Engineering Exam Prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 70, Lateral Earth Pressure, Bearing Capacity, Slope Stability

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to differentiate between at-rest (K_0), active (K_a), and passive (K_p) lateral earth pressures and select the correct formula. - A mnemonic to remember that active pressure (wall moves Away) is smaller than passive pressure (wall Pushes). - How to apply Terzaghi's ultimate bearing capacity equation and find the N-factors in the NCEES Handbook. - The most common exam trap for bearing capacity calculations: inconsistent units for soil weight and footing dimensions. - Why slope stability questions on the FE exam focus on the conceptual Factor of Safety rather than complex calculations. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 69, Shear Strength — Mohr-Coulomb and Triaxial

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to apply the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion for different soil types on the FE Civil exam. - The critical difference between drained (effective stress) and undrained (total stress) analysis for clays. - Why the friction angle is considered zero in an undrained analysis of saturated clay. - How to determine undrained shear strength (c_u) from an unconfined compression test result (q_u). - How triaxial test results (σ₁ and σ₃) are used to find the shear strength parameters c and φ. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 68, Consolidation — Cc, Cv, Time Rate

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to calculate the total primary consolidation settlement using the Compression Index (Cc) formula. - The critical importance of correctly calculating initial and final effective vertical stresses at the clay layer's midpoint. - How to use the time factor (Tv) equation to determine how long it will take to reach a certain percentage of consolidation. - The most common exam trap: identifying one-way versus two-way drainage to find the correct drainage path length (H_dr). - Key benchmark values for the time factor, such as Tv = 0.197 for 50% consolidation, which frequently appear on the exam. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 67, Effective Stress Principle

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental effective stress equation is: Effective Stress (σ') = Total Stress (σ) - Pore Water Pressure (u). - Total stress represents the weight of all materials (soil and water) above a point, calculated by summing the unit weight times the thickness for each layer. - Pore water pressure is the pressure from the column of water above a point and is only non-zero below the water table. - A soil's strength and consolidation behavior are governed by effective stress, which is the stress transferred between soil particles, not by total stress. - A common exam trap is capillary rise, where water is drawn above the water table, creating negative pore pressure (suction) and increasing the effective stress. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 66, Permeability and Darcy's Law

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to apply Darcy's Law (q=kiA) to calculate the volumetric flow rate of water through a soil sample. - The correct way to determine the hydraulic gradient (i = Δh/L) and avoid common exam traps related to head loss and flow path length. - How to use a flow net to calculate the total seepage under a structure using the formula Q = kH(Nf/Nd). - To identify critical exam traps such as unit conversions for the coefficient of permeability (k) and correctly counting flow channels (Nf) and equipotential drops (Nd). - The importance of using the cross-sectional area (A) that is perpendicular to the direction of flow in Darcy's Law. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 65, Soil Compaction — Proctor Test, Optimum Moisture

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To differentiate Standard (ASTM D698) and Modified (ASTM D1557) Proctor tests by their compactive energy. - How the compaction curve plots dry unit weight versus water content to find the maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content. - The essential formula for converting total (moist) unit weight to dry unit weight: γ_d = γ_t / (1 + w). - That field compaction requirements are specified as a percentage of the maximum lab density (e.g., 95% of Standard Proctor). - To watch for common exam traps that mix up Standard and Modified test data or confuse moist and dry unit weights. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 64, Phase Diagrams — Void Ratio, Saturation, Unit Weights

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The three-phase soil diagram (solids, water, air) is the foundation for all geotechnical weight-volume problems on the FE Civil exam. - How to master the critical difference between void ratio (e = Vv/Vs) and porosity (n = Vv/V_total), a common exam trap. - Why the relationship Se = wGs is a powerful shortcut for solving for an unknown variable when three of the four properties are given. - How to calculate the three primary unit weights: dry (γd), saturated (γsat), and moist (γ), and know which formulas from the NCEES handbook to apply. - That the submerged unit weight (γ') is simply the saturated unit weight minus the unit weight of water, a key input for effective stress calculations. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 63, Soil Classification — USCS and Atterberg Limits

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical first step in soil classification is determining if it's coarse or fine-grained based on the 50% rule for the No. 200 sieve. - How to classify coarse-grained soils as gravel (G) or sand (S), and then as well-graded (W) or poorly-graded (P) using gradation data. - How to use the Atterberg Limits (LL, PL, and PI) and the Plasticity Chart to classify fine-grained soils. - The function of the A-line and the LL=50 line on the Plasticity Chart to distinguish between clays (C), silts (M), and their plasticity (L or H). - Common exam traps, including soils with 5-12% fines that require dual symbols and how to classify soils that plot directly on the A-line. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 62, Slabs and Development Length

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to differentiate between one-way and two-way slabs using the long-to-short side ratio of 2.0. - Why one-way slabs are analyzed as wide beams with load transfer occurring primarily in the short direction. - The definition of development length (l_d) and its importance for achieving the rebar's full yield strength. - How to identify and apply the critical 'top-bar' modification factor of 1.3 in development length calculations. - The relationship between splice length and development length for Class A (1.0 * l_d) and Class B (1.3 * l_d) tension splices. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 61, Reinforced Concrete Columns — Tied vs Spiral, Interaction

