Southern Inspection Services

EDDY CURRENT TESTING

LEVEL I QB

1. In an electromagnetic testing situation, which of the following can

provide sources of noise?
a. Geometrical changes
b. Permeability variations within the test object
c. Electrical interference
d. All of the above

2. The ratio of the response or amplitude from signals of interest to the

response or amplitude of indications that contain no useful information
for the test being conducted is referred to as:
a. Poisson’s ratio
b. Signal-to-noise ratio
c. The conductivity-to-permeability ratio
d. The reactance-to-resistance ratio

3. Which of the following is not a basic component of an eddy current test

system?
a. Amplifier
b. Sine wave generator
c. Couplant
d. Filter

4. When conducting an eddy current test using a differential comparison

coil arrangement that compares an external reference standard with the
test specimen, the system should be nulled or balanced:
a. With only the reference standard in one coil
b. With the reference standard in one coil and an acceptable test
specimen in the other coil
c. With the reference standard in one coil and an unacceptable test
specimen in the other coil
d. With only the test specimen in one coil

5. The impedance of a test coil will increase if the :

a. Test frequency increases
b. Inductive reactance of the coil decreases
c. Inductance of the coil decrease
d. Resistance of the coil decrease

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6. Some of the products commonly tested using encircling coils are:

a. Rods, tubes and wire
b. Plate when volumetrically inspected
c. Sheets and metalized foil
d. All of the above

7. Which of the following would normally be considered the best fill factor
when testing straight tubing with an encircling or feed through coil?
a. 1.7 (175%)
b. 0.95 (95%)
c. 0.50 (50%)
d. 0.25 (25%)

8. When a metal part is placed in an eddy current test coil, the impedance
of the coil will be changed by which of the following properties of the
part?
a. Conductivity
b. Dimensions
c. Permeability
d. All of the above

9. An eddy current test makes use of electrical current induced in a

conductive article by:
a. Gamma rays
b. An alternating magnetic field
c. A piezoelectric force
d. Any of the above

10. The conductivity of a material can be altered by changing the:

a. Alloy of the specimen
b. Heat treatment of the specimen
c. Temperature of the specimen
d. All of the above

11. The depth to which eddy currents are induced in the material will be
determined by the:
a. Conductivity of the material
b. Permeability of the material
c. Geometrical shape of the material
d. All of the above

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12. When testing plate with a probe coil, it is noted that the eddy current
output indication varies as the distance from the coil to the surface of
the test part varies. The term used to describe this action is:
a. Fill factor
b. Lift-off
c. Phase differentiation
d. Edge affect

13. The main purpose for spring-loaded eddy current probe coils is to
a. Minimize lift-off variations
b. Minimize wear on the probe
c. Reduce operator fatigue
d. Eliminate edge effect

14. Lift-off is utilized in:

a. Measuring permeability changes
b. Measuring conductivity changes
c. Measuring the thickness of nonconductive coatings
d. Determining proper test frequency

15. In eddy current test systems where encircling coils are used, coupling
efficiency is referred to as:
a. Lift-off
b. Edge effect
c. Fill factor
d. Phase differentiation

16. When inspecting products with a uniform cross section. An eddy

current signal is produced when the leading end or trailing end of the
product approaches the test coils. The phenome non is referred to as
a. Lift-off
b. End effect
c. Fill factor
d. Phase discrimination

17. Which of the following conditions would be the most difficult to detect
when eddy current testing a rod with an encircling coil?
a. A deep surface crack that has a depth of 30% of the rod diameter
b. A small inclusion in the center of the rod
c. A 5% change in diameter
d. A 10% change in conductivity

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18. When testing tubing with a bobbin coil, most of the eddy currents:
a. Flow in a longitudinal direction down the tubing
b. Flow radially in the tube
c. Flow around only the outside diameter of the tubing
d. Flow around the inside diameter of the tubing

19. Which of the following test frequencies would produce eddy currents
with the largest depth of penetration
a. 100 Hz
b. 10 kHz
c. 1 MHz
d. 10 MHz

20. A test coil’s opposition to the flow of alternating current, causing the
current to lag behind the voltage is called:
a. Resistance
b. Inductive reactance
c. Impedance
d. capacitive reactance

21. An increase in the impedance of a test coil will:

a. Produce an increase in the voltage through the test coil
b. Cause a decrease in the measured voltage across the test coil
c. Not affect the voltage in the test coil
d. Decrease the voltage applied to the coil

