New Mexico EL 1J Electrical Distribution Journeyman Exam
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027
Section 1 — Electrical Fundamentals
1. What is the basic unit of electrical current?
A. Volt
B. Ampere
C. Ohm
D. Watt
Answer: B. Ampere
Rationale: The ampere, or amp, measures the rate of electric charge
flow through a circuit.
2. What instrument is used to measure current?
A. Voltmeter
B. Megohmmeter
C. Ammeter
D. Wattmeter
Answer: C. Ammeter
Rationale: An ammeter measures current and is normally connected in
series with the circuit being measured.
3. Voltage is best described as:
A. Opposition to current
B. Electrical potential difference
,C. Power consumption
D. Conductor resistance
Answer: B. Electrical potential difference
Rationale: Voltage represents the electrical potential difference that
drives current through a circuit.
4. What unit measures electrical resistance?
A. Watt
B. Volt
C. Ohm
D. Ampere
Answer: C. Ohm
Rationale: Resistance is measured in ohms and represents opposition to
current flow.
5. Which formula represents Ohm's law?
A. P = VI
B. V = IR
C. I = PR
D. R = VP
Answer: B. V = IR
Rationale: Ohm's law states that voltage equals current multiplied by
resistance.
6. A 20-ohm load connected to 120 volts draws approximately how
much current?
A. 2 A
B. 4 A
,C. 6 A
D. 10 A
Answer: C. 6 A
Rationale: I = V/R = 120/20 = 6 amperes.
7. Electrical power in a simple DC circuit is calculated using:
A. P = VI
B. P = R/I
C. P = V/R
D. P = I/V
Answer: A. P = VI
Rationale: Electrical power equals voltage multiplied by current.
8. What happens to resistance in a series circuit when another
resistive load is added?
A. It decreases
B. It becomes zero
C. It increases
D. It remains unchanged
Answer: C. It increases
Rationale: Series resistances add together.
9. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is generally:
A. Zero
B. The same
C. Different by definition
D. Always doubled
, Answer: B. The same
Rationale: Parallel branches connected to the same two nodes have the
same voltage.
10. Which material is commonly used as an electrical conductor?
A. Rubber
B. Glass
C. Copper
D. Porcelain
Answer: C. Copper
Rationale: Copper has high electrical conductivity and is widely used for
electrical conductors.
11. Which material is generally an insulator?
A. Aluminum
B. Copper
C. Silver
D. Rubber
Answer: D. Rubber
Rationale: Rubber strongly resists current flow and is commonly used
for insulation.
12. What is the primary purpose of insulation on a conductor?
A. Increase current
B. Prevent unintended contact and leakage
C. Increase conductor resistance intentionally
D. Produce voltage
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027
Section 1 — Electrical Fundamentals
1. What is the basic unit of electrical current?
A. Volt
B. Ampere
C. Ohm
D. Watt
Answer: B. Ampere
Rationale: The ampere, or amp, measures the rate of electric charge
flow through a circuit.
2. What instrument is used to measure current?
A. Voltmeter
B. Megohmmeter
C. Ammeter
D. Wattmeter
Answer: C. Ammeter
Rationale: An ammeter measures current and is normally connected in
series with the circuit being measured.
3. Voltage is best described as:
A. Opposition to current
B. Electrical potential difference
,C. Power consumption
D. Conductor resistance
Answer: B. Electrical potential difference
Rationale: Voltage represents the electrical potential difference that
drives current through a circuit.
4. What unit measures electrical resistance?
A. Watt
B. Volt
C. Ohm
D. Ampere
Answer: C. Ohm
Rationale: Resistance is measured in ohms and represents opposition to
current flow.
5. Which formula represents Ohm's law?
A. P = VI
B. V = IR
C. I = PR
D. R = VP
Answer: B. V = IR
Rationale: Ohm's law states that voltage equals current multiplied by
resistance.
6. A 20-ohm load connected to 120 volts draws approximately how
much current?
A. 2 A
B. 4 A
,C. 6 A
D. 10 A
Answer: C. 6 A
Rationale: I = V/R = 120/20 = 6 amperes.
7. Electrical power in a simple DC circuit is calculated using:
A. P = VI
B. P = R/I
C. P = V/R
D. P = I/V
Answer: A. P = VI
Rationale: Electrical power equals voltage multiplied by current.
8. What happens to resistance in a series circuit when another
resistive load is added?
A. It decreases
B. It becomes zero
C. It increases
D. It remains unchanged
Answer: C. It increases
Rationale: Series resistances add together.
9. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is generally:
A. Zero
B. The same
C. Different by definition
D. Always doubled
, Answer: B. The same
Rationale: Parallel branches connected to the same two nodes have the
same voltage.
10. Which material is commonly used as an electrical conductor?
A. Rubber
B. Glass
C. Copper
D. Porcelain
Answer: C. Copper
Rationale: Copper has high electrical conductivity and is widely used for
electrical conductors.
11. Which material is generally an insulator?
A. Aluminum
B. Copper
C. Silver
D. Rubber
Answer: D. Rubber
Rationale: Rubber strongly resists current flow and is commonly used
for insulation.
12. What is the primary purpose of insulation on a conductor?
A. Increase current
B. Prevent unintended contact and leakage
C. Increase conductor resistance intentionally
D. Produce voltage
