GERTC Principles of Surveying, Analysis, and Design (PSAD) Practice Exam

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• In surveying design, what does a "sectional view" illustrate?
• What is the term for the distance between the center of rigidity and the center of mass?
• How do you determine the elevation of a point using a level instrument?
• What is typically the focus of lateral load-resisting systems in building design?
• What is referred to when a composite material exhibits different elastic properties in different directions?
• How is the term "strain hardening" best defined?
• What is the stress that causes yielding called?
• What defines a geodetic survey?
• What are forces generated by a body in motion called?
• Which of the following best defines a soft storey?
• In relation to strength, what does specific weight measure?
• Which term refers to the ability of a material to return to its original shape after deformation?
• Define "extrapolation" in survey data analysis.
• What phenomenon is described as a sudden drop in the shear strength of a soil?
• What is the primary cause of material failure in structural engineering over time when subjected to consistent loads?
• In surveying, what does "ground control" refer to?
• What is referred to when two originally perpendicular line segments change angle?
• Which surveying method would primarily utilize bearings as a directional guide?
• What is a key indicator of a weak storey?
• What indicates a diaphragm discontinuity irregularity?
• What occurs when there is a slight increase in stress above the elastic limit?
• How is the flexibility of a structure defined?
• What type of structural member is defined by an unsupported height to least lateral dimension ratio of not less than 3?
• How is a weak storey defined in terms of strength?
• What is the primary purpose of a boundary survey?
• Which materials exhibit little or no yielding before they fail?
• What phenomenon continues to deform a material under a sustained load until a sudden fracture occurs?
• What is the greatest stress a material can withstand without a permanent elongation occurring upon complete unloading of the specimen?
• What is the maximum stress a material is capable of developing?
• What is developed when one body exerts a force on another body without direct physical contact?
• What is the fundamental theorem of surveying?
• How is a "local coordinate system" used in surveying?
• What is the term for story drift divided by the story height in structural analysis?
• What type of forces are caused by the direct contact of one body with the surface of another?
• What does "fieldwork" entail in surveying?
• What condition indicates that a load-resisting member is unfit for further loads?
• What does the term "slope" indicate in surveying?
• In terms of material properties, what does high stiffness indicate?
• Which element is most fundamental to establishing ground control?
• Which term refers to the breakdown of material due to excessive stress?
• What does the design seismic base shear represent?
• What type of material has the same elastic properties in all directions at any one point?
• What property of a material allows it to undergo large permanent strains before failure?
• What does "datum elevation" refer to in surveying?
• Which measurement unit is commonly associated with both azimuths and bearings?
• What is the primary characteristic of ductile materials?
• Which term is used to describe a material that has different properties in different directions?
• What phenomenon occurs in saturated cohesionless soil, reducing effective shear strength to negligible values?
• What is indicated when a survey is described as "closed"?
• What type of surveying specifically focuses on hydrological features?
• Which property allows a material to withstand stress without plastic deformation?
• Which instrument measures the strain of rock under pressure?
• When does weight irregularity occur in a building structure?
• What does the term resilience refer to in material properties?
• What represents the slope of the straight line portion of the stress-strain curve, defined as the ratio of stress over strain?
• What type of structural analysis focuses on the internal forces and moments acting on a beam?
• Members that are slender and support loadings applied perpendicular to their longitudinal axis are known as what?
• What does in-plane discontinuity in vertical lateral-force-resisting elements indicate?
• What is a "flood plain"?
• What is the term for the ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain in materials?
• Which point is considered where applied seismic forces traditionally act?
• What does it mean if a material is described as brittle?
• Which term describes the force that determines a body's state of motion or equilibrium?
• What is the term for the change in volume per unit volume?
• What type of force acts opposite the motion of a body?
• In surveying, what does "scaling" refer to?
• What is the difference between "line of sight" and "line of position"?
• What does GPS stand for and how is it used in surveying?
• Besides the epicenter, what term describes the location of an earthquake?
• What term describes a condition where a material breaks down and deforms permanently due to slight stress above the elastic limit?
• Which property best describes an isotropic material?
• What does weight (mass) irregularity signify in a building structure?
• In surveying, what does the term "horizontal distance" refer to?
• What characterizes re-entrant corner irregularity in plan configurations?
• Bearings in surveying are used to indicate what?
• How do you define "easement"?
• What principle states that stress is proportional to strain within the elastic region?
• What occurs to the mechanical properties of ductile materials as they are subjected to strain?
• Which type of materials can undergo large strains before they fracture?
• What is known as the ability of a material to undergo significant plastic deformation before rupture?
• What is the primary outcome of a leveling survey?
• Which factor is critical in calculating the stability of a tall structure under lateral wind loads?
• Which type of material is characterized by a relatively small tensile strain up to the point of rupture?
• What is an important aspect of calculating the volume of earthwork in construction?
• Which tool would primarily be used to establish elevation differences during a survey?
• Which of the following best describes toughness in material science?
• What term describes the energy stored in a material due to deformation?
