Core Engineering Subjects MCQs Aeronautical Engineering:
1. What is the primary function of an aircraft’s ailerons?
a) Increase lift
b) Control pitch
c) Control roll
d) Control yaw
Answer: c) Control roll
2. Which of the following is the SI unit of thrust?
a) Newton
b) Pascal
c) Joule
d) Watt
Answer: a) Newton
3. The Mach number is defined as the ratio of an aircraft’s speed to the speed of:
a) Light
b) Sound
c) Wind
d) Gravity
Answer: b) Sound
4. In a turbojet engine, the diffuser is used to:
a) Accelerate the airflow
b) Decelerate the airflow
c) Increase temperature
d) Reduce noise
Answer: b) Decelerate the airflow
5. Which type of stability is concerned with the aircraft’s ability to return to its original flight path after a disturbance?
a) Longitudinal stability
b) Lateral stability
c) Directional stability
d) Transverse stability
Answer: a) Longitudinal stability
6. What is the function of a vertical stabilizer in an aircraft?
a) Provide lift
b) Control roll
c) Control pitch
d) Control yaw
Answer: d) Control yaw
7. Which of the following components is responsible for reducing drag in high-speed aircraft?
a) Flaps
b) Ailerons
c) Spoilers
d) Winglets
Answer: d) Winglets
8. In supersonic flight, which shock wave is produced first?
a) Normal shock wave
b) Oblique shock wave
c) Expansion fan
d) Bow shock
Answer: b) Oblique shock wave
9. The term “aeroelasticity” refers to:
a) The elasticity of the aircraft structure
b) Interaction between aerodynamic forces and structural deformation
c) The flexibility of aircraft wings
d) The study of airflow around elastic bodies
Answer: b) Interaction between aerodynamic forces and structural deformation
10. The Reynolds number is used to predict:
a) Lift
b) Drag
c) Laminar or turbulent flow
d) Mach number
Answer: c) Laminar or turbulent flow
11. Which of the following is a type of high-lift device?
a) Elevator
b) Rudder
c) Flap
d) Aileron
Answer: c) Flap
12. What is the purpose of a pitot tube on an aircraft?
a) Measure altitude
b) Measure airspeed
c) Measure angle of attack
d) Measure temperature
Answer: b) Measure airspeed
13. The boundary layer separation occurs when:
a) The flow remains laminar
b) The flow transitions to turbulent
c) The adverse pressure gradient overcomes the momentum of the boundary layer
d) The velocity of the flow increases
Answer: c) The adverse pressure gradient overcomes the momentum of the boundary layer
14. Which law of motion is directly related to the lift generated by an aircraft wing?
a) Newton’s first law
b) Newton’s second law
c) Newton’s third law
d) Bernoulli’s principle
Answer: c) Newton’s third law
15. What is the primary purpose of an afterburner in a jet engine?
a) Reduce fuel consumption
b) Increase thrust
c) Decrease drag
d) Increase efficiency
Answer: b) Increase thrust
16. Which of the following materials is commonly used for the construction of aircraft frames?
a) Aluminum alloys
b) Copper
c) Lead
d) Steel
Answer: a) Aluminum alloys
17. In aerodynamics, what does the term “critical Mach number” refer to?
a) The Mach number where drag is minimum
b) The Mach number at which the airflow over some part of the aircraft reaches the speed of sound
c) The Mach number where lift is maximum
d) The Mach number at which shock waves form behind the aircraft
Answer: b) The Mach number at which the airflow over some part of the aircraft reaches the speed of sound
18. Which device is used to measure the rate of climb in an aircraft?
a) Altimeter
b) Vertical speed indicator
c) Airspeed indicator
d) Tachometer
Answer: b) Vertical speed indicator
19. What is the primary effect of wingtip vortices?
a) Increase lift
b) Reduce drag
c) Increase drag
d) Reduce lift
Answer: c) Increase drag
20. The angle of attack at which an aircraft wing stalls is called:
a) Critical angle of attack
b) Maximum angle of attack
c) Optimal angle of attack
d) Minimum angle of attack
Answer: a) Critical angle of attack
21. Which of the following is a consequence of flying at transonic speeds?
a) Increase in lift
b) Formation of shock waves
c) Decrease in drag
d) Elimination of boundary layer
Answer: b) Formation of shock waves
22. What is the primary purpose of a turbocharger in an aircraft engine?
a) Increase fuel efficiency
b) Increase the power output by compressing the intake air
c) Reduce engine noise
d) Decrease exhaust emissions
Answer: b) Increase the power output by compressing the intake air
23. Which of the following is a high-temperature resistant material commonly used in jet engine turbines?
a) Titanium
b) Nickel-based superalloys
c) Aluminum
d) Magnesium
Answer: b) Nickel-based superalloys
24. Which flight instrument is used to indicate the aircraft’s attitude relative to the horizon?
a) Altimeter
b) Attitude indicator
c) Airspeed indicator
d) Vertical speed indicator
Answer: b) Attitude indicator
25. The term “service ceiling” of an aircraft refers to:
a) The altitude at which the aircraft can no longer climb
b) The altitude at which the aircraft can maintain a specified rate of climb
c) The maximum altitude the aircraft can reach
d) The altitude at which the aircraft’s engine ceases to function
Answer: b) The altitude at which the aircraft can maintain a specified rate of climb