22. Which of the following will affected the impedance of test probe?
a. Conductivity of attest specimen in the coil
b. Permeability of a test specimen in the coil
c. Fill factor
d. All of the above

23. When a test coil consist of a double winding arrangement and one
winding is referred to as a primary winding, the other winding is referred
to as the:
a. Absolute winding
b. Secondary winding
c. Phase winding
d. None of the above

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24. Large diameter surface scanning coils would most likely be used for the
detection of:
a. Pitting
b. Small inclusion
c. Changes in conductivity
d. Porosity

25. Small diameter probe coils would typically be used for the detection of:
a. Slow changes in dimensions
b. Gradual changes in conductivity
c. Variation in heat treatment
d. Small surface discontinuities

26. Direct current saturation coils would most likely be used when testing:
a. Steel
b. Aluminum
c. Copper
d. Brass

27. An absolute coil arrangement can be used in:

a. Encircling coils only
b. Probe coil only
c. Probe and encircling coils only
d. Probe, encircling and inside diameter coils

28. Which of the following expresses the primary purpose(s) of the

secondary winding(s) in an eddy current coil?
a. Induce eddy currents in the test specimen
b. Detect changes in the eddy current flow
c. Induce eddy currents in the test specimen and detect changes in the
eddy current flow
d. Provide DC saturation

29. Which of the following eddy current test coil arrangements uses one
area of the test specimen as a reference standard against which another
area on the same specimen is simultaneously compared?
a. Single absolute coil
b. Double absolute coil
c. DC saturation Coil
d. Differential coil

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30. Reference standards used for electromagnetic testing:

a. Must contain artificial discontinuities such as notches and drilled holes
b. Must contain natural discontinuities such as cracks and inclusions
c. Must be free of measureable discontinuities
d. May contain artificial or natural discontinuities or be free of
discontinuities depending on the test system and the type of test being
conducted

31. A reference standard used to ensure that the amplitude and phase
characteristics of a test system do not drift during continuous testing is
called a :
a. DGS standard
b. Calibration standard
c. Reference block
d. None of the above

32. Which of the following could not be tested by the eddy current testing
method?
a. A 102 mm (4 in.) thick plate to be tested for small discontinuities
throughout the plate
b. Tubing to be tested for surface cracks
c. Rode to be tested for laps and seams
d. Tubing to the tasted for variations in outside diameter

33. Which of the following is not true about an eddy current test?
a. It can be used for high-speed testing
b. It can accurately measure conductivity
c. It can be set up to provide high sensitivity to small discontinuities
d. It can penetrate up to 152 mm (6 in.) in a test part

34. The entire cross-sectional area of a tube can be evaluated at one time
when using:
a. An encircling coil
b. A probe coil
c. A secondary winding
d. None of the above

35. When attempting to determine the exact circumferential location of a

discontinuity in a tube, the test system should include:
a. A phase shifter
b. A probe coil
c. An attenuator
d. A penetrometer

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36. It is often possible to sort various nonferromagnetic alloys of a metal by

means of a eddy current test when:
a. There is a unique range of permeability
b. There is a unique range o conductivity values for each alloy
c. The direction of induced eddy currents varies for each alloy
d. The magnetic domains for each alloy are different

37. Which of the following products would be most applicable to a test

using an inside coil?
a. Sheet
b. Rod
c. Bolt hole
d. Coating thickness

38. When eddy current testing rod for discontinuities, which of the
following conditions could produce extraneous indications?
a. Improper adjustment of the hold-down rollers used to center the rod in
the coil
b. Feeding rod through the coil at an excessive speed
c. Changes in dimension
d. None of the above

39. One method of reducing non relevant indications when eddy current
testing ferromagnetic materials is to :
a. Decrease the pressure on the hold-down rollers
b. Use a direct current saturation coil to magnetically saturate the test
specimen
c. Readjust the gain control
d. Increase the rate of feed though in the coil

40. In order to generate measurable eddy currents in a test specimen, the

specimen must be:
a. A conductor
b. An insulator
c. Either a conductor or an insulator
d. A ferromagnetic material

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41. When using an encircling coil with both primary and secondary
windings, the excitation alternating current is applied to:
a. The secondary winding
b. The primary winding
c. Either the primary or secondary winding depending on the setting of an
instrument control
d. Both the primary and secondary coils

