Power Systems MCQs January 8, 2026July 11, 2024 by u930973931_answers 50 min Score: 0 Attempted: 0/50 Subscribe 1. In power systems, the term ‘bus’ refers to: (A) A type of generating station (B) A voltage level in the network (C) A transmission line (D) A type of transformer 2. The power factor of an AC circuit is defined as the: (A) Ratio of real power to reactive power (B) Ratio of total power to apparent power (C) Ratio of active power to reactive power (D) Ratio of apparent power to real power 3. Which component is used to increase the voltage level of AC power for transmission? (A) Capacitor (B) Diode (C) Inductor (D) Transformer 4. The purpose of a circuit breaker in a power system is to: (A) Regulate voltage levels (B) Convert AC to DC (C) Protect against overcurrent and short circuits (D) Measure power consumption 5. A synchronous generator is also known as: (A) DC generator (B) Alternator (C) Induction generator (D) Inverter 6. Which parameter characterizes the ability of a transmission line to transfer electrical power? (A) Impedance (B) Reactance (C) Resistance (D) Transmission capacity 7. The phenomenon of ‘skin effect’ in power transmission lines primarily affects the flow of: (A) Active power (B) Reactive power (C) DC power (D) AC power 8. A transmission line typically consists of conductors separated by: (A) Insulators (B) Vacuum (C) Resistors (D) Capacitors 9. What is the standard frequency of electrical power transmission in most countries? (A) 60 Hz (B) 50 Hz (C) 25 Hz (D) 100 Hz 10. Which type of power plant uses the nuclear fission process to generate electricity? (A) Coal-fired (B) Hydroelectric (C) Solar (D) Nuclear 11. The main disadvantage of underground transmission lines compared to overhead lines is: (A) Higher losses (B) Higher cost (C) Lower reliability (D) Greater environmental impact 12. The purpose of a step-up transformer at a generating station is to: (A) Decrease voltage for distribution (B) Increase voltage for transmission (C) Increase current for transmission (D) Decrease current for distribution 13. In a three-phase power system, the phase angle difference between any two phases is: (A) 120 degrees (B) 90 degrees (C) 60 degrees (D) 180 degrees 14. The unit of electrical power is: (A) Volt (B) Ampere (C) Ohm (D) Watt 15. The term ‘load shedding’ in power systems refers to: (A) Decreasing load demand (B) Shifting loads between different substations (C) Increasing generation capacity temporarily (D) Disconnecting some loads to prevent a blackout 16. What does the term ‘reactive power’ refer to in an AC circuit? (A) Power dissipated as heat (B) Power stored and released by inductors (C) Power delivered to the load (D) Power stored and released by capacitors 17. The function of a surge arrester in a power system is to protect against: (A) Overvoltage (B) Overcurrent (C) Undervoltage (D) Power factor correction 18. The term ‘black start’ capability of a power plant refers to its ability to: (A) Start generating electricity without external power supply (B) Start generating electricity with full capacity (C) Restart after a blackout (D) Restart after routine maintenance 19. Which type of power plant relies on the temperature difference between hot and cold water to generate electricity? (A) Biomass (B) Wind (C) Geothermal (D) Tidal 20. The standard formula for calculating electrical power is: (A) P = VI (B) P = V^2 / R (C) P = I^2 R (D) All of the above 21. The voltage regulation of a transformer is defined as the ratio of: (A) Secondary voltage to primary voltage (B) No-load voltage to full-load voltage (C) Secondary current to primary current (D) No-load current to full-load current 22. A transmission line with a higher capacitance will have: (A) Higher inductance (B) Higher impedance (C) Lower inductance (D) Lower impedance 23. The principle of operation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) cell is based on the: (A) Piezoelectric effect (B) Photoelectric effect (C) Thermoelectric effect (D) Electromagnetic induction 24. Which type of power plant has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per unit of electricity generated? (A) Coal-fired (B) Solar (C) Hydroelectric (D) Natural gas-fired 25. The term ‘load factor’ in power systems refers to the: (A) Ratio of average load to peak load (B) Ratio of peak load to average load (C) Ratio of maximum load to minimum load (D) Ratio