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Free FE Mechanical Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style FE Mechanical (FE Mechanical) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free FE Mechanical practice test to study every exam domain.

These 10 free FE Mechanical questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the FE Mechanical blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.

Domain 4: Engineering Economics (4-6 questions, ~4-5%)

Question 1

A machine costs $50,000 and is expected to save $15,000 per year for 5 years. Using a discount rate of 8%, what is the net present worth of this investment?

  1. $25,000 in the typical case
  2. $59,891 under applicable rules
  3. $9,891 in the typical case
  4. −$46,243 in the standard framework
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - $9,891 in the typical case

Domain 6: Statics (9-14 questions, ~8-13%)

Question 2

A simply supported beam has a span of 6 m and carries a single concentrated load of 12 kN located 2 m from the left support. What is the vertical reaction at the left support?

  1. 4 kN as commonly understood
  2. 6 kN as ordinarily interpreted
  3. 10 kN in the standard framework
  4. 8 kN under applicable rules
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - 8 kN under applicable rules

Domain 7: Dynamics, Kinematics, and Vibrations (10-15 questions, ~9-14%)

Question 3

A 20 kg mass is attached to a spring with a stiffness of 5,000 N/m. What is the natural frequency of the system?

  1. 2.52 Hz when applied properly
  2. 5.03 Hz in the typical case
  3. 15.81 Hz under standard market practice
  4. 0.80 Hz under accepted convention
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - 2.52 Hz when applied properly

Domain 8: Mechanics of Materials (9-14 questions, ~8-13%)

Question 4

A solid circular shaft with a diameter of 40 mm transmits 50 kW at 600 rpm. What is the maximum shear stress in the shaft?

  1. 31.7 MPa under accepted convention
  2. 63.3 MPa as ordinarily interpreted
  3. 126.6 MPa in this context
  4. 6.6 MPa under standard market practice
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - 63.3 MPa as ordinarily interpreted

Question 5

At a point in a stressed body, the normal stresses are σ_x = 80 MPa and σ_y = −40 MPa, with a shear stress τ_xy = 30 MPa. What is the maximum in-plane shear stress?

  1. 30.0 MPa for this purpose
  2. 60.0 MPa as commonly understood
  3. 67.1 MPa under applicable rules
  4. 87.1 MPa as ordinarily interpreted
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - 67.1 MPa under applicable rules

Domain 10: Fluid Mechanics (10-15 questions, ~9-14%)

Question 6

Water flows steadily through a horizontal pipe that contracts from a 200 mm diameter to a 100 mm diameter. The velocity in the larger section is 1.5 m/s and the pressure is 300 kPa. Assuming no losses, what is the pressure in the smaller section?

  1. 296.6 kPa as ordinarily interpreted
  2. 300.0 kPa under standard market practice
  3. 283.1 kPa under standard market practice
  4. 282.0 kPa under standard market practice
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - 283.1 kPa under standard market practice

Question 7

Oil with a density of 880 kg/m³ and a dynamic viscosity of 0.08 Pa·s flows through a 50 mm diameter pipe at a velocity of 2 m/s. What is the Reynolds number, and what is the flow regime?

  1. 550 - Laminar as ordinarily interpreted
  2. 1,100 - Laminar in the typical case
  3. 2,200 - Transitional in this context
  4. 1,100,000 - Turbulent as ordinarily interpreted
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - 1,100 - Laminar in the typical case

Domain 11: Thermodynamics (10-15 questions, ~9-14%)

Question 8

A heat engine operates between a hot reservoir at 800 K and a cold reservoir at 300 K. If the engine receives 500 kJ of heat per cycle, what is the maximum possible work output per cycle?

  1. 312.5 kJ as commonly understood
  2. 187.5 kJ in the standard framework
  3. 250.0 kJ for this purpose
  4. 474.4 kJ under applicable rules
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - 312.5 kJ as commonly understood

Domain 12: Heat Transfer (7-11 questions, ~6-10%)

Question 9

A composite wall consists of a 0.20 m brick layer (k = 0.8 W/(m·K)) and a 0.05 m insulation layer (k = 0.04 W/(m·K)) in series. If the inner surface temperature is 22°C and the outer surface temperature is −8°C, what is the steady-state heat flux through the wall?

  1. 24.0 W/m² in this context
  2. 120.0 W/m² as commonly understood
  3. 144.0 W/m² under accepted convention
  4. 20.0 W/m² in this context
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - 20.0 W/m² in this context

Domain 14: Mechanical Design and Analysis (10-15 questions, ~9-14%)

Question 10

A machine component is subjected to a normal stress of 120 MPa and a shear stress of 60 MPa on the same plane. Using the distortion energy (von Mises) theory, what is the effective stress?

  1. 134.2 MPa under accepted convention
  2. 158.7 MPa as commonly understood
  3. 169.7 MPa under applicable rules
  4. 180.0 MPa in the standard framework
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - 158.7 MPa as commonly understood

The rest of the FE Mechanical blueprint

The FE Mechanical exam also covers these domains. Drill them in the full free practice test:

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