42. Which of the following is not a readout system used to present eddy
current test information?
a. Alarms
b. Litmus paper
c. Cathode ray tube
d. Digital data storage

43. Which of the following statements best describes the selection of eddy
current test frequency?
a. The frequency must equal the f/fc ration to give an accurate test
b. The frequency must be withing±3% of the f/fc ratio to give an accurate
test
c. There is a range of suitable frequencies centered around the optimum
frequency
d. The frequency should be with ±25% of the characteristic frequency

44. Which of the following options would not have the potential to Improve
the displayed signal-to-noise ratio of a test?
a. Change to a test frequency that will decrease the noise
b. Increase the amplification of the test instrument
c. Improve the fill factor
d. Enable filter functions in the instrument

45. When conducting an eddy current test on tubing the magnitude of the
indication caused by a discontinuity is depended on;
a. The depth of the discontinuity
b. The width of the discontinuity
c. The length of the discontinuity
d. All of the above

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46. A coil’s magnetic field may be viewed as a distribution of lines of flux

around coil. The number of lines in a unit area is defined as:
a. Magnetic probability
b. Flux density
c. Magnetic coupling
d. Hysteresis density

47. Demagnetization is generally needed when the residual field in a

specimen:
a. May affect the operation or accuracy of instruments when the
specimen is placed in service
b. May interfere with the proper functioning of the part
c. Might cause particles to be attracted and held to the surface of moving
parts
d. Any of the above reasons could make demagnetization necessary

48. Eddy current test techniques can be used to:

a. Measure nonmetallic coating thickness on conductors
b. Measure cladding thicknesses (metal)
c. Gage the thickness of conductive sheets
d. All of the above

49. Eddy currents cannot be induced in:

a. Latex paint
b. Aluminum
c. Steel
d. Copper

50. Which of the following statements is not true of ferromagnetic

materials?
a. They have permeability values much greater than 1
b. They do not exhibit any magnetic hysteresis characteristics
c. Thy will have a definite saturation point on a B/H curve
d. They will exhibit some degree of residual magnetism

51. Eddy currents always travel:

a. In circular paths
b. In nonconductive materials
c. Radially when testing rode with an encircling coil
d. In a gas

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52. For online eddy current inspections in a tubing mill, the effective DC
saturation point of ferromagnetic materials is reached t applied to the
saturation coil is set at a value where for any further increase in that
current, the eddy current signal-to-noise ratio will:
a. Start to increase
b. Start to decrease
c. Show no significant change
d. Suddenly drop to zero

53. When sorting on he variation between two distinct alloys, it is desirable

to hold all indications within the bounds of the readout device in order
to:
a. Eliminate overloading
b. Detect the possible existence of a third alloy
c. Make proper balancing possible
d. Phase the readings correctly

54. A term used to define a standardized condition in a device or system

which results in zero output is:
a. High frequency standardization
b. Integration
c. Null of balance
d. Differentiation

55. A term used to describe holes, grooves, notches, etc., that are
introduced into a reference standards to provide accurately
reproducible quality levels is:
a. A natural discontinuity
b. An artificial discontinuity
c. An ellipse
d. None of the above

56. A term used to define one or more turns or loops of a conductor wound
in such a manner as to produce an axial magnetic field when current
passes through the conductor is:
a. A coil
b. A resistor
c. A capacitor
d. An oscillator

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57. Nondestructive tests are commonly conducted to:

a. Determine the quality of finished products
b. Locate defective material before excessive fabrication is performed on
the material
c. Monitor material production techniques and processes
d. All of the above

58. An eddy current coil arrangement that does not make a comparison with
either two sections of the test specimen or one section of the test part
and a reference standard is called:
a. An absolute coil arrangement
b. A self-comparison differential coil arrangement
c. An external reference differential coil arrangement
d. None of the above

59. Which of the following are common applications for eddy current
testing?
a. Measurement of conductivity or a combination of conductivity and
permeability
b. Measurement of the thickness of thin metal sections, cladding or
coating
c. Detection of surface and subsurface discontinuities
d. All of the above

60. Which of the following is not a primary purpose for using an eddy
current standard?
a. To determine if the eddy current test system is capable of performing
the test properly
b. To determine if a discontinuity is a cause for rejection
c. To determine the instrument control settings needed to pass the
highest percentage to test specimens run
d. To determine if the sensitivity of a test system has drifted with time.

