FE Electrical and Computer exam practice: practice problems and exam questions

Practice problems for the circuits, power and electronics parts of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Electrical and Computer exam: DC and AC circuit analysis, three-phase power, transformers, op-amps, diodes and transistors, and number systems.

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Cram pack (PDF)Formula sheets, method steps and practice problems with full solutions, ready to print.

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Topics in this course

  1. Series & parallel resistors3 resistors · 4 resistors · ladder of 6 resistorscalculations
  2. Nodal analysis1 unknown node · 2 unknown nodes · 2 nodes, 3 sourcescalculations
  3. Mesh analysis2 meshes, 1 source · 2 meshes, 2 sources · 3 meshescalculations
  4. Superposition2 voltage sources · voltage + current source · 3 sourcescalculations
  5. Thévenin & Nortondivider network · with series resistor and load · with current source and loadcalculations
  6. RC & RL transientsRC charging · RL circuit · capacitor with initial chargecalculations
  7. AC impedance & phasorsseries RL · series RLC · capacitor voltage and resonancecalculations
  8. AC power & power factorP and Q of a load · line current · power factor correctioncalculations
  9. Three-phase powerbalanced Y and Δ voltages and currents · three-phase power · power factor correctioncalculations
  10. Transformersturns ratio · currents and power · efficiency and lossescalculations
  11. Op-amp circuitsinverting amplifier · non-inverting amplifier · summing amplifiercalculations
  12. Diodes & transistorsdiode circuits · BJT bias point · BJT as a switchcalculations
  13. Number systemsbinary and hex to decimal · two's complement · bits, ranges and memorycalculations
  14. Digital logic: gates, K-maps & flip-flopsgates, truth tables and delays · Boolean algebra, K-maps and multiplexers · don't-cares, flip-flops and counterscalculations
  15. Laplace transformstable pairs and value theorems · inverse transform by partial fractions · ODEs and transfer functionscalculations
  16. Block diagramsseries, parallel and feedback · closed-loop transfer functions and errors · disturbances, stability and polescalculations
  17. Step responsefirst-order systems · second-order parameters · physical systems and designcalculations
  18. Bode plots & marginsfilters and asymptotes · magnitude and phase · stability marginscalculations
  19. Stability: Routh–Hurwitz & root locusRouth array and pole counts · range of K for stability · root locuscalculations
  20. Steady-state error & PID controlsystem type and error constants · steady-state errors and gain · P, PI and PD designcalculations

Exam tips for FE Electrical and Computer exam practice

  • Learn where every formula is in the reference handbook you get in the exam; searching costs time.
  • Most circuit questions can be solved in two ways: use the second method as a quick check.
  • Watch line versus phase quantities in three-phase questions.

Worked examples

Series & parallel resistorsEasy
R1​ = 5 ΩIR1​+−V1​18 VR2​6 ΩAR3​12 Ω

Find the current IR1 delivered by the source, which flows through R1.

V1 = 18 VR1 = 5 ΩR2 = 6 ΩR3 = 12 Ω

Find IR1 (A)

Show hints
  1. Reduce the network step by step. In series, resistances add. Two resistors in parallel combine as R₁R₂/(R₁ + R₂).
  2. R₂ and R₃ both join node A to the bottom wire, so they are in parallel. That pair is in series with R₁.
  3. Req = 9 Ω.
Show the answer and the step-by-step solution

Series and parallel resistors: in series the same current flows through each resistor and R = R₁ + R₂ + …. In parallel each resistor has the same voltage and 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …. A ladder network is reduced one pair at a time until a single equivalent resistance remains.

R1​ = 5 Ω+−V1​18 VR2​6 ΩAR3​12 Ω

Combine resistors from the far end

Start at the end farthest from the source and work back towards it. Resistors carrying the same current are in series; resistors across the same two nodes are in parallel.

R2 ∥ R3 = 6·12/(6+12) = 4 Ω
Req = R1 + R2 ∥ R3 = 5 + 4 = 9 Ω

Current from the source

The source sees only Req, so Ohm’s law gives the current it delivers. That current flows through R₁.

IR1 = V1/Req = 18/9 = 2 A

Answer

IR1 = 2 A
Nodal analysisMedium
−+Vs​ = 3 VIx​Is​1.5 AAR1​6 ΩR2​3 ΩB

The voltage source Vₛ between A and B has its + terminal at B, so it makes VB − VA = Vₛ. Use nodal analysis with a supernode to find the current Ix through the voltage source, from A to B as shown by the arrow.

Is = 1.5 AVs = 3 VR1 = 6 ΩR2 = 3 Ω

Find Ix (A)

Show hints
  1. A voltage source between two non-ground nodes fixes their difference: VB − VA = Vs.
  2. Write one KCL equation for the supernode around A, B and the source: VA/R₁ + VB/R₂ = Is.
  3. VA = 1 V.
Show the answer and the step-by-step solution

Nodal analysis: choose a reference node, label the unknown node voltages, write Kirchhoff’s current law at each unknown node using Ohm’s law (I = ΔV/R), and solve the resulting equations.

Form a supernode

The voltage source between A and B carries an unknown current, so KCL cannot be written at A or B separately. Enclose A, B and the source in one supernode: the current entering it equals the current leaving it.

VB = VA + Vs = VA + 3
VA/R1 + VB/R2 = Is

Solve

VA/6 + (VA + 3)/3 = 1.5
VA = (1.5 − 3/3)/(1/6 + 1/3) = 1 V
VB = 1 + 3 = 4 V

Current through the voltage source

Everything that passes through the source from A to B leaves node B through R₂.

Ix = VB/R2 = 4/3 = 1.333 A

Answer

Ix = 1.333 A

A negative result means the real current flows against the arrow.

How practising works

  • “Practise this course” mixes problems from all its topics, like a real exam.
  • Every problem has new values, so you learn the method instead of an answer.
  • Stuck? Open a small hint first, and the full explanation only when you need it.
  • Mock exams are timed and have no hints, and you get your score and a full review at the end.

Calculators for this course

Series and parallel resistor calculatorVoltage divider calculatorRC time constant calculatorRLC impedance calculatorPower factor correction calculatorOp-amp gain calculatorThree-phase power calculatorTransformer turns ratio calculatorLED resistor calculatorInverse Laplace transform calculator (partial fractions)Voltage drop calculator555 timer calculator (astable and monostable)Decibel calculator (dB, dBm and sound levels)Bode plot calculator (gain and phase margin)Routh–Hurwitz stability criterion calculatorLaplace transform calculatorThévenin and Norton equivalent calculatorBinary, decimal and hex converterOhm’s law calculator (voltage, current, resistance and power)Resistor colour code calculator (4, 5 and 6 bands)Capacitor calculator (series, parallel, charge and energy)Scientific notation calculator (and engineering notation)

Related courses

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Practise this course for freePractise this courseTake a mock exam5 free problems every day. No card needed.