26. Which of the following is used to control the pitch of an aircraft?
a) Ailerons
b) Elevators
c) Rudder
d) Flaps
Answer: b) Elevators
27. What is the main function of spoilers on an aircraft?
a) Increase lift
b) Decrease drag
c) Decrease lift and increase drag
d) Control yaw
Answer: c) Decrease lift and increase drag
28. In an aircraft wing, what is the term for the distance between the leading edge and the trailing edge?
a) Span
b) Chord
c) Camber
d) Aspect ratio
Answer: b) Chord
29. Which of the following types of drag is caused by the friction between the aircraft surface and the air?
a) Induced drag
b) Parasitic drag
c) Wave drag
d) Form drag
Answer: b) Parasitic drag
30. The “Coanda effect” is related to which of the following phenomena in aerodynamics?
a) Lift generation
b) Drag reduction
c) Jet deflection and attachment of a fluid flow to a curved surface
d) Shock wave formation
Answer: c) Jet deflection and attachment of a fluid flow to a curved surface
31. Which component of an aircraft’s structure is primarily responsible for absorbing landing forces?
a) Wings
b) Fuselage
c) Empennage
d) Landing gear
Answer: d) Landing gear
32. Which of the following instruments is used to measure the total pressure of air entering an engine?
a) Pitot tube
b) Static port
c) Manifold pressure gauge
d) Altimeter
Answer: c) Manifold pressure gauge
33. In aircraft design, the term “dihedral angle” refers to:
a) The angle between the wings and the fuselage
b) The angle of attack of the wings
c) The upward angle of the wings from the horizontal plane
d) The angle between the horizontal stabilizer and the fuselage
Answer: c) The upward angle of the wings from the horizontal plane
34. Which of the following is NOT a component of a typical jet engine?
a) Compressor
b) Turbine
c) Governor
d) Combustion chamber
Answer: c) Governor
35. Which of the following is a primary flight control surface?
a) Spoilers
b) Flaps
c) Rudder
d) Slats
Answer: c) Rudder
36. What is the main purpose of using composite materials in aircraft construction?
a) Increase weight
b) Decrease cost
c) Increase strength-to-weight ratio
d) Improve conductivity
Answer: c) Increase strength-to-weight ratio
37. The term “specific fuel consumption” (SFC) of a jet engine is defined as:
a) The amount of fuel consumed per unit thrust per hour
b) The amount of fuel consumed per hour
c) The ratio of fuel consumption to power output
d) The total fuel used during the flight
Answer: a) The amount of fuel consumed per unit thrust per hour
38. Which of the following factors primarily affects the stall speed of an aircraft?
a) Weight
b) Wing area
c) Altitude
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
39. In aviation, the term “Vne” refers to:
a) Maximum takeoff speed
b) Maximum landing speed
c) Never exceed speed
d) Normal operating speed
Answer: c) Never exceed speed
40. Which type of aircraft control system uses a computer to assist with handling and stability?
a) Manual control
b) Fly-by-wire
c) Mechanical control
d) Hydraulic control
Answer: b) Fly-by-wire
41. The primary purpose of using a control yoke in an aircraft is to:
a) Control speed
b) Control altitude
c) Control roll and pitch
d) Control yaw
Answer: c) Control roll and pitch
42. What is the main function of a control surface called a “canard”?
a) Increase drag
b) Increase lift
c) Control pitch
d) Stabilize the aircraft
Answer: c) Control pitch
43. The term “glide ratio” refers to:
a) The distance an aircraft can glide compared to its altitude
b) The rate of descent during a glide
c) The efficiency of an engine at altitude
d) The lift-to-drag ratio
Answer: a) The distance an aircraft can glide compared to its altitude
44. Which of the following factors does NOT affect the takeoff distance of an aircraft?
a) Aircraft weight
b) Wind direction
c) Engine type
d) Ambient temperature
Answer: c) Engine type
45. What is the primary role of the fuel control unit in a jet engine?
a) Measure fuel flow
b) Control fuel flow to the combustion chamber
c) Monitor engine temperature
d) Regulate air intake
Answer: b) Control fuel flow to the combustion chamber
46. In aviation, what does the term “autorotation” refer to?
a) The ability of a helicopter to maintain altitude
b) A helicopter’s descent without engine power
c) A fixed-wing aircraft maneuver
d) The rotational speed of a turbine
Answer: b) A helicopter’s descent without engine power
47. Which aircraft component is primarily responsible for improving visibility during flight?
a) Windshield
b) Canopy
c) Cowling
d) Wingtip
Answer: a) Windshield
48. What does the term “airfoil” refer to?
a) The shape of the wing
b) The entire aircraft structure
c) The propulsion system
d) The control surfaces
Answer: a) The shape of the wing
49. Which type of aircraft is designed for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)?
a) Glider
b) Conventional fixed-wing
c) Helicopter
d) Gyrocopter
Answer: c) Helicopter
50. The angle of incidence refers to:
a) The angle between the wing chord line and the horizontal plane
b) The angle of attack of the wing
c) The angle between the fuselage and the ground
d) The angle between the tailplane and the wing
Answer: a) The angle between the wing chord line and the horizontal plane