61. Material must be reasonably entered in an encircling test coil of a

discontinuity detection system because, even with an acceptable fill
factor ratio:
a. The coil would otherwise be out of balance
b. Parts of the material farthest away from the coil, radially, may receive a
less sensitive inspection
c. The flow of eddy currents around the product will be
d. Lack of proper centering may change the phase adjustment of the
instrument

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62. When you determine that a discontinuity detection instrument has been
set up incorrectly, or is defective, all material:
a. Should be retested since the time that a correct setup or proper
operation was last verified
b. Accepted should be retested
c. Rejected should be retested
d. None of the above

63. An eddy current system will measure variations caused by differences

in:
a. Size or shape
b. Grade or chemistry of the material
c. The way in which the material has been processed
d. All of the above

64. A length of tubing containing a notch of uniform width and depth

running from end to end, when tested with an encircling self-reference
differential coil system, will produce:
a. Erratic signals
b. A continuous, sustained signal
c. No signal change
d. Excessive signals

65. In encircling coil eddy current testing, optimum sensitivity to a known

discontinuity placed at random on the surface of a nonferrous length of
tubing is obtained by:
a. Proper choice of frequency
b. Centering the tubing in the coil
c. Proper adjustment of phase
d. All of the above

66. One principal advantage of spinning probe eddy current testing is:
a. The ability to locate the exact position of discontinuities
b. Its relative insensitivity to permeability variations
c. The variety of internal and surface discontinuities that may be detected
d. All of the above

67. At any given instant, a spinning probe eddy current instrument should
be inspecting:
a. One complete circumference of the product
b. An area defined by the size of the probe coil
c. One longitudinal line the length of the product
d. None of the above

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68. A spinning probe eddy current instrument would be most useful in:
a. Measuring the hardness of ferromagnetic steel products
b. Discontinuity detection in hexagonal and shaped material
c. Detecting and precisely locating surface discontinuities
d. Inspection of copper bus bars for electrical conductivity

69. In a feed through encircling coil eddy current system, a calibration

standard may be used to :
a. Ensure repeatability and reliability of the setup
b. Determine the circumferential extent of a discontinuity
c. Reduce sensitivity to vibration
d. Measure the test frequency

70. What causes phase shift in an eddy current test coil?

a. A change in the ratio of induction reactance (XL) to resistance ®
b. A change in the sensitivity setting of the instrument
c. Use of modulation analysis
d. None of the above

71. In a feed though encircling coil discontinuity detection eddy current

system, what would be the purpose of running a calibration
discontinuity several times but in various positions (such as top,
bottom, left and right)?
a. To check the phase selectivity
b. To ensure proper centering of the material in the test coil
c. To select the modulation analysis setting
d. To select the proper operating speed

72. In a feedthrouh encircling coil eddy current system, DC saturation

would probably be most helpful in testing:
a. Copper water tubing
b. Titanium tubing
c. Ferromagnetic steel tubing
d. Brass rivet wire

73. In an electromagnetic test system, the test frequency is controlled by

the:
a. Oscilloscope
b. Sensitivity setting
c. Oscillator circuit
d. Modulation analysis setting

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74. Variations in the chemical composition of a nonferromagnetic alloy

would most likely affect its:
a. Permeability
b. Conductivity
c. Diameter
d. Frequency

75. Which of the following frequencies will provide the greatest eddy
current penetration in aluminum?
a. 1kHz
b. 10 kHz
c. 3 kHz
d. 300 Hz

76. A symbol commonly used to express conductivity is:

a. µ
b. σ
c. XL
d. R

77. A symbol commonly used to express permeability is:

a. µ
b. σ
c. XL
d. R

78. The method used to generate eddy currents in a test specimen by

means of a coil can most closely be compared with the action of a:
a. Transformer
b. Capacitor
c. Storage battery
d. Generator

79. When eddy current testing a nonferrous specimen, a discontinuity will:

a. Increase the effective conductivity of the specimen
b. Increase the effective permeability of the specimen
c. Decrease the effective conductivity of the specimen
d. None of the above

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80. In multifrequency tubing inspection applications, signal analysis is

most often performed using:
a. Phase angle analysis only
b. Signal amplitude analysis only
c. A careful correlation of both amplitude and phase information
d. The ellipse method

