voltage .
7. What is the main function of a transformer in a radio power supply?
A. Store energy
B. Increase or decrease voltage
C. Filter noise
D. Convert DC to AC
Answer: B
Transformers transfer electrical energy between circuits and can step voltage up or down .
8. Which type of diode allows current to flow in only one direction?
A. Zener diode
B. Light-emitting diode
C. Rectifier diode
D. Tunnel diode
Answer: C
Rectifier diodes conduct current in a single direction, essential for converting AC to DC .
9. What is a varactor diode primarily used for?
A. Voltage regulation
B. Electronic tuning
C. Signal rectification
D. Light emission
Answer: B
A varactor diode is reverse-biased, and its depletion region capacitance varies as a function
of the reverse bias voltage, enabling electronic tuning .
10. What is the primary purpose of an amplifier in electronic equipment?
A. To reduce signal level
B. To increase the signal's power or amplitude using energy from a power source
C. To convert DC to AC
, 3
D. To store electrical energy
Answer: B
An amplifier uses energy from its power supply to produce a larger output signal
corresponding to the input .
11. Which device is commonly used to change the level of an RF signal without changing
its basic frequency?
A. Attenuator
B. Fuse
C. Rectifier
D. Thermostat
Answer: A
An attenuator reduces signal level by a specified amount while maintaining the signal's basic
frequency characteristics .
12. What does a decibel value commonly express in radio communications?
A. Physical antenna length
B. A logarithmic ratio of signal levels or power
C. Battery temperature
D. Wire diameter
Answer: B
The decibel is a logarithmic unit used to express ratios, including power gain, power loss,
and signal levels .
13. What is a relay primarily used for in an electrical or electronic system?
A. Electrically control one circuit using another circuit
B. Store large amounts of digital information
C. Measure radio frequency
D. Increase antenna bandwidth
Answer: A
A relay uses an electrically controlled mechanism to open or close contacts in another circuit
.
14. What is the purpose of a voltage regulator in a radio's power supply?
A. Maintain a specified output voltage despite permitted changes in input or load
B. Increase the frequency of the output
C. Convert DC to AC
D. Store excess energy
Answer: A
A voltage regulator maintains a stable output voltage despite variations in input voltage or
load conditions .
