NCATT AET FINAL EXAM 2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Inductance - ✔✔• Electrical characteristic of a conductor. Inductance causes voltage
to be produced when it is cut or crossed by lines of magnetic flux. Inductance causes
the current to lag the applied voltage.
✔✔Peak Voltage - ✔✔• Voltage measured from zero voltage to the maximum number of
volts generated
✔✔Period - ✔✔• Amount of time for one complete cycle of oscillation to take place
✔✔Reactance - ✔✔• Electrical characteristic of a conductor
• Reactance is opposition to AC flow by coils and capacitors
• Values are given in ohms
✔✔Resonance - ✔✔• Electrical characteristic of a conductor
• Resonance occurs in an electrical circuit when the inductive and capacitive reactance
are equal
✔✔Formulas based on Ohm's Laws and Kirchoff's Laws. - ✔✔• Ampere (A,amps)
• Ohm (Omega)
• Volts (V)
• Watts (W)
✔✔Ammeters - ✔✔• Electrical testing instrument used to measure the amount of
current flowing through a load.
• Values are given in amps.
• Some ammeters measure milliamps and micro amps.
✔✔Multimeter - ✔✔• Multi-function meter used to test current values, voltage values, or
ohmic values (resistance)
• A selector switch is used to set the multimeter as an ammeter, voltmeter, or
ohmmeter.
• Displays on a multimeter are provided in both analog and digital format
• Use a multimeter whenever possible.
✔✔Ohmmeter - ✔✔• Electrical testing instrument used to measure resistance in a
circuit or component.
• Values are given in ohms
• An ohmmeter provides an effective and quick way to test the condition of a switch.
✔✔Oscilloscopes - ✔✔• Electronic test instrument that displays the waveforms of
electrical signal
,• Oscilloscopes measure voltages (AC peak to peak), measure time to determine
frequencies, and display phase relationships (comparisons of waveforms in time) to
identify equipment malfunctions.
✔✔Voltmeters - ✔✔• Electrical testing instrument used to measure electrical voltage
across components.
• Values are given in volts.
✔✔Black resistor band? - ✔✔1st= o
2nd= 0
3rd multiplier= 1
✔✔Brown resistor band? - ✔✔1st=1
2nd= 1
3rd multiplier= 10
✔✔Red resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 2
2nd= 2
3rd multiplier= 100
✔✔Orange resistor band? - ✔✔1st=3
2nd=3
3rd multiplier= 1,000
✔✔Yellow resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 4
2nd= 4
3rd multiplier=10,000
✔✔Green resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 5
2nd= 5
3rd multiplier= 100,000
✔✔Blue resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 6
2nd= 6
3rd multiplier= 1,000,000
✔✔Violet resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 7
2nd= 7
3rd multiplier= 10,000,000
✔✔Gray resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 8
2nd= 8
3rd multiplier= 100,000,000
✔✔White resistor - ✔✔1st= 9
,2nd= 9
3rd multiplier= 1,000,000,000
✔✔Gold resistor band? - ✔✔3rd multiplier= +/- 5%. 0.1
✔✔Silver resistor band? - ✔✔3rd multiplier= +/- 10%. 0.001
✔✔Improperly Installed Resistors - ✔✔• Faulty caused by resistors that are not installed
correctly or installed non-compliant to industry standards.
✔✔Open Resistors - ✔✔• Fault caused by an incomplete path for current to flow from
one terminal to another.
• It is possible for a resistor or fuse to open with showing any visible signs of damage.
✔✔Resistors of Incorrect Value - ✔✔• Fault caused by resistors that are outside of their
specified values.
✔✔Shorted Resistors - ✔✔• Fault that allows electrical current to flow across a part of
the circuit that should act as an insulator.
• Circuits with multiple components or circuit traces close together on a printed circuit
board commonly have faults.
• Short circuits caused by foreign materials are common.
✔✔Physical Factors that affect inductance - ✔✔• Core cross-section area (diameter)
• Length of coil (space between the coils)
• Number of turns of the coils
• Type of core material (permeability)
✔✔Open Inductor - ✔✔• Fault caused by an open circuit (no continuity) between the
two leads. There will be no current.
✔✔Shorted Inductors - ✔✔• Fault that allows the current to travel from one lead to the
other lead without going through the coil (winding) of the inductor.
✔✔Improperly Installed Inductors - ✔✔• Fault caused by inductors that are not installed
correctly or installed non-compliant to industry standards.