• What term describes a material's ability to absorb energy in the plastic range or up to its fracture point?
• What occurs to a specimen's cross-sectional area as it elongates up to the ultimate stress?
• What stress level is indicated by a marked increase in strain without a corresponding increase in stress?
• Which agency is typically responsible for setting survey standards in a region?
• What property would you assess to determine how much energy a material can absorb without permanent deformation?
• What is an "offset line" in surveying?
• What is the term used to describe the loss of stress that occurs over time while concrete is held at a constant strain?
• What does "azimuth" measure in surveying?
• How do you calculate the area of a trapezoid?
• When would you use a construction survey?
• What term is used to describe the proportional relationship between load and structural response in shear walls?
• What type of stress develops on diagonal surfaces within a material?
• What is the term for the originating earthquake source of the elastic waves inside the earth?
• Ground displacement is primarily measured by which instrument?
• What do we call the point on the earth's surface directly above the earthquake focus?
• What is meant by "resection" in surveying terms?
• Which type of material possesses the same properties in all directions?
• Why is ground control essential in aerial surveys?
• What is the purpose of a "stakeout" survey?
• Which property of a material allows it to withstand high stress without significant strain?
• Describe the process of "clipping" in surveying analysis.
• Which equipment would be best for establishing a horizontal plane in surveying?
• What is the relationship between azimuths and bearings?
• What instrument is used to measure the peak ground acceleration during an earthquake?
• What is the primary use of a leveling rod in surveying?
• What does coordinate geometry (COGO) involve in surveying?
• What role does a compass play in surveying using bearings?
• What does the Richter Scale measure in relation to earthquakes?
• What property of a material allows it to undergo considerable plastic deformation under tensile load before actual rupture?
• Which ratio is known as Poisson's ratio in unrestrained members?
• What occurs when the structure's center of mass does not coincide with the center of rigidity?
• What can be a consequence of improper "plumbing in"?
• What defines a material's ability to deform elastically and return to its original shape when the load is removed?
• What is defined as the greatest stress a material can develop without deviation from straight line proportionality between strain and stress?
• What does rigidity of a structure refer to in relation to deflection?
• What kind of stress occurs due to the bending of a structural member?
• What is the purpose of a contour line on a map?
• Which term describes a shape that has the same cross sections throughout its length?
• What does a level instrument primarily measure?
• What is the term for the slow and continuous deformation of a material under a sustained load?
• Which term describes the maximum stress level where stress is no longer proportional to strain?
• What term refers to the phenomenon when the structure's center of mass does not coincide with its center of rigidity?
• When stress reaches the proportional limit, what is the strain-energy density called?
• Which property enables a material to undergo considerable plastic deformation under compressive load before rupture?
• What do load factors reflect in terms of events and total loading?
• Which term describes the lateral displacement of a story relative to the base?
• In survey data analysis, what does "interpolation" mean?
• What role does a "party chief" play during a surveying project?
• What is the role of an optical plummet in surveying?
• What is the significance of high malleability in materials?
• What does "plumbing in" mean in surveying terms?
• Using azimuths allows surveyors to measure angles in which unit?
• What characteristic describes a material that, when unloaded, retains a permanent elongation?
• Under what condition is torsional irregularity identified?
• Which of the following is not a property of ductility?
• What is the specific modulus?
• How is the total energy released in an earthquake classified?
• What is the term for the lateral displacement of one level relative to the level above or below it?
• In the context of surveying, the fixed reference points for ground control provide what primary utility?
• Which of the following is a primary purpose of using control points in surveying?
• What is meant by "observational error" in the context of surveying?
• What is the primary reason for conducting field surveys?
• Why is a sectional view important in surveying?
• Which principle states that the area of a triangle is equal to half the base multiplied by the height?
• In surveying terminology, what is the critical distance used when evaluating lateral resistance?
• Which type of survey is utilized to ascertain the location of existing structures concerning property lines?
• Ground control points are critical for ensuring accuracy in which type of surveys?
• Which of the following describes the proportional relationship between stress and strain in materials?
• What term describes the change of volume per unit volume?
• Resistance factors are determined from the probability of what?
• Explain the process of "triangulation" in surveying.
• What is the factor of safety?
• What is defined as the point through which the resultant of the resistance to the applied lateral force acts?
• What does the tangent modulus represent in material science?
• Which property of a material indicates its ability to endure high-impact loads or shock loads?
• What is a critical aspect of using bearings in surveying?
• Which of the following describes the constant that defines the linear relationship in material deformation?
• Which phenomenon occurs when a building period coincides with the earthquake period?
• What is defined as the ratio of modulus of toughness to modulus of resilience?
• What does the term "vertical distance" refer to in surveying?
• What situation describes out of plane offsets irregularity?
• In engineering, what does 'ductility' refer to?
• Define "control points" in the context of surveying.
• What is the significance of a datum point in surveying?
• What factor is crucial in determining the quality of material strength and consistency?
• What is described as the oscillatory movement of the ground that follows the release of energy in the Earth’s crust?