of minimum load to maximum load 26. The main advantage of AC (Alternating Current) over DC (Direct Current) for long-distance transmission is: (A) Lower cost of equipment (B) Higher efficiency (C) Easier to generate (D) Lower voltage drop 27. A transmission line is considered ‘long’ if its length is more than: (A) 10 km (B) 100 km (C) 50 km (D) 500 km 28. The ‘per-unit’ system in power systems is used to: (A) Standardize power ratings (B) Estimate transmission line lengths (C) Calculate power losses (D) Measure electrical quantities in terms of base values 29. Which renewable energy source is weather-dependent and intermittent in nature? (A) Geothermal (B) Hydroelectric (C) Biomass (D) Solar 30. The term ‘relay’ in a power system refers to a device used for: (A) Voltage regulation (B) Power factor correction (C) Phase shifting (D) Protecting equipment from faults 31. The term ‘islanding’ in power systems refers to: (A) Connecting multiple generators in parallel (B) A situation where a portion of the grid remains energized during a blackout (C) Maximizing power generation during peak hours (D) Stopping power generation abruptly 32. The power flow in a transmission line is affected by: (A) All of the above (B) Line length (C) Impedance (D) Voltage level 33. Which of the following is a renewable source of energy? (A) Coal (B) Natural gas (C) Wind (D) Oil 34. What is the standard voltage level for transmission in high-voltage power lines? (A) 110V (B) 230V (C) 750kV (D) 400kV 35. The ‘power triangle’ in AC circuits relates: (A) Voltage, current, and power factor (B) Real power, reactive power, and apparent power (C) Resistance, inductance, and capacitance (D) Active power, power factor, and line losses 36. A ‘brownout’ refers to: (A) An intentional drop in voltage by the utility company (B) Complete loss of power in an area (C) Overvoltage condition in the grid (D) Sudden surge of power 37. The phenomenon of ‘voltage sag’ in a power system is typically caused by: (A) Overvoltage (B) Undervoltage (C) Voltage imbalance (D) Short circuit 38. Which renewable energy source utilizes the kinetic energy of wind to generate electricity? (A) Solar (B) Tidal (C) Biomass (D) Wind 39. A ‘feeder’ in a power distribution system refers to: (A) A set of circuits delivering power to a specific area (B) A device for voltage regulation (C) A transmission line (D) A type of generator 40. The purpose of a capacitor bank in a power system is to: (A) Store electrical energy (B) Balance the phase currents (C) Increase line voltage (D) Improve power factor 41. The efficiency of a power plant is defined as: (A) Ratio of power input to maximum power (B) Ratio of power output to maximum power (C) Ratio of power input to power output (D) Ratio of power output to power input 42. Which renewable energy source converts organic waste into electricity or heat? (A) Solar (B) Wind (C) Geothermal (D) Biomass 43. The ‘right-hand rule’ is used to determine the direction of: (A) Current flow in a conductor (B) Voltage drop across a resistor (C) Magnetic field around a conductor (D) Power factor in an AC circuit 44. The term ‘generation reserve’ in power systems refers to: (A) Backup generators (B) Excess power generation capacity (C) Power stations (D) Power distribution network 45. Which type of fault in a power system occurs when there is a direct connection between two phases or between a phase and ground? (A) Short-circuit fault (B) Open-circuit fault (C) Earth fault (D) Overcurrent fault 46. The term ‘reactive compensation’ in power systems refers to: (A) Regulating voltage levels (B) Adding capacitors or reactors to improve power factor (C) Minimizing transmission losses (D) Controlling generator output 47. The main advantage of a gas turbine power plant is: (A) High efficiency at low loads (B) Low initial cost (C) Minimal environmental impact (D) Long lifespan 48. A ‘microgrid’ is: (A) A small-scale power plant (B) A type of generator (C) A transmission line with low capacity (D) A localized group of electricity sources and loads 49. Which component of a power system typically requires the highest maintenance? (A) Transformer (B) Circuit breaker (C) Generator (D) Transmission line 50. The ‘electric grid’ refers to: (A) A network of power plants (B) A system of high-voltage transmission lines (C) The distribution network in a city (D) The entire interconnected power system