CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
LICENSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD
1. A simply supported beam has a span of 6 m and carries a uniform
load of 5 kN/m. What is the maximum bending moment?
A) 45 kNm
B) 30 kNm
C) 90 kNm
D) 60 kNm
Maximum bending moment for a simply supported beam under uniform
load is 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑤𝐿2 /8. Here, 5 × 62 /8 = 90kNm.
2. The modulus of elasticity (E) for steel is approximately:
A) 100 GPa
B) 200 GPa
C) 210 GPa
D) 250 GPa
Standard value for steel’s modulus of elasticity is about 200–210 GPa.
3. For laminar flow in a circular pipe, which dimensionless number
characterizes the flow regime?
A) Nusselt number
B) Reynolds number
C) Prandtl number
D) Froude number
,Reynolds number (Re) determines laminar (Re < 2000) vs turbulent flow
(Re > 4000).
4. In an electrical circuit, power (P) is given by:
A) 𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼
B) 𝑃 = 𝐼2 𝑅
C) 𝑃 = 𝑉 2 /𝑅
D) All of the above
All formulas are equivalent representations of electrical power.
5. The primary purpose of a factor of safety in engineering design is
to:
A) Reduce material cost
B) Increase efficiency
C) Provide a safety margin against uncertainties
D) Simplify calculations
Factor of safety accounts for uncertainties in loads, material properties,
and construction quality.
6. A material that returns to its original shape after removing the load
is:
A) Plastic
B) Elastic
C) Viscous
D) Ductile
Elastic materials deform under load but recover fully once the load is
removed.
7. The centroid of a semicircular area of radius R from the flat edge is
located at:
A) R/2
B) 4R/(3π)
C) R/3
, D) 2R/π
Standard formula for semicircle centroid along the axis perpendicular to
the flat edge: 𝑦ˉ = 4𝑅/3𝜋.
8. Which of the following laws governs fluid continuity?
A) Bernoulli’s principle
B) Pascal’s law
C) Conservation of mass
D) Newton’s law of viscosity
Continuity equation 𝐴1 𝑉1 = 𝐴2 𝑉2 is derived from mass conservation.
9. In a truss, a member subjected to only axial tension or compression
is called:
A) Beam
B) Truss member
C) Column
D) Frame member
Truss members are designed to carry axial loads only, no bending.
10. For a three-phase AC circuit, the line voltage 𝑉𝐿 and phase voltage
𝑉𝑃 in a star connection are related by:
A) 𝑉𝐿 = 𝑉𝑃 /√3
B) 𝑉𝐿 = 𝑉𝑃
C) 𝑉𝐿 = √3𝑉𝑃
D) 𝑉𝐿 = 2𝑉𝑃
In a star connection, line voltage = √3 × phase voltage.
11. Moment of inertia for a rectangular section about its base is:
A) 𝑏ℎ3 /12
B) 𝑏ℎ3 /3
C) 𝑏ℎ3 /3
D) 𝑏 3 ℎ/12
For a rectangle, 𝐼𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 = 𝑏ℎ3 /3relative to base axis.
LICENSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD
1. A simply supported beam has a span of 6 m and carries a uniform
load of 5 kN/m. What is the maximum bending moment?
A) 45 kNm
B) 30 kNm
C) 90 kNm
D) 60 kNm
Maximum bending moment for a simply supported beam under uniform
load is 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑤𝐿2 /8. Here, 5 × 62 /8 = 90kNm.
2. The modulus of elasticity (E) for steel is approximately:
A) 100 GPa
B) 200 GPa
C) 210 GPa
D) 250 GPa
Standard value for steel’s modulus of elasticity is about 200–210 GPa.
3. For laminar flow in a circular pipe, which dimensionless number
characterizes the flow regime?
A) Nusselt number
B) Reynolds number
C) Prandtl number
D) Froude number
,Reynolds number (Re) determines laminar (Re < 2000) vs turbulent flow
(Re > 4000).
4. In an electrical circuit, power (P) is given by:
A) 𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼
B) 𝑃 = 𝐼2 𝑅
C) 𝑃 = 𝑉 2 /𝑅
D) All of the above
All formulas are equivalent representations of electrical power.
5. The primary purpose of a factor of safety in engineering design is
to:
A) Reduce material cost
B) Increase efficiency
C) Provide a safety margin against uncertainties
D) Simplify calculations
Factor of safety accounts for uncertainties in loads, material properties,
and construction quality.
6. A material that returns to its original shape after removing the load
is:
A) Plastic
B) Elastic
C) Viscous
D) Ductile
Elastic materials deform under load but recover fully once the load is
removed.
7. The centroid of a semicircular area of radius R from the flat edge is
located at:
A) R/2
B) 4R/(3π)
C) R/3
, D) 2R/π
Standard formula for semicircle centroid along the axis perpendicular to
the flat edge: 𝑦ˉ = 4𝑅/3𝜋.
8. Which of the following laws governs fluid continuity?
A) Bernoulli’s principle
B) Pascal’s law
C) Conservation of mass
D) Newton’s law of viscosity
Continuity equation 𝐴1 𝑉1 = 𝐴2 𝑉2 is derived from mass conservation.
9. In a truss, a member subjected to only axial tension or compression
is called:
A) Beam
B) Truss member
C) Column
D) Frame member
Truss members are designed to carry axial loads only, no bending.
10. For a three-phase AC circuit, the line voltage 𝑉𝐿 and phase voltage
𝑉𝑃 in a star connection are related by:
A) 𝑉𝐿 = 𝑉𝑃 /√3
B) 𝑉𝐿 = 𝑉𝑃
C) 𝑉𝐿 = √3𝑉𝑃
D) 𝑉𝐿 = 2𝑉𝑃
In a star connection, line voltage = √3 × phase voltage.
11. Moment of inertia for a rectangular section about its base is:
A) 𝑏ℎ3 /12
B) 𝑏ℎ3 /3
C) 𝑏ℎ3 /3
D) 𝑏 3 ℎ/12
For a rectangle, 𝐼𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 = 𝑏ℎ3 /3relative to base axis.
