Are You Smarter than an Undergraduate? August 2026

Question 1: In a bolted joint, preload is applied to _______________.

Reduce stress concentration

Prevent joint loosening and improve load distribution

Increase tensile strength of bolt

Reduce bolt diameter

Question 2: The Charpy V-notch test measures ____________.

Hardness

Toughness (impact resistance)

Yield strength

Elastic modulus

Question 3: In HVAC, which component rejects heat from the refrigerant to the surroundings?

Evaporator

Compressor

Condenser

Blower

Question 4: Power factor in AC circuits is defined as ____________.

Current ÷ Voltage

Cosine of the phase angle between voltage and current

Resistance ÷ Reactance

Active power ÷ Apparent resistance

Question 5: The Froude number in open channel flow represents the ratio of __________.

Shear stress to velocity

Inertial forces to gravitational forces

Pressure head to velocity head

Discharge to area

Question 6: Slenderness ratio is defined as ______________.

L/d

Effective length ÷ Radius of gyration

Length ÷ Elastic modulus

Area ÷ Moment of inertia

Because concrete isn’t the only option. Explore the weird, the wobbly, and the wonderfully questionable materials of engineering lore.