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The key difference between tied and spiral columns and why spirals are more ductile. - How to apply the correct strength reduction factors (φ): 0.65 for tied and 0.75 for spiral columns. - To master the formula for nominal axial capacity (Pn) and the adjustment factor for maximum capacity (α = 0.80 for tied, 0.85 for spiral). - How to interpret a P-M interaction diagram to check column adequacy for combined axial load and moment. - To recognize common exam traps like using the incorrect φ factor or misinterpreting the boundary of an interaction diagram. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 60, Reinforced Concrete Beams — Whitney Stress Block

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to apply the Whitney Stress Block to find the moment capacity of a reinforced concrete beam. - The critical equilibrium equation, C = T, that forms the basis of the calculation. - A step-by-step process for solving for the design moment capacity, φMn, in an exam-style problem. - Common traps on the FE Civil exam, including unit conversions (psi vs. ksi, kip-in vs. kip-ft) and using effective depth 'd'. - How to use the strength reduction factor, φ, to convert nominal strength to design strength. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 59, Steel Connections — Bolts (Bearing vs Slip-Critical) and Welds

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental difference in load transfer between bearing-type (shear and bearing) and slip-critical (friction) bolted connections. - How to identify critical failure modes for bearing connections, such as bolt shear and plate bearing, as presented in the NCEES Handbook. - The importance of correctly identifying bolt type (A325 vs. A490) and the number of shear planes for accurate capacity calculations. - Why the effective throat (0.707 x leg size), not the leg size itself, is the critical dimension for calculating fillet weld strength. - The method for calculating required weld length based on electrode strength (e.g., E70XX) and the effective throat area. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 58, Steel Column Design — Slenderness and Buckling

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to correctly calculate the slenderness ratio (KL/r) for steel columns. - The importance of selecting the correct effective length factor (K) based on column end conditions. - Why the weak-axis radius of gyration (r_y) is the critical value for buckling in unbraced wide-flange shapes. - How to apply the AISC threshold of 4.71√(E/F_y) to distinguish between elastic (slender) and inelastic (stocky) buckling. - How to avoid common FE exam traps, such as unit conversions and selecting the incorrect buckling stress formula. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 57, Steel Beam Design — Plastic Modulus and LTB

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The difference between the plastic modulus (Z) and elastic modulus (S), and how to calculate the plastic moment (Mp). - How Lateral-Torsional Buckling (LTB) can reduce a steel beam's capacity based on its unbraced length (Lb). - The three LTB zones defined by the limiting lengths Lp and Lr, and which equations to apply for each. - To avoid the common exam trap of selecting the full plastic moment (Mp) as the answer when LTB controls the design. - The importance of unit consistency, especially converting the final moment from kip-inches to kip-feet. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 56, Loads — Dead, Live, Wind, Snow, Seismic per ASCE 7

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to calculate the distributed dead load of a structural member using its dimensions and material density. - That live loads are provided on the exam and depend on the specific building occupancy described in the problem. - The difference between seismic weight (W) and wind load (W), a common source of confusion on the exam. - How environmental loads (Snow, Wind, Seismic) are tested using simplified formulas found in the NCEES Handbook. - The process of applying ASCE 7 factored load combinations to determine the controlling design load for a structural element. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 55, ASD vs LRFD — Load Combinations and Factors

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The core design philosophy of Allowable Stress Design (ASD) and its reliance on a single factor of safety. - The fundamental equation for Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) and how it accounts for uncertainty on both the load and resistance sides. - How to apply the correct load and resistance factors for a typical FE Civil exam problem involving dead and live loads. - The most common exam traps, such as forgetting to divide by the resistance factor (phi) or mixing up ASD and LRFD principles. - A simple mnemonic to distinguish between the two design methods and remember which factors apply to which side of the equation. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 54, Stormwater Detention Sizing and Culvert Hydraulics

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental principle of detention basins: limiting post-development outflow to pre-development rates. - How to apply the storage routing equation: Change in Storage = Inflow Volume - Outflow Volume. - The key differences between inlet control and outlet control for culvert hydraulics. - The critical rule for determining the controlling flow condition in a culvert: the condition requiring the higher headwater depth governs. - How to navigate the NCEES FE Reference Handbook to find culvert design nomographs and storage equations. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 53, Unit Hydrograph and Storm Hydrograph

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A unit hydrograph represents the direct runoff from exactly one inch (or cm) of effective rainfall over a specific duration. - To calculate a storm hydrograph, you multiply the unit hydrograph's flow rates by the actual depth of effective rainfall. - The most frequent exam trap is using total rainfall instead of effective rainfall; always subtract infiltration and other losses first. - The principle of linear superposition requires that the storm's rainfall duration matches the specified duration of the unit hydrograph. - Total streamflow is the sum of direct runoff (from the storm hydrograph) and the baseflow present in the channel. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 52, Hydrologic Cycle and the Rational Method Q = CiA

