Engineering Fundamentals and Applied Science
What the exam tests
This domain checks whether you can apply physical laws, units, and material behavior to quantitative field problems, not just recite formulas. Expect questions that combine mechanics, fluid behavior, thermodynamics, and electrical fundamentals with practical unit conversion and plausibility checks.
Core rules
- Use SI base units and show dimensional homogeneity; a result is wrong if units do not cancel.
- Equilibrium: sum of forces and moments equals zero for statics; stress = force/area; strain = change in length/original length; Hooke's law σ = Eε applies only in the elastic range.
- Energy conservation: use the steady-flow energy equation; Bernoulli applies along a streamline for incompressible, frictionless flow.
- Reynolds number Re = ρVD/μ classifies pipe flow: laminar below about 2,000, transitional to 4,000, and turbulent above 4,000 for circular pipes.
- Material properties: distinguish yield strength, ultimate strength, modulus, Poisson ratio, and thermal expansion; strength is not stiffness.
Worked example
Water at 20 °C (ρ = 998 kg/m³, μ = 1.00 × 10⁻³ Pa·s) flows at 1.2 m/s through a 50 mm internal-diameter pipe. Convert D to 0.05 m. Re = ρVD/μ = (998)(1.2)(0.05)/(1.00 × 10⁻³) = 59,880 ≈ 6.0 × 10⁴. Since Re > 4,000, the flow is turbulent. Check units: (kg/m³)(m/s)(m)/(Pa·s) = kg/(m·s) divided by kg/(m·s) = dimensionless.
Traps
Using diameter in millimetres without converting; substituting kinematic viscosity for dynamic viscosity while retaining density; treating Re as a force; mixing gauge and absolute pressure; and reporting more significant figures than the input data support.