81. When testing tubes with an ID bobbin probe:

a. Low voltage signals indicate insignificant discontinuity depths
b. High voltage signals are always from rejectable discontinuities
c. Signals from supports plates always hide discontinuity signals
d. None of the above is true

82. A multicoil array probe used in a surface scanning application:

a. Should improve detection of localized discontinuities
b. Can cover a large surface area in one pass
c. Might increase the complexity of signal detection and interpretation
d. All of the above

83. Data from the external-reference differential channels of ID bobbin

probe data can be used to detect:
a. Long, gradually tapering discontinuities
b. One-side erosion
c. Temperature differences
d. All of the above

84. Self- comparison differential channels would be best for the detection of
a. Long tapered discontinuities
b. Short abrupt discontinuities
c. Temperature differences
d. All of the above

85. Which of the following affects the characteristic of the primary coil in an
eddy system?
a. The presence of a crack
b. The presence of an edge
c. Change in material properties
d. All of the above

86. Which of the following is applicable to eddy current testing?

a. It can be used to provide high sensitivity to small discontinuities
b. It can be used for high-speed coating
c. It can be used for measure coating thicknesses
d. All of the above

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87. A secondary magnetic field produced by eddy currents induced in a

nonmagnetic conductor close to the inducing coils:
a. Induces a magnetic field parallel to the surface
b. Aids the coil’s magnetic field
c. Opposes the coil’s magnetic field
d. Decreases the frequency of the current

88. A test specimen used as a basis for calibrating test equipment or as a

comparison when evaluating test results in referred to as a:
a. Null-balancer
b. Phase shifter
c. Reference standard
d. High pass filter
89. The process of comparing the reading or output of an instrument,
device or dial with a standard to determine the instrument’s accuracy,
capacity or graduations is referred to as:
a. Calibration
b. Differentiation
c. Integration
d. Phase shifting
90. Figure 1 is an illustration of a material’s:

a. Phase analysis loop

b. Sine wave
c. Hysteresis loop
d. None of the above

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91. Ferromagnetic materials that have been magnetically saturated to

suppress permeability variations may retain a certain amount of the
magnetization. This is called:
a. Coercive force
b. Residual magnetism
c. Hysteresis loop
d. Hysteresis loss

92. An alternating current flowing in a conductor will set up:

a. An alternating current field around the conductor
b. A periodically changing voltage tangent to the conductor
c. An alternating magnetic field around the conductor
d. None of the above.

93. The characteristic of the alternating magnetic field in the vicinity of the
AC coil are affected by:
a. The coil parameters
b. The magnitude of the applied AC current
c. The frequency of the applied AC current
d. All of the above

94. The region around a magnet that attracts other piece of iron or steel is
called:
a. A Maxwell
b. Retentively
c. The magnetic field
d. Alternating current

95. Testing the requires that the test article be loaded and / or sectioned to
verify and/or establish mechanical or physical properties is known as:
a. Impedance testing
b. Phase analysis testing
c. Destructive testing
d. Nondestructive testing

96. The depth of penetration would---------- if the localized permeability of a

material increased.
a. Increase
b. Decrease
c. Remain constant
d. Increase the conductivity

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EDDY CURRENT TESTING

LEVEL I Answers

Ques.no Ans Ques.no Ans Ques.no Ans

1 D 35 B 69 A
2 B 36 B 70 A
3 C 37 C 71 B
4 B 38 D 72 C
5 A 39 B 73 C
6 A 40 A 74 B
7 B 41 B 75 D
8 D 42 B 76 B
9 B 43 C 77 A
10 D 44 B 78 A
11 D 45 D 79 C
12 B 46 B 80 C
13 A 47 D 81 D
14 C 48 D 82 D
15 C 49 A 83 D
16 B 50 B 84 B
17 B 51 A 85 D
18 D 52 C 86 D
19 A 53 B 87 C
20 B 54 C 88 C
21 A 55 B 89 A
22 D 56 A 90 C
23 B 57 D 91 B
24 C 58 A 92 C
25 D 59 D 93 D
26 A 60 C 94 C
27 D 61 B 95 C
28 B 62 A 96 B
29 D 63 D
30 D 64 C
31 B 65 D
32 A 66 A
33 D 67 B
34 A 68 C

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