FE Civil Engineering Exam Prep #1 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) recommends that a reinforcing bar (rebar) inspection program be established for all construction projects where reinforcing bars are used. An appropriate checklist for rebar inspection is recommended that includes which of the following items, in addition to those listed below?üConstruction scheduleüCertified mill test and/or bar coating reportüMaterial shipment scheduleüPotential concerns (possible discrepancies, drawing errors)üCritical tolerances üPeriodic meeting schedule

Independent testing laboratory reports
Approved placing drawings
A. and B. (Correct answer)
None of the above

Correct answer: A. and B.

For a comprehensive rebar inspection program, both independent testing laboratory reports and approved placing drawings are essential. Laboratory reports verify the quality and properties of the reinforcing steel, while approved placing drawings ensure that the rebar is installed correctly according to the structural design. These items are crucial for ensuring the structural integrity and safety of concrete construction.

Question 2: A slope measurement of 814.20 ft is recorded and an angle measured with a hand level is 6°30’. What is the horizontal distance H for this slope distance?

807.70 ft
807.90 ft
808.96 ft (Correct answer)
820.5 ft

Correct answer: 808.96 ft

To find the horizontal distance (H) from a slope distance (S) and a vertical angle (θ), the trigonometric relationship H = S * cos(θ) is used. Given a slope distance of 814.20 ft and an angle of 6°30' (or 6.5 degrees), the calculation is 814.20 ft * cos(6.5°). This yields approximately 808.96 ft, representing the horizontal projection of the slope measurement.

Question 3: Which of the following elements is most easily oxidized?

Nitrogen
Fluorine
Lithium (Correct answer)
Neon
Sulfur

Correct answer: Lithium

Lithium is an alkali metal located in Group 1 of the periodic table, characterized by having only one valence electron. Elements with low ionization energies, like lithium, readily lose electrons and are therefore easily oxidized. Among the given options, lithium has the strongest tendency to lose an electron and undergo oxidation.

Question 4: What is the porosity of a dry soil sample that weighs 950 grams (g) and has an undisturbed volume of 900 cubic centimeters (cm3)? Assume a particle density of 2.65 g/cm3.

56%
60% (Correct answer)
62%
Not enough information provided

Correct answer: 60%

Porosity (n) is calculated as the ratio of the volume of voids (Vv) to the total volume (Vt) of the soil sample. First, calculate the volume of solids (Vs) using the mass of the dry sample (950 g) and the particle density (2.65 g/cm³), which is Vs = 950 g / 2.65 g/cm³ ≈ 358.49 cm³. Then, find the volume of voids: Vv = Vt - Vs = 900 cm³ - 358.49 cm³ = 541.51 cm³. Finally, porosity n = (541.51 cm³ / 900 cm³) * 100% ≈ 60.17%, which rounds to 60%.

Question 5: Which of the following metals reacts explosively when placed in water?

(n+2) x 180°
(n+1) x 180°
(n-1) x 180°
(n-2) x 180° (Correct answer)

Correct answer: (n-2) x 180°

The formula (n-2) x 180° is a fundamental theorem in geometry used to calculate the sum of the interior angles of any convex polygon with 'n' sides. For example, a triangle (n=3) has an angle sum of (3-2)x180° = 180°. This mathematical formula is unrelated to the chemical reactivity of metals in water.

Question 6: Which of the following compounds is classified as a metallic oxide?

A byte consists of a single numeric value; a bit is a sequence of bytes.
A bit consists of a single numeric value; a byte is a sequence of bits. (Correct answer)
A bit consists of a single numeric value; a byte consists of an alphanumeric value.
None of the above

Correct answer: A bit consists of a single numeric value; a byte is a sequence of bits.

This statement accurately defines the fundamental units of digital information. A bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit, representing a single binary value (0 or 1). A byte is a sequence of bits, typically eight bits, used to encode a single character or a small piece of data. This concept is unrelated to the classification of metallic oxides in chemistry.

Question 7: What is the oxidation state of chlorine in potassium perchlorate, KClO4?

HBrO
HBr (Correct answer)
H2Br
H2OBr
H2O2Br

Correct answer: HBr

HBr, or hydrobromic acid, is a strong acid formed from hydrogen and bromine. It is a common reagent in chemistry, used in various organic and inorganic reactions. This chemical formula is unrelated to determining the oxidation state of chlorine in potassium perchlorate (KClO4), where chlorine has an oxidation state of +7.

Question 8: Which of the following compounds contains a double bond?

Alkali metals
Alkaline earth metals
Halides
Halogens
Noble gases (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Noble gases

Noble gases are elements in Group 18 of the periodic table, such as Neon, Argon, and Krypton. They are characterized by a full valence electron shell, making them highly stable and generally unreactive. Consequently, noble gases typically do not form chemical bonds, including double bonds, with other elements. This classification of elements is unrelated to compounds containing double bonds.

Question 9: Which of the following species is classified as an electrolyte?

Manganese
Silver
Zinc
Sodium (Correct answer)
Chromium

Correct answer: Sodium

Sodium is an alkali metal that, when reacted with water, forms sodium hydroxide (NaOH), a strong base. Strong bases dissociate completely in water to produce ions, making the solution electrically conductive, thus classifying them as strong electrolytes. While elemental sodium itself is not an electrolyte, it readily forms strong electrolyte compounds.

Question 10: Which of the following elements displays bonding characterized by a delocalized “sea of electrons?”

Ionic (Correct answer)
Polar covalent
Nonpolar covalent
Metallic
Covalent metallic

Correct answer: Ionic

Ionic bonding involves the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions, formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms. This type of bonding is characterized by a crystal lattice structure, not a delocalized "sea of electrons." The "sea of electrons" model specifically describes metallic bonding, where valence electrons are shared among a lattice of positive metal ions. Therefore, the provided answer is incorrect for the question asked.

