Principles and Practice of Engineering
(PE) Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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Subjects: Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, Mechanical, Electrical, and Ethics
1. The modulus of elasticity of steel is approximately:
A) 20 × 10⁶ psi
B) 29 × 10⁶ psi
C) 29,000 ksi
D) 200 × 10³ psi
Rationale: Steel’s modulus of elasticity is about 29 × 10⁶ psi (29,000 ksi),
representing stiffness under linear-elastic behavior.
,2. Which of the following soils has the highest shear strength?
A) Silt
B) Gravel
C) Clay
D) Peat
Rationale: Gravel has strong particle interlocking and low compressibility,
producing high shear strength.
3. The power factor of a purely resistive AC circuit is:
A) 1.0
B) 0.0
C) Between 0 and 1
D) Undefined
Rationale: For resistive circuits, voltage and current are in phase, giving a
power factor of unity.
4. Bernoulli’s equation applies to:
A) Compressible, viscous flow
B) Incompressible, frictionless flow
C) Steady, turbulent flow
D) Rotational flow
Rationale: Bernoulli’s equation assumes steady, incompressible, inviscid, and
irrotational flow.
,5. The ultimate bearing capacity of a shallow foundation depends primarily
on:
A) Temperature
B) Load shape
C) Soil shear strength
D) Foundation color
Rationale: Bearing capacity is a function of soil shear strength parameters
(cohesion, friction angle).
6. The coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete is closest to:
A) 3 × 10⁻⁶ /°F
B) 6 × 10⁻⁶ /°F
C) 5.5 × 10⁻⁶ /°F
D) 8 × 10⁻⁶ /°F
Rationale: Concrete expands roughly 5.5 × 10⁻⁶ per °F of temperature
change.
7. Which law relates voltage, current, and resistance?
A) Ohm’s Law
B) Faraday’s Law
C) Coulomb’s Law
, D) Kirchhoff’s Law
Rationale: Ohm’s Law defines V = IR, the fundamental relation among
voltage, current, and resistance.
8. A simply supported beam with a central point load has maximum bending
moment at:
A) Supports
B) Midspan
C) Quarter-span
D) Along entire length
Rationale: For symmetric loading, the maximum moment occurs at midspan.
9. The Reynolds number characterizes:
A) Laminar heat transfer
B) Flow regime (laminar/turbulent)
C) Density ratio
D) Compressibility
Rationale: Reynolds number compares inertial to viscous forces to determine
flow type.
10. Which of the following is a unit of dynamic viscosity?
A) N/m²
(PE) Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
Subjects: Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, Mechanical, Electrical, and Ethics
1. The modulus of elasticity of steel is approximately:
A) 20 × 10⁶ psi
B) 29 × 10⁶ psi
C) 29,000 ksi
D) 200 × 10³ psi
Rationale: Steel’s modulus of elasticity is about 29 × 10⁶ psi (29,000 ksi),
representing stiffness under linear-elastic behavior.
,2. Which of the following soils has the highest shear strength?
A) Silt
B) Gravel
C) Clay
D) Peat
Rationale: Gravel has strong particle interlocking and low compressibility,
producing high shear strength.
3. The power factor of a purely resistive AC circuit is:
A) 1.0
B) 0.0
C) Between 0 and 1
D) Undefined
Rationale: For resistive circuits, voltage and current are in phase, giving a
power factor of unity.
4. Bernoulli’s equation applies to:
A) Compressible, viscous flow
B) Incompressible, frictionless flow
C) Steady, turbulent flow
D) Rotational flow
Rationale: Bernoulli’s equation assumes steady, incompressible, inviscid, and
irrotational flow.
,5. The ultimate bearing capacity of a shallow foundation depends primarily
on:
A) Temperature
B) Load shape
C) Soil shear strength
D) Foundation color
Rationale: Bearing capacity is a function of soil shear strength parameters
(cohesion, friction angle).
6. The coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete is closest to:
A) 3 × 10⁻⁶ /°F
B) 6 × 10⁻⁶ /°F
C) 5.5 × 10⁻⁶ /°F
D) 8 × 10⁻⁶ /°F
Rationale: Concrete expands roughly 5.5 × 10⁻⁶ per °F of temperature
change.
7. Which law relates voltage, current, and resistance?
A) Ohm’s Law
B) Faraday’s Law
C) Coulomb’s Law
, D) Kirchhoff’s Law
Rationale: Ohm’s Law defines V = IR, the fundamental relation among
voltage, current, and resistance.
8. A simply supported beam with a central point load has maximum bending
moment at:
A) Supports
B) Midspan
C) Quarter-span
D) Along entire length
Rationale: For symmetric loading, the maximum moment occurs at midspan.
9. The Reynolds number characterizes:
A) Laminar heat transfer
B) Flow regime (laminar/turbulent)
C) Density ratio
D) Compressibility
Rationale: Reynolds number compares inertial to viscous forces to determine
flow type.
10. Which of the following is a unit of dynamic viscosity?
A) N/m²