✔✔Correct Operation of Capacitors - ✔✔• Stores electrical energy in an electrostatic
field.
• The ability of a capacitor to store a charge is called capacitance.
• Capacitance offers resistance to flow current by continuously charging and
discharging.
✔✔Dielectric - ✔✔• Insulating material that stores electrical energy in an electrostatic
field.
, ✔✔Electrolytic Capacitors - ✔✔• Uses a liquid or paste dielectric that has a
considerably higher dielectric strength as compound to air or other dry materials used
as the dielectric in other capacitors.
• Electrolytic capacitors, used only in DC applications, are polarity sensitive and
connecting them incorrectly in a circuit will destroy them.
✔✔Fixed Capacitors - ✔✔• Constructed of plates and dielectrics placed firmly together
and covered with a protective material such as waxed paper, plastic, ceramic material,
or insulated causing.
✔✔Time constant - ✔✔• Amount of time, measured in seconds, needed for the voltage
across a capacitor to advance to 63.2% of the voltage applied to the circuit.
✔✔Uses of Multiple Capacitors - ✔✔• Reduces electrical arcing at breaker points or
switch contacts.
• Reduce the emanation of electromagnetic waves in some electrical circuits.
• Allow certain frequencies in AC circuits to pass or block certain frequencies (filtering)
when combined with resistors and or inductors.
✔✔Variable Capacitors - ✔✔• Changes capacitance in a circuit by changing the area of
its plates.
• The dielectric in a variable capacitor is normally air.
• Variable capacitors are used in radios and other electronic devices when it is
necessary to change the capacitance to meet circuit requirements.
✔✔Improperly Installed Capacitors - ✔✔• Capacitors that are not installed correctly.
• Capacitors installed non-compliant to industry standards
✔✔Open Capacitors - ✔✔• Continunity is lost to one of the plates
• No current in the circuit
• Voltage applied to the circuit or branch of a circuit appears across the component that
is open.
✔✔Shorted Capacitors - ✔✔• Conductive surfaces (plates) come into physical contact
with each other.
• Electrical qualities of the capacitor no longer exist.
✔✔Eddy Current - ✔✔• Current loss due to heating of the core that alters the overall
distribution of current flowing through the conductor.
• As the current flows, the core heats up and resistance increases due to the core
positive temperature coefficient.
ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Inductance - ✔✔• Electrical characteristic of a conductor. Inductance causes voltage
to be produced when it is cut or crossed by lines of magnetic flux. Inductance causes
the current to lag the applied voltage.
✔✔Peak Voltage - ✔✔• Voltage measured from zero voltage to the maximum number of
volts generated
✔✔Period - ✔✔• Amount of time for one complete cycle of oscillation to take place
✔✔Reactance - ✔✔• Electrical characteristic of a conductor
• Reactance is opposition to AC flow by coils and capacitors
• Values are given in ohms
✔✔Resonance - ✔✔• Electrical characteristic of a conductor
• Resonance occurs in an electrical circuit when the inductive and capacitive reactance
are equal
✔✔Formulas based on Ohm's Laws and Kirchoff's Laws. - ✔✔• Ampere (A,amps)
• Ohm (Omega)
• Volts (V)
• Watts (W)
✔✔Ammeters - ✔✔• Electrical testing instrument used to measure the amount of
current flowing through a load.
• Values are given in amps.
• Some ammeters measure milliamps and micro amps.
✔✔Multimeter - ✔✔• Multi-function meter used to test current values, voltage values, or
ohmic values (resistance)
• A selector switch is used to set the multimeter as an ammeter, voltmeter, or
ohmmeter.
• Displays on a multimeter are provided in both analog and digital format
• Use a multimeter whenever possible.
✔✔Ohmmeter - ✔✔• Electrical testing instrument used to measure resistance in a
circuit or component.
• Values are given in ohms
• An ohmmeter provides an effective and quick way to test the condition of a switch.
✔✔Oscilloscopes - ✔✔• Electronic test instrument that displays the waveforms of
electrical signal
,• Oscilloscopes measure voltages (AC peak to peak), measure time to determine
frequencies, and display phase relationships (comparisons of waveforms in time) to
identify equipment malfunctions.
✔✔Voltmeters - ✔✔• Electrical testing instrument used to measure electrical voltage
across components.
• Values are given in volts.
