KPTCL AE/JE key terms

The ratio of real power in watts to apparent power in volt-amperes in an AC circuit; equals the cosine of the phase angle between voltage and current, and improves with capacitor banks.

The power actually consumed or dissipated by a load, measured in watts, and equal to apparent power multiplied by power factor in sinusoidal circuits.

Power that oscillates between source and reactive elements such as inductors and capacitors without doing useful work, measured in volt-amperes reactive (VAR).

In an induction motor, the difference between synchronous speed and actual rotor speed, expressed as a fraction of synchronous speed; it rises with load and is zero at no load.

The speed of the rotating magnetic field in an AC machine, given by 120f/P revolutions per minute, where f is supply frequency and P is the number of poles.

The turning moment produced by a motor or generator, proportional to the product of armature current and flux in DC machines, and to slip-dependent rotor quantities in induction motors.

The tendency of alternating current to concentrate near the surface of a conductor at higher frequencies, which raises effective resistance and reduces internal inductance.

The redistribution of current in a conductor caused by the magnetic field of nearby conductors carrying alternating current, increasing effective resistance in closely spaced cables.

A switching device that makes, carries and interrupts fault current automatically, restoring service after a trip without replacement, unlike a fuse which must be renewed.

A device that senses abnormal current, voltage or other quantities and commands a circuit breaker to trip, isolating faulty equipment from the healthy power system.

A protective device containing a metal element that melts and opens the circuit when current exceeds a rated value, sacrificing itself to protect downstream equipment.

A method of expressing voltages, currents, impedances and powers as fractions of chosen base values, simplifying transformer and fault calculations across voltage levels.

An unintended low-impedance path between phases or to earth that draws very large current, requiring fast detection and interruption to prevent equipment damage.

Deliberate connection of exposed metalwork or a circuit neutral to the general mass of earth, providing a low-impedance fault path and limiting touch voltage to safe levels.

The maximum pressure a soil or rock mass can support at the base of a foundation without shear failure or excessive settlement of the structure above it.

The downward movement of a foundation or structure caused by compression of underlying soil, which must remain within tolerable limits to avoid cracking or serviceability loss.

A simple workability test for fresh concrete in which a standard cone is filled, lifted and the vertical drop of the concrete is measured in millimetres.

The mass of water divided by the mass of cement in a concrete mix; lower values increase strength and durability but reduce workability and require careful compaction.

Maintaining adequate moisture and temperature in concrete after placing so that cement hydration continues, developing design strength and reducing shrinkage cracking.

The internal moment at a section of a beam equal to the algebraic sum of moments of all forces on one side of that section about the section point.

The internal force at a section of a beam equal to the algebraic sum of all transverse forces acting on one side of that section, causing sliding tendency.

The transverse displacement of a beam or slab under load, calculated from flexural rigidity and span, and limited by serviceability requirements in design codes.

A statement of energy conservation along a streamline in steady ideal flow, relating pressure, velocity and elevation heads as a constant sum.

A dimensionless ratio of inertial to viscous forces in fluid flow, indicating whether flow is laminar, transitional or turbulent in a pipe or around a body.

The reduction in pressure energy of a fluid per unit weight as it flows through a pipe or fitting, caused by friction and local disturbances.

The ideal air-standard cycle for spark-ignition engines, comprising isentropic compression, constant-volume heat addition, isentropic expansion and constant-volume heat rejection.

The ideal air-standard cycle for compression-ignition engines, in which heat is added at constant pressure after isentropic compression, giving higher compression ratios than the Otto cycle.

A reversible cycle of two isothermal and two isentropic processes that sets the maximum possible thermal efficiency between two given temperature limits.

Stress is internal force per unit area within a material; strain is the resulting fractional deformation. Their ratio in the elastic range is the modulus of elasticity.

The negative ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain in a loaded material, typically about 0.3 for metals and 0.5 for rubber.

The process of varying a parameter of a high-frequency carrier wave, such as amplitude, frequency or phase, in accordance with an information-bearing signal.

The range of frequencies occupied by a signal or passed by a system, usually measured between half-power points and limiting the maximum information rate.

The principle that a band-limited signal must be sampled at more than twice its highest frequency to be reconstructed without aliasing distortion.

A branch of algebra using binary variables and logical operations AND, OR and NOT, used to simplify and design digital logic circuits.

A bistable digital storage element holding one bit, whose output changes according to inputs and a clock, forming the basis of registers and counters.

A combinational logic circuit that selects one of several data inputs and routes it to a single output under the control of selection lines.

Basic freedoms guaranteed to citizens by Part III of the Indian Constitution, enforceable in courts through writs, and including equality, speech and life.

Guidelines in Part IV of the Indian Constitution directing state policy toward social and economic welfare; they are not directly enforceable in courts.

The three-tier system of rural local self-government in India, given constitutional status by the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992.

A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word in a given context, used in vocabulary questions to test precise word sense.

A word whose meaning is opposite to that of another word, tested in verbal ability sections to check understanding of contrast in meaning.

Two grammatical constructions: active voice places the doer as subject, passive voice places the receiver as subject and shifts focus to the action.

ಕನ್ನಡ ವ್ಯಾಕರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಎರಡು ಅಕ್ಷರಗಳು ಅಥವಾ ಪದಗಳು ಕೂಡುವಾಗ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ; ಕನ್ನಡ ವ್ಯಾಕರಣ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಕೇಳಲಾಗುವ ವಿಷಯ.

ಎರಡು ಅಥವಾ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಪದಗಳು ಸೇರಿ ಒಂದೇ ಪದವಾಗುವ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ; ಕನ್ನಡ ವ್ಯಾಕರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾಸದ ವಿಧಗಳನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಬರುತ್ತವೆ.

A ratio compares two quantities of the same kind; a proportion states that two ratios are equal, enabling solution of part-sharing and scaling problems.

A fraction expressed with denominator 100, used to compare quantities and solve increase, decrease, profit and loss problems quickly.

The sum of a set of values divided by their number, representing a central value used in speed, mixture and data-interpretation problems.

A logical argument with two premises and a conclusion, tested in reasoning sections by asking which conclusions necessarily follow from given statements.

Reasoning problems that describe family relationships in coded or indirect language and ask the candidate to determine how two people are related.