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The direct application of the Rational Method formula, Q = CiA, for peak runoff calculations. - The critical importance of using the correct, non-intuitive units: cubic feet per second (cfs) for Q, inches/hour for rainfall intensity (i), and acres for area (A). - How to calculate a weighted-average runoff coefficient (C) for watersheds with multiple surface types, a common exam scenario. - The definition and function of the Time of Concentration (tc) and how it is used to determine rainfall intensity from IDF curves. - How to spot common exam traps like unit conversions for the area and distinguishing between rainfall intensity and total rainfall depth. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 51, Open Channel Flow — Manning's Equation

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That Manning's equation has two forms; the 1.49 constant must only be used for US Customary units, while SI units use a constant of 1.0. - How to correctly calculate the hydraulic radius (R) as the flow area (A) divided by the wetted perimeter (P), ensuring not to include the top water surface in the perimeter. - To anticipate exam questions that require rearranging Manning's equation, often combined with Q = VA, to solve for variables like slope (S) or normal depth (y). - That the Manning's roughness coefficient (n) is an empirical value based on channel material that will be provided or found in a table in the NCEES handbook. - The critical difference between normal depth (calculated with Manning's equation for uniform flow) and critical depth (related to minimum specific energy and Froude number = 1), a common source of confusion on the exam. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 50, Pump Curves, System Curves, NPSH and Cavitation

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to find the system's operating point by intersecting the pump curve and system curve. - The critical difference between fluid power and brake horsepower, including the role of pump efficiency. - How the system curve is determined by static head and dynamic (friction) losses. - The definition of cavitation and why Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) Available must always be greater than NPSH Required. - Common exam traps involving high altitudes or high fluid temperatures that can reduce NPSHA and cause cavitation. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 49, Pipe Flow — Major Losses (Darcy, Hazen-Williams) vs Minor Losses

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental difference between major losses (pipe friction) and minor losses (fittings, valves, bends). - How to decide whether to use the universal Darcy-Weisbach equation or the water-only Hazen-Williams equation. - The correct procedure for using the Reynolds number and Moody Diagram to find the Darcy friction factor 'f'. - Common FE exam traps, including fluid type limitations for Hazen-Williams and unit consistency. - The methodology for calculating total system head loss by summing the major loss with all individual minor losses. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 48, Reynolds Number and the Moody Diagram

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to calculate the Reynolds Number and ensure unit consistency, a common exam trap. - The critical thresholds for laminar and turbulent flow as defined in the NCEES FE Reference Handbook. - A step-by-step process for finding the friction factor using the Moody Diagram with relative roughness (ε/D). - How to apply the Darcy-Weisbach equation to calculate frictional head loss in a pipe system. - A mnemonic to remember the workflow: Reynolds number, flow regime, Moody diagram, and head loss calculation. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 47, Continuity, Bernoulli, and Momentum

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The Continuity Equation (A1V1 = A2V2) applies to incompressible flow and shows how fluid velocity must increase as the cross-sectional area decreases. - Bernoulli's equation is a statement of energy conservation for an ideal fluid, balancing pressure head, velocity head, and elevation head, but it is only valid for steady, incompressible, and frictionless flow. - The Momentum Equation (F = ρQΔV) is used to calculate forces exerted by moving fluids, such as on pipe bends or vanes, and requires vector analysis. - A common exam trap is misapplying Bernoulli's equation where friction is present; in such cases, the full Energy Equation with a head loss term is necessary. - Remember that velocity and force in the Momentum Equation are vectors; always break the problem down into x and y components to solve for resultant forces correctly. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 46, Buoyancy and Stability — Metacentric Height

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to apply Archimedes' principle to find the submerged depth of a floating object. - The definition and significance of metacentric height (GM) for determining the stability of floating bodies. - The step-by-step process to calculate GM using the formula from the NCEES FE Reference Handbook. - Common exam traps, including confusing the center of gravity (G) with the center of buoyancy (B) and selecting the correct moment of inertia. - A mnemonic, "GM Positive is Positively Stable," to quickly recall the stability criteria. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 45, Hydrostatic Pressure on Submerged Surfaces

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The resultant hydrostatic force on a submerged plane is calculated using the pressure at the area's centroid. - The center of pressure, where the resultant force acts, is always located at a point deeper than the centroid of the area. - How to distinguish between vertical depth (h_c) and inclined distance (y_c) to the centroid, a common source of error on the exam. - For curved surfaces, forces must be resolved into separate horizontal and vertical components for analysis. - The vertical force component on a submerged curved surface is equal to the weight of the fluid column directly above it. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 44, Fluid Properties — Density, Viscosity, Surface Tension