✔✔Black resistor band? - ✔✔1st= o
2nd= 0
3rd multiplier= 1
✔✔Brown resistor band? - ✔✔1st=1
2nd= 1
3rd multiplier= 10
✔✔Red resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 2
2nd= 2
3rd multiplier= 100
✔✔Orange resistor band? - ✔✔1st=3
2nd=3
3rd multiplier= 1,000
✔✔Yellow resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 4
2nd= 4
3rd multiplier=10,000
✔✔Green resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 5
2nd= 5
3rd multiplier= 100,000
✔✔Blue resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 6
2nd= 6
3rd multiplier= 1,000,000
✔✔Violet resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 7
2nd= 7
3rd multiplier= 10,000,000
✔✔Gray resistor band? - ✔✔1st= 8
2nd= 8
3rd multiplier= 100,000,000
✔✔White resistor - ✔✔1st= 9
,2nd= 9
3rd multiplier= 1,000,000,000
✔✔Gold resistor band? - ✔✔3rd multiplier= +/- 5%. 0.1
✔✔Silver resistor band? - ✔✔3rd multiplier= +/- 10%. 0.001
✔✔Improperly Installed Resistors - ✔✔• Faulty caused by resistors that are not installed
correctly or installed non-compliant to industry standards.
✔✔Open Resistors - ✔✔• Fault caused by an incomplete path for current to flow from
one terminal to another.
• It is possible for a resistor or fuse to open with showing any visible signs of damage.
✔✔Resistors of Incorrect Value - ✔✔• Fault caused by resistors that are outside of their
specified values.
✔✔Shorted Resistors - ✔✔• Fault that allows electrical current to flow across a part of
the circuit that should act as an insulator.
• Circuits with multiple components or circuit traces close together on a printed circuit
board commonly have faults.
• Short circuits caused by foreign materials are common.
✔✔Physical Factors that affect inductance - ✔✔• Core cross-section area (diameter)
• Length of coil (space between the coils)
• Number of turns of the coils
• Type of core material (permeability)
✔✔Open Inductor - ✔✔• Fault caused by an open circuit (no continuity) between the
two leads. There will be no current.
✔✔Shorted Inductors - ✔✔• Fault that allows the current to travel from one lead to the
other lead without going through the coil (winding) of the inductor.
✔✔Improperly Installed Inductors - ✔✔• Fault caused by inductors that are not installed
correctly or installed non-compliant to industry standards.
✔✔Correct Operation of Capacitors - ✔✔• Stores electrical energy in an electrostatic
field.
• The ability of a capacitor to store a charge is called capacitance.
• Capacitance offers resistance to flow current by continuously charging and
discharging.
✔✔Dielectric - ✔✔• Insulating material that stores electrical energy in an electrostatic
field.
, ✔✔Electrolytic Capacitors - ✔✔• Uses a liquid or paste dielectric that has a
considerably higher dielectric strength as compound to air or other dry materials used
as the dielectric in other capacitors.
• Electrolytic capacitors, used only in DC applications, are polarity sensitive and
connecting them incorrectly in a circuit will destroy them.
✔✔Fixed Capacitors - ✔✔• Constructed of plates and dielectrics placed firmly together
and covered with a protective material such as waxed paper, plastic, ceramic material,
or insulated causing.
✔✔Time constant - ✔✔• Amount of time, measured in seconds, needed for the voltage
across a capacitor to advance to 63.2% of the voltage applied to the circuit.
✔✔Uses of Multiple Capacitors - ✔✔• Reduces electrical arcing at breaker points or
switch contacts.
• Reduce the emanation of electromagnetic waves in some electrical circuits.
• Allow certain frequencies in AC circuits to pass or block certain frequencies (filtering)
when combined with resistors and or inductors.
✔✔Variable Capacitors - ✔✔• Changes capacitance in a circuit by changing the area of
its plates.
• The dielectric in a variable capacitor is normally air.
• Variable capacitors are used in radios and other electronic devices when it is
necessary to change the capacitance to meet circuit requirements.
✔✔Improperly Installed Capacitors - ✔✔• Capacitors that are not installed correctly.
• Capacitors installed non-compliant to industry standards
✔✔Open Capacitors - ✔✔• Continunity is lost to one of the plates
• No current in the circuit
• Voltage applied to the circuit or branch of a circuit appears across the component that
is open.
✔✔Shorted Capacitors - ✔✔• Conductive surfaces (plates) come into physical contact
with each other.
• Electrical qualities of the capacitor no longer exist.
✔✔Eddy Current - ✔✔• Current loss due to heating of the core that alters the overall
distribution of current flowing through the conductor.
• As the current flows, the core heats up and resistance increases due to the core
positive temperature coefficient.
