AMS 116 Final Review- Questions,
Answers, and Detailed Rationales
for Aircraft Electrical Systems
## Unit 1: Basic Electrical Concepts
**1. A unit of measure with a metric prefix of "m" would be a smaller
number than one with a prefix of "M".**
- **Answer:** True
- **Rationale:** The prefix "m" (milli) represents 10⁻³, while "M"
(Mega) represents 10⁶. Therefore, a measurement in milliamps (mA) is
much smaller than the same measurement in mega-amperes (MA) .
**2. An ion is an atom with either a positive or negative charge.**
- **Answer:** True
- **Rationale:** An ion is formed when an atom gains or loses
electrons. A loss of electrons creates a positive ion (cation), while a gain
creates a negative ion (anion) .
,**3. Electromotive force (EMF) is the result of the forces between
charged particles.**
- **Answer:** True
- **Rationale:** EMF is the electrical pressure or force that causes
electrons to flow in a circuit. It originates from the difference in
electrical potential between charged particles .
**4. Static dischargers are located on ______.**
- **Answer:** Trailing edge of primary flight controls
- **Rationale:** Static dischargers (static wicks) are mounted on the
trailing edges of wings, ailerons, elevators, rudder, and other control
surfaces to dissipate static electricity buildup during flight .
**5. What term describes the density of magnetic lines of flux?**
- **Answer:** Gauss
- **Rationale:** Gauss is the unit of measurement for magnetic flux
density (B), which describes the concentration of magnetic field lines in
a given area .
**6. When the flow of current is viewed as positive to negative, this is
called ______.**
- **Answer:** Conventional Flow
- **Rationale:** Conventional current flow assumes current moves
from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of a source. This is
,the historical convention, though electrons actually flow from negative
to positive (electron flow) .
**7. Electric energy travels from the source to the load at the speed of
light.**
- **Answer:** True
- **Rationale:** The electric field propagates through a conductor at
approximately the speed of light (3 × 10⁸ m/s), though the drift velocity
of individual electrons is much slower .
**8. The direction a magnetic field rotates around a conductor can be
demonstrated by the use of _____.**
- **Answer:** The left-hand-rule for current-carrying conductors
- **Rationale:** The left-hand rule (or right-hand rule in some
conventions) shows the relationship between current direction and the
circular magnetic field around a conductor. With thumb pointing in
current direction, fingers curl in the magnetic field direction .
**9. The unit of measure for electrical power is _____.**
- **Answer:** Wattage (Watts)
- **Rationale:** Power is measured in watts (W). One watt equals one
joule per second. Power = Voltage × Current (P = VI) .
**10. Resistance is the opposition to the flow of _____.**
- **Answer:** Current
, - **Rationale:** Resistance (measured in ohms) opposes the flow of
electric current through a material. It converts electrical energy into
heat .
**11. Resistivity is measured as ______.**
- **Answer:** Ohms per unit length (ohms per foot)
- **Rationale:** Resistivity (ρ) is a material property that describes how
strongly a material opposes current flow. It is measured in ohm-meters
or ohm-feet .
**12. How many electrical connections are found on a rheostat?**
- **Answer:** 2
- **Rationale:** A rheostat is a variable resistor with two terminals. It is
used to control current by varying resistance in a circuit .
**13. Current in a series circuit _____.**
- **Answer:** Is the same everywhere
- **Rationale:** In a series circuit, there is only one path for current
flow. Therefore, current (I) is identical through all components .
**14. The formula for total resistance in a series circuit is RT = R1 + R2 +
R3 + ...**
- **Answer:** True
Answers, and Detailed Rationales
for Aircraft Electrical Systems
## Unit 1: Basic Electrical Concepts
**1. A unit of measure with a metric prefix of "m" would be a smaller
number than one with a prefix of "M".**
- **Answer:** True
- **Rationale:** The prefix "m" (milli) represents 10⁻³, while "M"
(Mega) represents 10⁶. Therefore, a measurement in milliamps (mA) is
much smaller than the same measurement in mega-amperes (MA) .
**2. An ion is an atom with either a positive or negative charge.**
- **Answer:** True
- **Rationale:** An ion is formed when an atom gains or loses
electrons. A loss of electrons creates a positive ion (cation), while a gain
creates a negative ion (anion) .
,**3. Electromotive force (EMF) is the result of the forces between
charged particles.**
- **Answer:** True
- **Rationale:** EMF is the electrical pressure or force that causes
electrons to flow in a circuit. It originates from the difference in
electrical potential between charged particles .
**4. Static dischargers are located on ______.**
- **Answer:** Trailing edge of primary flight controls
- **Rationale:** Static dischargers (static wicks) are mounted on the
trailing edges of wings, ailerons, elevators, rudder, and other control
surfaces to dissipate static electricity buildup during flight .
**5. What term describes the density of magnetic lines of flux?**
- **Answer:** Gauss
- **Rationale:** Gauss is the unit of measurement for magnetic flux
density (B), which describes the concentration of magnetic field lines in
a given area .
**6. When the flow of current is viewed as positive to negative, this is
called ______.**
- **Answer:** Conventional Flow
- **Rationale:** Conventional current flow assumes current moves
from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of a source. This is
,the historical convention, though electrons actually flow from negative
to positive (electron flow) .
**7. Electric energy travels from the source to the load at the speed of
light.**
- **Answer:** True
- **Rationale:** The electric field propagates through a conductor at
approximately the speed of light (3 × 10⁸ m/s), though the drift velocity
of individual electrons is much slower .
**8. The direction a magnetic field rotates around a conductor can be
demonstrated by the use of _____.**
- **Answer:** The left-hand-rule for current-carrying conductors
- **Rationale:** The left-hand rule (or right-hand rule in some
conventions) shows the relationship between current direction and the
circular magnetic field around a conductor. With thumb pointing in
current direction, fingers curl in the magnetic field direction .
**9. The unit of measure for electrical power is _____.**
- **Answer:** Wattage (Watts)
- **Rationale:** Power is measured in watts (W). One watt equals one
joule per second. Power = Voltage × Current (P = VI) .
**10. Resistance is the opposition to the flow of _____.**
- **Answer:** Current
, - **Rationale:** Resistance (measured in ohms) opposes the flow of
electric current through a material. It converts electrical energy into
heat .
**11. Resistivity is measured as ______.**
- **Answer:** Ohms per unit length (ohms per foot)
- **Rationale:** Resistivity (ρ) is a material property that describes how
strongly a material opposes current flow. It is measured in ohm-meters
or ohm-feet .
**12. How many electrical connections are found on a rheostat?**
- **Answer:** 2
- **Rationale:** A rheostat is a variable resistor with two terminals. It is
used to control current by varying resistance in a circuit .
**13. Current in a series circuit _____.**
- **Answer:** Is the same everywhere
- **Rationale:** In a series circuit, there is only one path for current
flow. Therefore, current (I) is identical through all components .
**14. The formula for total resistance in a series circuit is RT = R1 + R2 +
R3 + ...**
- **Answer:** True