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between mass density (ρ) and specific weight (γ) is the inclusion of gravity (g), a common exam tripwire. - Specific gravity (SG) is a unitless ratio comparing a substance's density to that of water, simplifying calculations with water's known constants (62.4 lb/ft³ or 9,810 N/m³). - Differentiating between dynamic viscosity (μ) and kinematic viscosity (ν) is crucial; always check the units given in the problem (e.g., Pa·s vs. m²/s) to select the correct formula. - Exam problems test viscosity primarily through Reynolds number calculations, where using the wrong viscosity leads to an incorrect flow regime classification. - The Bulk Modulus (K) quantifies a fluid's compressibility; a high K value, like water's, signifies that it can be treated as incompressible for most FE exam problems. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 43, Steel — ASTM Grades, Modulus, Heat Treatment

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The key ASTM steel grades and their yield strengths: A36 (36 ksi), A992 (50 ksi), and Grade 60 rebar (60 ksi). - That the modulus of elasticity (E) for all structural steels is a constant 29,000 ksi, regardless of yield strength. - How to avoid the common exam trap confusing a steel's strength with its stiffness. - The purpose of different heat treatment processes: Annealing (softens), Quenching (hardens), and Tempering (toughens). - To recognize Brinell, Rockwell, and Vickers as the names of standard material hardness tests. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 42, Concrete — Compressive Strength f'c and Mix Design

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The specified compressive strength, f'c, is the 28-day strength used to calculate the modulus of elasticity, Ec. - The NCEES FE Reference Handbook formula for Modulus of Elasticity is Ec = 57,000√f'c, where f'c must be in psi. - The water-cement (w/c) ratio is the most critical factor controlling concrete strength; a lower ratio results in higher strength. - Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension, which is why steel reinforcement is essential to handle tensile forces. - A common exam trap is a unit mismatch, such as using ksi instead of psi for f'c in the modulus of elasticity formula. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 41, Stress-Strain Curves — Yield, Ultimate, Ductile vs Brittle

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to identify the five key regions of a stress-strain curve: elastic, yielding, strain hardening, necking, and fracture. - The specific definitions of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength and how to locate them on the diagram. - The visual difference between ductile materials (like steel) and brittle materials (like cast iron) on a stress-strain curve. - Common FE exam questions, such as calculating the Modulus of Elasticity from the linear portion of the curve. - A mnemonic to easily remember the sequence of events on the curve: Every Young Student Understands Failure. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 40, Mohr's Circle and Combined Loading

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to correctly plot the initial stress state on Mohr's Circle using the NCEES sign convention for shear stress. - The formulas for calculating the circle's center (average normal stress) and its radius (maximum in-plane shear stress). - How to determine the principal stresses, which are the maximum and minimum normal stresses, directly from the circle's geometry. - The application of the superposition principle for combined loading problems to find the initial stresses needed for Mohr's Circle. - The critical relationship that a rotation of theta on a stress element corresponds to a rotation of 2-theta on Mohr's Circle. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 39, Shear and Moment Diagrams — Sign Convention Trap

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The NCEES sign convention: Positive shear is down on the right face of a cut, and positive moment causes a beam to sag like a smile. - The graphical relationship where the slope of the shear diagram equals the negative of the distributed load intensity (dV/dx = -w). - The critical shear-moment relationship: The slope of the moment diagram equals the shear force value (dM/dx = V). - How to find maximum moment: The maximum bending moment always occurs at the point where the shear force diagram crosses zero. - The concentrated moment trap: A clockwise applied moment causes an immediate upward jump in the moment diagram, a common point of confusion. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 38, Beam Bending — Flexure Formula and Section Modulus

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The flexure formula, σ = Mc/I, is used to find the maximum bending stress at the outermost fiber of a beam's cross-section. - Section modulus (S = I/c) simplifies the stress calculation to σ = M/S and represents a beam's geometric efficiency in resisting bending. - A critical exam trap is failing to convert the bending moment (M) from kip-feet to kip-inches before calculating stress in kips per square inch (ksi). - For beam design problems, calculate the required section modulus (S_req = M/σ_allow) and then select the lightest W-shape from the NCEES Handbook tables that meets or exceeds this value. - The distance 'c' in the flexure formula is always the distance from the neutral axis to the extreme fiber, which is half the total depth for symmetric cross-sections. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 37, Torsion of Circular Shafts — Stress, Twist, Power

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to calculate maximum shear stress in a shaft and avoid the common radius versus diameter trap. - The correct application of the polar moment of inertia (J) for both solid and hollow circular shafts. - How to find the angle of twist and the critical final step of converting radians to degrees. - The essential unit conversion from RPM to radians per second required for all power transmission problems. - A simple mnemonic, "The Lazy Jay Goose," to easily recall the angle of twist formula, φ = TL/JG. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 36, Thermal Stress and Strain

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Understand that thermal strain (ε = αΔT) occurs with any temperature change, but thermal stress (σ = EαΔT) only develops if the object is constrained. - Recognize that a temperature increase in a constrained member results in compressive stress, while a temperature decrease results in tensile stress. - Be prepared to look up the Modulus of Elasticity (E) and the coefficient of thermal expansion (α) in the NCEES FE Reference Handbook. - Watch out for distractor information in exam problems, such as the initial length of a member when only stress is required. - Remember the key phrase: "No constraint, no stress" to avoid the common trap of calculating stress for a freely expanding object. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 35, Axial Stress and Strain, Hooke's Law, Poisson's Ratio