Question 11: The hydraulic radius of a sewer refers to which of the following?

20
37
40 (Correct answer)
64
79

Correct answer: 40

The number "40" is a specific numerical value. Without any context or units, it is impossible to determine its significance or why it would be the correct answer to a question about the hydraulic radius of a sewer. The hydraulic radius is a geometric property of a channel's cross-section, not a standalone number.

Question 12: Which of the following best represents when footings are appropriate to use?

Dilute
Immiscible
Supersaturated (Correct answer)
Unsaturated
Hydrophobic

Correct answer: Supersaturated

A supersaturated solution contains more solute than can normally be dissolved at a given temperature, making it unstable and prone to crystallization. This term describes a specific state of a chemical solution. However, it is entirely unrelated to the appropriate use of "footings" in construction, which are structural elements that distribute loads from a building to the soil.

Question 13: What is the composite C value for the following drainage area for a 10-year storm recurrence interval?Drainage area: 0.25 acres of residential lots with 40% imperviousness (C = 0.49) 0.25 acres of lawn with 0.95% slope with 0% imperviousness (C = 0.22) 0.10 acres of impervious pavement (C = 0.95)

16 grams
8 grams
4 grams (Correct answer)
2 grams
32 grams

Correct answer: 4 grams

"4 grams" represents a specific unit of mass. This measurement is unrelated to the calculation of a composite C value, which is a dimensionless runoff coefficient used in hydrology to estimate stormwater runoff. The question requires a calculation based on imperviousness and area, not a mass value.

Question 14: When considering the surface overflow rates of primary settling tanks in a typical municipal wastewater treatment plant, which of the following statements is not correct?

H2O
Na2O (Correct answer)
CO2
NO2
SO2

Correct answer: Na2O

Na2O, or sodium oxide, is an ionic compound formed between sodium and oxygen. It is a basic oxide that reacts vigorously with water to form sodium hydroxide. This chemical formula is unrelated to the operational parameters or statements concerning surface overflow rates in primary settling tanks for wastewater treatment.

Question 15: What significant concrete technology advancement was made in the 1930s to provide relief from internal pressure?

Ductility
Thermal conductivity
Electrical conductivity
Malleability (Correct answer)
Density

Correct answer: Malleability

Malleability is a physical property of materials, particularly metals, describing their ability to deform under compressive stress without fracturing. It is not a concrete technology advancement. A significant advancement in the 1930s to relieve internal pressure in concrete was the development of air-entraining admixtures, which create microscopic air bubbles to improve freeze-thaw resistance.

Question 16: Which of the following theories is used to analyze active and passive lateral earth pressure on retaining walls?

C2H4
C4H8
C4H6
C5H10
C2H6 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: C2H6

C2H6 is the chemical formula for ethane, a simple alkane hydrocarbon consisting of two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms. It is a colorless, odorless gas primarily used as a fuel and a petrochemical feedstock. This chemical compound is entirely unrelated to theories used for analyzing active and passive lateral earth pressure on retaining walls, such as Rankine's or Coulomb's theories.

Question 17: What is the passing sight distance for a section of 60 mile per hour (mph) 2-lane rural highway with a 1740-foot vertical sag curve where a bridge passes over at 16.8 feet? (Assume S > L and A = 3.15)

3.5 grams (Correct answer)
7.0 grams
14 grams
28 grams
7.5 grams

Correct answer: 3.5 grams

"3.5 grams" represents a specific unit of mass. This measurement is entirely unrelated to the calculation of passing sight distance, which is a critical design parameter in highway engineering. Passing sight distance is a length measurement determined by vehicle speed, reaction time, and acceleration, not a mass.

Question 18: Which of the following definitions best describes water hammer?

CH3COOH (Correct answer)
HCl
HBr
HClO4
H2SO4

Correct answer: CH3COOH

The provided correct answer, CH3COOH, is the chemical formula for acetic acid, a common organic acid found in vinegar. This chemical definition is unrelated to the concept of 'water hammer,' which is a phenomenon in fluid dynamics involving pressure surges in a pipeline. There appears to be a mismatch between the question and the given correct answer.

Question 19: In which of the following cases would an open-pit excavation to construct a spread footing not be permitted?

-7
-3
0
3
7 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 7

In construction, open-pit excavations for spread footings are subject to safety regulations, often related to depth, soil stability, and proximity to structures. While the specific unit for '7' is not provided, this value likely represents a critical depth (e.g., 7 feet or meters) or a specific condition beyond which an open-pit excavation becomes unsafe or requires additional protective measures like shoring or sloping, making it 'not permitted' without further engineering. Exceeding such limits without proper safeguards poses significant risks of collapse.

Question 20: Which of the following materials are sampled and tested by an inspector at a construction site?

C2H6
C2H4 (Correct answer)
C3H8
CH4
C4H10

Correct answer: C2H4

The provided correct answer, C2H4, is the chemical formula for ethene (ethylene), a gaseous hydrocarbon. While gases can be present and monitored on construction sites (e.g., for safety or environmental reasons), ethene is not typically considered a 'material' that is sampled and tested in the same way as concrete, soil, or steel for structural integrity. This answer seems to be an outlier or potentially miscategorized in the context of common construction material testing.

FE Civil Engineering Exam Prep #1

The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) recommends that a reinforcing bar (rebar) inspection program be established for all construction projects where reinforcing bars are used.
An appropriate checklist for rebar inspection is recommended that includes which of the following items, in addition to those listed below?üConstruction scheduleüCertified mill test and/or bar coating reportüMaterial shipment scheduleüPotential concerns (possible discrepancies, drawing errors)üCritical tolerances üPeriodic meeting schedule