• What process occurs when a metal is subjected to repeated cycles of stress or strain?
• What is the term for the point through which the effective lateral force acts?
• What property of a material allows it to absorb energy in the elastic range?
• What does trigonometric leveling involve?
• What part of an engineering drawing typically provides construction specifications?
• Which condition indicates a stiffness irregularity related to a soft storey?
• What is the space between two adjacent floors in a building referred to as?
• What is typically the first indication of an earthquake's impact on structures?
• What equipment is commonly used for measuring angles in surveying?
• What term describes the phenomenon where a material supports an increasing load after yielding has ended?
• What term describes the condition of a material when it breaks down and deforms permanently due to increased stress above the elastic limit?
• What is the property of a material that allows it to return to its original shape after the load is removed?
• What are the typical components of a survey plan?
• What does the modulus of toughness represent in a stress-strain diagram?
• Which term is used to describe the maximum amount of strain energy a material can absorb before it fractures?
• What is a measure of the strength of shaking during an earthquake called?
• What is the primary purpose of azimuths in surveying?
• What type of deformation occurs when yielding takes place?
• In surveying, why is marking positions on the ground critical?
• What term describes the sideways deflection of axial vertical loads?
• What describes the change in angle between two original perpendicular line segments?
• Where does the applied seismic force act on a structure?
• What is referred to as the sideways deflection of a building due to lateral loads?
• What term is used for lateral-load-resisting elements not connected in a plane?
• What defines the stiffness and stability of a structure in response to lateral forces?
• What is the term for the maximum load a material can handle before failure?
• Which measure is considered the oldest useful measure of an earthquake's strength based on observed effects?
• What term describes the permanent change in shape or size of a material when subjected to stress beyond its limit?
• What phenomenon occurs when a building period coincides with the earthquake period?
• What term describes the point where an object experiences no torque from gravitational forces?
• What device measures the actual displacement of the ground with respect to a stationary reference point?
• What does the damping rate refer to in structural engineering?
• What is a "benchmark" in surveying?
• Which term refers to the stress at which an observable, significant change in strain occurs without an increase in applied stress?
• What is true about materials that are homogeneous?
• Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using azimuths and bearings in surveying?
• What is the main purpose of a topographic survey?
• What type of strain occurs up to the point of rupture in ductile materials?
• What is the function of "slope stakes" in a surveying project?
• What is the term for stressing high strength steel after the concrete has been cast and has achieved sufficient strength?
• What is the purpose of a "GPS baseline" in surveying?
• Which concept refers to the ability of a structure to deform under load and return to its original shape?
• What does "staff reading" refer to in surveying?
• What best describes the reciprocal relationship to stiffness in structural engineering?
• What happens to ductile materials when they are pushed beyond their elastic limit?
• What is referred to as a condition where the lateral stiffness is less than 70 percent of the stiffness of the story above?
• What results from lateral forces acting on a structure due to wind or seismic activities?
• What do we call materials that have uniform composition and elastic properties in all directions?
• What is the term for the rate of change of stress with respect to strain?
• What type of material has the same composition at every point but may exhibit varying elastic properties?
• What is the term used to describe the non-parallel systems in structural engineering?
• What determines the type of azimuth used in a surveying project?
• Which of the following best defines 'Center of Mass' in a seismic context?
• Which term refers to the capability of a material to withstand deformation and absorb energy before reaching failure?
• When a beam is loaded uniformly, what kind of moment acts around its mid-point?
• Which of the following describes the point at which seismic waves begin to propagate from the focus of an earthquake?
• What does specific strength refer to?
• What is the distance between the Center of Rigidity and the Center of Mass called?
• What principle helps in determining areas of irregular shapes in surveying?
• What is measured by a seismometer during an earthquake?
• What material type has the same physical and mechanical properties throughout its entire volume?
• What does the "survey adjustment" process entail?
• What do "local deviations" refer to in contour mapping?
• What develops in a beam when the plastic moment is removed?
• Which of the following is a characteristic of dynamic forces?
• What is the significance of adjusting for curvature in surveys?
• What term describes the displacement between one level and the level above or below?
• What are rigid horizontal planes that transfer lateral forces to vertical resisting elements called?
• Which condition defines vertical geometric irregularity in a building?
• What is the term used to describe the stress at which a specimen actually breaks?
• What is the reciprocal of deflection in structural analysis?
• What term is used to describe the condition of a structural element that may not support lateral loads effectively due to design or material issues?
• Which term describes the flexibility of a structure?
• What property describes a material's ability to regain its original shape after deformation?
• What is the process of stressing high strength steel wires before concrete hardens called?
• What is a wall designed to resist lateral forces typically caused by wind and seismic loads called?
• Which concept refers to the sum of all forces acting on a body resulting in a specific motion?
• Which of the following describes diaphragm irregularity?
• What is the formula for calculating the volume of earthwork using the average end area method?
• Which of the following describes materials that are typically retained as strong after significant load has been applied?
• What term describes the process by which materials break down after being subjected to repeated stress or strain?
• What is the primary function of a surveyor’s level?