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to apply the fundamental axial stress formula, σ = P/A, and avoid common unit conversion traps between ksi and psi. - The critical difference between axial strain (ε = δ/L) and absolute deformation (δ), a frequent point of confusion on the exam. - How to use Hooke's Law (σ = Eε) to derive and apply the essential deformation formula δ = PL/AE, using the mnemonic "PLEA". - The concept and application of Poisson's Ratio (ν = -ε_lateral/ε_axial) to solve for changes in a member's cross-sectional dimensions. - How to integrate these concepts to solve multi-step problems, such as finding the final diameter of a rod under axial load. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 34, Mass Moment of Inertia and Rotational Kinetic Energy

Sun, 31 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between mass moment of inertia (resistance to rotation) and area moment of inertia (resistance to bending). - How to use NCEES Handbook formulas for common shapes like disks and rods and when to apply the Parallel Axis Theorem. - The correct application of the Parallel Axis Theorem (I = Ic + Md²) for objects rotating about a non-centroidal axis. - Calculating total kinetic energy for a rolling body by combining translational (½mv²) and rotational (½Iω²) components. - Essential unit conversions to avoid exam traps, specifically converting pounds-force (lbf) to slugs and RPM to radians per second. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 33, Vibration — Natural Frequency, SDOF, Damping

Sat, 30 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to calculate the natural circular frequency (ω_n), period (T), and frequency (f) for an undamped SDOF system. - The critical importance of converting weight (lbf) to mass (slugs) and maintaining consistent units (USCS or SI). - The definition of the damping ratio (ζ) as the ratio of actual damping to critical damping (c/c_c). - How to classify a system as underdamped (ζ < 1), critically damped (ζ = 1), or overdamped (ζ > 1). - To identify the oscillatory behavior of underdamped systems versus the non-oscillatory return of critically damped and overdamped systems. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 32, Rigid Body Rotation — Angular Motion and Instantaneous Center

Fri, 29 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to relate angular velocity (ω) and acceleration (α) to the linear motion of any point on a rigid body. - The correct application of the rotational kinetics equation, ΣM = Iα, for problems involving pure rotation. - The concept of the Instantaneous Center of Zero Velocity (ICZV) to dramatically simplify velocity analysis. - How to identify and avoid common exam traps like unit conversions (RPM to rad/s) and sign conventions. - The special case of rolling without slipping, where the contact point with the surface acts as the ICZV. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 31, Rectilinear and Curvilinear Motion

Thu, 28 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The key differences between rectilinear (straight-line) and curvilinear (curved path) motion for the FE Civil exam. - How to apply normal-tangential (n-t) coordinates to calculate acceleration for particles on a curved path. - The crucial distinction between tangential acceleration (at), which changes speed, and normal acceleration (an), which changes direction. - A common exam trap: recognizing that even with constant speed on a curve, the normal acceleration (v²/ρ) is non-zero. - How to locate and use the correct particle kinematics equations in the Dynamics section of the NCEES FE Reference Handbook. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 30, Centroids, Moments of Inertia, and Friction

Wed, 27 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To calculate composite centroids by treating removed sections as negative areas in the weighted average summation. - The parallel axis theorem, I = Ic + Ad², is essential for finding the moment of inertia of composite shapes, where 'd' is the distance from the component's centroid to the overall composite centroid. - That static friction is a variable force up to a maximum (μsN), while kinetic friction is a constant value (μkN) once motion begins. - To always check if the applied force overcomes maximum static friction before applying the kinetic friction formula. - In the belt friction formula, T2/T1 = e^(μβ), the wrap angle β must be converted from degrees to radians. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 29, Frames and Machines — Multi-Force Members

Tue, 26 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The fundamental difference between a frame (a stationary structure) and a machine (a structure with moving parts). - The primary analysis method for these structures: disassembling them at the pins and drawing a Free Body Diagram for each component. - How to apply Newton's Third Law at pin connections, where interaction forces between members are equal and opposite. - The critical shortcut of identifying a two-force member to simplify the direction of unknown forces. - A common exam trap: incorrectly assuming a member is a two-force member when an intermediate load is applied. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 28, Trusses — Method of Joints vs Method of Sections

Mon, 25 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - When to choose the Method of Joints versus the Method of Sections to save time on the FE Civil exam. - The critical "two-unknown" limit for the Method of Joints and how to apply it by starting at the correct joint. - How to use the Method of Sections by making a cut through a maximum of three members to find specific forces quickly. - The importance of always calculating the external support reactions as the first step in any truss problem. - How to identify zero-force members to simplify the problem before starting calculations. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 27, Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies and Statical Determinacy

