MARYLAND MASTER ELECTRICIAN EXAMINATION
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR JUST RELEASED
1. Which statement best describes electrical voltage?
A. Opposition to current flow
B. Rate of electron flow
C. Electrical pressure or electromotive force
D. Rate of electrical energy consumption
Answer: C
Rationale: Voltage represents electrical potential difference, commonly
described as the pressure that causes current to flow through a circuit.
2. A 120-volt circuit has a resistance of 30 ohms. What current flows
through the circuit?
A. 2 A
B. 4 A
C. 6 A
D. 8 A
Answer: B
Rationale: Ohm's Law states current equals voltage divided by
resistance; 120 volts divided by 30 ohms produces 4 amperes.
,3. A 240-volt heating element draws 12 amperes. Approximately how
much power does it consume?
A. 1,440 W
B. 2,400 W
C. 2,880 W
D. 3,600 W
Answer: C
Rationale: Electrical power equals voltage multiplied by current, so 240
volts times 12 amperes equals 2,880 watts.
4. Three resistors of 10 ohms each are connected in series. What is
their total resistance?
A. 3.33 ohms
B. 10 ohms
C. 20 ohms
D. 30 ohms
Answer: D
Rationale: Series resistance is additive, so three 10-ohm resistors
produce a total circuit resistance of 30 ohms.
5. Two 20-ohm resistors are connected in parallel. What is their
equivalent resistance?
A. 5 ohms
B. 10 ohms
,C. 20 ohms
D. 40 ohms
Answer: B
Rationale: Equal resistances connected in parallel have an equivalent
resistance equal to one-half the individual resistance.
6. A 120-volt load draws 15 amperes. What is its apparent power
when the load has unity power factor?
A. 1,800 VA
B. 2,000 VA
C. 2,400 VA
D. 3,600 VA
Answer: A
Rationale: At unity power factor, watts and volt-amperes are equal, so
120 volts times 15 amperes equals 1,800 VA.
7. What instrument is primarily used to measure electrical resistance?
A. Ammeter
B. Ohmmeter
C. Wattmeter
D. Frequency meter
Answer: B
, Rationale: An ohmmeter measures resistance and should generally be
connected only to a de-energized circuit.
8. An electrician measures 120 volts line-to-neutral but approximately
zero volts line-to-line on a 120/240-volt system. What is the most
likely problem?
A. Open grounding electrode
B. Open service neutral
C. Missing or interrupted opposite phase
D. Excessive equipment grounding conductor
Answer: C
Rationale: A 120/240-volt system requires both ungrounded
conductors for full line-to-line voltage between the two opposite
phases.
9. A motor repeatedly trips its overload protection shortly after
starting. Which condition should be investigated first?
A. Oversized equipment grounding conductor
B. Excessive mechanical load or abnormal motor current
C. Excessively low grounding electrode resistance
D. Oversized disconnect enclosure
Answer: B
Rationale: Repeated overload operation commonly indicates excessive
mechanical loading, locked rotor conditions, incorrect voltage, or
excessive motor current.
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR JUST RELEASED
1. Which statement best describes electrical voltage?
A. Opposition to current flow
B. Rate of electron flow
C. Electrical pressure or electromotive force
D. Rate of electrical energy consumption
Answer: C
Rationale: Voltage represents electrical potential difference, commonly
described as the pressure that causes current to flow through a circuit.
2. A 120-volt circuit has a resistance of 30 ohms. What current flows
through the circuit?
A. 2 A
B. 4 A
C. 6 A
D. 8 A
Answer: B
Rationale: Ohm's Law states current equals voltage divided by
resistance; 120 volts divided by 30 ohms produces 4 amperes.
,3. A 240-volt heating element draws 12 amperes. Approximately how
much power does it consume?
A. 1,440 W
B. 2,400 W
C. 2,880 W
D. 3,600 W
Answer: C
Rationale: Electrical power equals voltage multiplied by current, so 240
volts times 12 amperes equals 2,880 watts.
4. Three resistors of 10 ohms each are connected in series. What is
their total resistance?
A. 3.33 ohms
B. 10 ohms
C. 20 ohms
D. 30 ohms
Answer: D
Rationale: Series resistance is additive, so three 10-ohm resistors
produce a total circuit resistance of 30 ohms.
5. Two 20-ohm resistors are connected in parallel. What is their
equivalent resistance?
A. 5 ohms
B. 10 ohms
,C. 20 ohms
D. 40 ohms
Answer: B
Rationale: Equal resistances connected in parallel have an equivalent
resistance equal to one-half the individual resistance.
6. A 120-volt load draws 15 amperes. What is its apparent power
when the load has unity power factor?
A. 1,800 VA
B. 2,000 VA
C. 2,400 VA
D. 3,600 VA
Answer: A
Rationale: At unity power factor, watts and volt-amperes are equal, so
120 volts times 15 amperes equals 1,800 VA.
7. What instrument is primarily used to measure electrical resistance?
A. Ammeter
B. Ohmmeter
C. Wattmeter
D. Frequency meter
Answer: B
, Rationale: An ohmmeter measures resistance and should generally be
connected only to a de-energized circuit.
8. An electrician measures 120 volts line-to-neutral but approximately
zero volts line-to-line on a 120/240-volt system. What is the most
likely problem?
A. Open grounding electrode
B. Open service neutral
C. Missing or interrupted opposite phase
D. Excessive equipment grounding conductor
Answer: C
Rationale: A 120/240-volt system requires both ungrounded
conductors for full line-to-line voltage between the two opposite
phases.
9. A motor repeatedly trips its overload protection shortly after
starting. Which condition should be investigated first?
A. Oversized equipment grounding conductor
B. Excessive mechanical load or abnormal motor current
C. Excessively low grounding electrode resistance
D. Oversized disconnect enclosure
Answer: B
Rationale: Repeated overload operation commonly indicates excessive
mechanical loading, locked rotor conditions, incorrect voltage, or
excessive motor current.