Sun, 24 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to apply the three fundamental equations of equilibrium for 2D rigid bodies. - The specific number of unknown reactions associated with pin, roller, and fixed supports. - The method to classify a structure as statically determinate, indeterminate, or unstable by comparing reactions to equations. - A critical exam strategy to solve for support reactions efficiently by summing moments about a pin support first. - How to avoid a common exam trap involving roller supports on inclined surfaces. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Civil Exam Prep 26, Resultants of Force Systems — 2D and 3D

Sat, 23 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to resolve 2D forces into Rx and Ry components to find the resultant magnitude and direction. - The critical exam trap of determining the correct quadrant for the resultant angle based on the signs of the force components. - The extension of resultant calculations to 3D systems by including the z-component for both force and direction. - The key difference between concurrent systems (only a resultant force) and non-concurrent systems (a resultant force and a resultant moment). - That a couple creates a pure moment with zero resultant force, allowing its effect to be applied anywhere on a body. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 25, Impulse-Momentum and Coefficient of Restitution

Fri, 22 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to apply the principle of conservation of momentum (m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1' + m2v2') to solve collision problems. - The correct formula for the coefficient of restitution, e = (v2' − v1') / (v1 − v2), and its application. - The key differences between elastic (e=1), inelastic (e<1), and perfectly plastic (e=0) collisions. - Common FE exam traps including sign conventions for velocity vectors and the specific subscript order in the restitution formula. - A mnemonic ('2 minus 1 over 1 minus 2') to correctly remember the structure of the coefficient of restitution equation. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 24, Work-Energy Theorem and Conservation of Energy

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The Work-Energy Theorem states that the net work performed on an object is equal to its change in kinetic energy (W_net = ΔKE). - How to apply the full conservation of energy equation, including non-conservative forces like friction (KE₁ + PE₁ + W_other = KE₂ + PE₂). - Why defining a consistent zero-potential energy reference point, or datum, is a critical first step in solving energy problems. - That the work done by friction is always a negative value, as it removes energy from the system, and is calculated as W_friction = -μ_k * N * d. - On an inclined plane, the normal force (N) is a component of the object's weight, calculated as N = mgcos(θ), which is crucial for finding the friction force. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 23, Kinematics — Constant Acceleration and Projectile Motion

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to break down projectile motion problems into independent horizontal and vertical components. - The critical mistake of using the standard range formula for uneven ground and how to correctly solve for time of flight. - To apply the three fundamental constant acceleration equations found in the NCEES FE Reference Handbook. - How to identify common exam traps, such as incorrectly calculating total flight time or misusing sign conventions for acceleration. - The definition and application of the relative velocity equation for solving kinematics problems involving multiple moving objects. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 22, Newton's Laws and Free Body Diagram Discipline

Tue, 19 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That mastering the Free Body Diagram (FBD) is the most critical first step for solving FE statics and dynamics problems; it requires isolating the body and drawing all external forces. - How Newton's First Law (ΣF = 0) provides the basis for the three equilibrium equations (ΣFx = 0, ΣFy = 0, ΣM = 0) used to solve all 2D statics problems. - To apply Newton's Second Law (ΣF = ma) for dynamics problems where the net forces cause acceleration, using the FBD as the starting point. - How to avoid common exam traps by correctly identifying support reactions: a roller has one force, a pin has two forces, and a fixed support has two forces and a moment. - A simple mnemonic for FBDs: I-A-R-E (Isolate, Applied Loads/Reactions, Axes, Equilibrium equations) to ensure a systematic approach. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 21, Significant Figures and Sanity Checks

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The rule of thumb for matching significant figures to input data on the FE Exam. - How to use order-of-magnitude estimates to perform a sanity check and catch decimal errors. - The importance of meticulous unit cancellation to validate your equation setup. - How to spot common exam traps involving numerical precision and mixed unit systems. - A memorable mnemonic, U-S-E (Units, Significant Figures, Estimate), to verify your answers before finalizing. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 20, SI vs US Customary — lbm vs lbf and the gc Factor

Sun, 17 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between pound-mass (lbm) for mass and pound-force (lbf) for force. - Why and when to use the gravitational conversion factor, gc, which is 32.174 lbm·ft/(lbf·s²). - How to correctly apply Newton's Second Law (F=ma) and energy equations (KE, PE) in US Customary units. - The common exam trap involving weight calculations where local gravity (g) is not equal to standard gravity. - Where to find gc in the NCEES FE Reference Handbook and how to spot questions requiring it. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 19, Descriptive Statistics — Mean, Median, Variance, Confidence Intervals

Sat, 16 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between mean and median and why the FE exam tests this with skewed data. - How to identify whether to use the sample (n-1) or population (N) formula for variance, a common exam trap. - The distinction between standard deviation and variance and why units matter on the exam. - The decision criteria for using a z-statistic versus a t-statistic when calculating confidence intervals. - How to quickly find and apply the correct values, like the z-value of 1.96 for a 95% confidence interval, using the NCEES Reference Handbook. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 18, Probability Distributions — Binomial, Normal, Poisson

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to quickly differentiate between Binomial, Normal, and Poisson distribution problems on the FE exam. - The correct application of the Binomial formula for scenarios with a fixed number of success/failure trials. - How to use the z-score and the NCEES FE Reference Handbook's z-table to solve Normal distribution questions. - The method for solving Poisson distribution problems involving event rates over a specific interval. - How to identify common exam traps, such as questions with "at least/at most" phrasing and problems with mismatched rate intervals. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 17, Vectors in 3-Space — Magnitude, Unit Vectors, Direction Cosines

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to calculate the magnitude of a 3D vector using its i, j, and k components. - The definition of a unit vector and how to compute it by dividing a vector by its magnitude. - The direct relationship between a unit vector's components and the direction cosines (cosα, cosβ, cosγ). - The essential identity that the sum of the squares of the direction cosines equals one. - Common FE exam traps, such as sign errors, and confusing direction angles with direction cosines. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 16, Matrix Operations — Determinants, Inverse, Eigenvalues

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to quickly calculate 2x2 and 3x3 determinants using cofactor expansion as found in the NCEES Handbook. - The critical role of the determinant in finding a matrix inverse and why a determinant of zero means no inverse exists. - The setup and solution of the characteristic equation, det(A − λI) = 0, to find a matrix's eigenvalues. - Why matrix multiplication is not commutative (AB ≠ BA) and how this can be a trick on the exam. - How to efficiently solve systems of linear equations (Ax = b) using your calculator and the concept of the matrix inverse. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 15, Differential Equations — First and Second Order, Laplace

Tue, 12 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to solve first-order linear differential equations using the integrating factor method from the NCEES Handbook. - The procedure for solving second-order homogeneous differential equations by finding the roots of the characteristic equation. - The specific solution forms for the three cases of characteristic equation roots: real and distinct, real and repeated, and complex conjugate. - A common exam trap involving the missing 'x' multiplier in the solution for repeated roots. - When to apply Laplace transforms on the FE exam, particularly for problems with discontinuous inputs found in dynamics or circuits. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 14, Integral Calculus — Substitution, Parts, Common Forms

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to properly select 'u' for u-substitution by finding a function whose derivative is also in the integrand. - To apply the LIATE mnemonic (Log, Inverse, Algebraic, Trig, Exponential) to correctly choose 'u' for integration by parts. - The critical exam strategy of always checking the NCEES Reference Handbook for common integral forms before attempting other methods. - Common exam traps like mishandling limits of integration in definite integrals and sign errors in the integration by parts formula. - That a definite integral is fundamentally asking for the net area under a curve between two points. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 13, Differential Calculus — Critical Points, L'Hopital, Partials

Sun, 10 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to find critical points by setting the first derivative to zero or finding where it's undefined. - The Second Derivative Test: a positive result means a local minimum (concave up), and a negative result means a local maximum (concave down). - L'Hopital's Rule is only for indeterminate forms (0/0 or ∞/∞) and requires differentiating the numerator and denominator separately. - The core technique for partial derivatives: treat all other variables as constants and differentiate normally. - A common exam trap is misapplying the quotient rule to L'Hopital's Rule or forgetting to check for an indeterminate form first. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 12, Analytic Geometry — Conics, Distance, Vectors

Sat, 09 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to find a circle's center and radius from its general form by completing the square. - The primary application of the vector dot product on the FE exam: finding the angle between two vectors. - The physical meaning of the cross product's magnitude (area) and its result (a perpendicular vector). - How to apply the 3D distance formula, a common exam-style extension of the 2D formula. - A mnemonic to distinguish between the scalar result of a dot product and the vector result of a cross product. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 11, Depreciation — Straight-Line, MACRS, Book Value

Fri, 08 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Straight-line depreciation is a simple method calculated as (Initial Cost - Salvage Value) / Useful Life. - MACRS is an accelerated, tax-based depreciation method that uses percentage factors from tables in the NCEES Reference Handbook. - A critical exam trap is to remember that salvage value is always ignored in MACRS calculations, even if provided in the problem. - Book value represents the remaining value of an asset and is calculated as the Initial Cost - Accumulated Depreciation. - To calculate book value with MACRS, you must sum the annual depreciation amounts from each year up to the point in question. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 10, NPV, IRR, Benefit-Cost Ratio — When Each Wins

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why Net Present Value (NPV) is the definitive method for ranking mutually exclusive projects. - How to avoid the common FE exam trap of incorrectly choosing a project based on the highest Internal Rate of Return (IRR) or Benefit-Cost (B/C) ratio. - The specific accept/reject criteria for a single project using NPV (>0), IRR (>MARR), and B/C Ratio (>1). - Why IRR and B/C ratios can be misleading when comparing projects of different investment scales. - A memorable shortcut to recall the correct decision method: "N-P-V for the V-I-P (Very Important Project)." For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 9, Time Value of Money — P/F, F/P, P/A, A/P, A/F, F/A Notation

Wed, 06 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to interpret standard time value of money factor notation (X/Y, i, n) as 'Find X, Given Y'. - The application of single payment factors (P/F, F/P) versus uniform series factors (P/A, A/P, F/A, A/F). - How to solve loan payment and future goal savings problems using the Capital Recovery (A/P) and Sinking Fund (A/F) factors. - To identify the most common exam trap: mismatched interest compounding periods and payment periods. - A simple mnemonic, 'Want over Got,' to quickly select the correct TVM factor from the NCEES Handbook. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 8, EIT Path to PE — State Variations

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The standard requirement for PE licensure is typically four years of progressive engineering experience under a PE after passing the FE exam. - Many states offer experience credit for advanced degrees, such as one year for a master's or two for a doctorate, but rules vary significantly. - Some states have "decoupled" the PE exam from the experience requirement, allowing you to take the test early, though licensure is still granted only after experience is complete. - States like California have unique requirements, including fewer years of experience but additional state-specific exams on topics like seismic principles. - The most common mistake is assuming rules are the same everywhere; you must always verify requirements directly with your specific state's licensing board. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 7, Conflicts of Interest, Gifts, and Disclosure

Mon, 04 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Engineers must disclose any known or potential conflict of interest to their employer or client, including financial, familial, or prior business relationships. - Accepting gifts of more than 'nominal value' is prohibited if there is a risk it could influence, or appear to influence, your professional judgment. - Receiving payment from multiple parties for the same service requires full written disclosure and consent from all interested parties. - The NCEES Reference Handbook's 'Ethics and Professional Practice' section is the definitive guide for these situational questions on the FE exam. - A key exam strategy for ethics questions is to always choose the path of greatest transparency and disclosure. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 6, NCEES Model Rules — Hold Paramount Public Safety

Sun, 03 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The engineer's first and foremost responsibility is to safeguard the public's health, safety, and welfare. - This paramount duty overrides all other obligations, including loyalty to an employer, client demands, or project budgets. - FE exam questions test this concept through situational scenarios involving conflicts of interest, pressure to compromise standards, and confidentiality dilemmas. - A common exam trap involves choosing an answer that delegates or ignores your personal ethical responsibility; the correct action is to refuse to comply with unsafe directives and report them through proper channels. - Use the mnemonic "Public over Paycheck" to quickly identify the correct course of action in complex ethics questions. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 5, Scoring, Cut Score, and Retake Strategy

Sat, 02 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The FE exam is strictly pass/fail; you will not receive a numerical score. - The passing standard is set by subject matter experts using the Modified Angoff method, not a fixed percentage. - A failing result includes a diagnostic report showing your performance by subject area compared to passing candidates. - NCEES policy allows one attempt per testing window and a maximum of three attempts in a 12-month period. - The most effective retake strategy involves using your diagnostic report to focus study efforts on your weakest areas. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 4, Navigating the Reference Handbook v10.0.1

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why the NCEES FE Reference Handbook is a navigation test, not a memory test. - How to use the Ctrl+F search function as your primary problem-solving strategy. - To identify and avoid common exam traps related to unit conversions and formula selection. - The importance of downloading and practicing exclusively with the official, current PDF version. - A mental shortcut, "Search, Don't Scroll," to maximize your speed and efficiency during the exam. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 3, NCEES-Approved Calculators — HP 35s, TI-36X Pro, Casio fx-115/991

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The exact NCEES-approved calculator models for the FE exam (TI-36X Pro, Casio fx-115/991, HP 35s) and why graphing calculators are banned. - How to use advanced functions like matrix solvers and complex number operations to save critical time on exam problems. - The most common and costly calculator mistake involving Degrees and Radians mode that can invalidate your calculations. - The consequences of bringing a non-approved calculator to the test center and the importance of checking the official NCEES list. - A memorable mnemonic (M.O.D.E.) to ensure your calculator is always set up correctly to avoid unforced errors. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 2, CBT Mechanics — Pearson VUE Check-in, On-Screen Calculator, Breaks

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:05:24 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Arrive 30 minutes early with a valid, government-issued photo ID that exactly matches your NCEES registration name. - The 6-hour appointment includes a tutorial and a 25-minute scheduled break, with 5 hours and 20 minutes of actual testing time. - Rely on your own NCEES-approved physical calculator, as the provided on-screen version is inefficient for exam conditions. - The exam clock does not stop for unscheduled breaks, so any time away from your seat is time lost on the exam. - Use the 'flag for review' feature to manage your time, ensuring you answer all questions you know before returning to more difficult ones. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep

FE Exam Prep 1, What the FE Exam Is and Who Should Take It

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:58:00 -0700

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The FE exam is a 110-question, 5-hour and 20-minute computer-based test, representing the first step toward PE licensure. - While eligibility varies by state, the strategic time to take the exam is during your senior year of an ABET-accredited engineering program. - Passing the exam grants you the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI) designation, a key credential for your early career. - A common exam trap is underestimating the NCEES Reference Handbook; success hinges on your speed and efficiency in using this searchable PDF. - The exam is comprehensive, covering the broad range of subjects from a typical undergraduate engineering curriculum. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep