FE Exam Specifications - Mechanical Exam

Current (Paper Based) Beginning Jan. 2014 (CBT)

Indicates topic that was removed from specifications Indicates topic that was added to specifications
Indicates topic that was moved Indicates topic that was moved

AM 120 Questions, PM 60 Questions. Each part Portion Portion Knowledge (Number of Questions) 110 questions
weighted 50%. AM/PM of Exam total Change
AM I. Mathematics 15% 7.5% 1. Mathematics (6-9) 6% -1.5%
A. Analytic geometry A. Analytic geometry
B. Integral calculus B. Calculus
C. Matrix operations C. Linear algebra
D. Roots of equations D. Vector analysis
E. Vector analysis E. Differential equations
F. Differential equations F. Numerical Methods
G. Differential calculus
AM II. Engineering Probability and Statistics 7% 3.5% 2. Probability and Statistics (4–6) 4% 0.5%
A. Measures of central tendencies and dispersions (e.g., mean,
A. Probability distributions
mode, standard deviation)
B. Probability distributions (e.g., discrete, continuous, normal,
B. Regression and curve fitting
binomial)
C. Conditional probabilities

D. Estimation (e.g., point, confidence intervals) for a single mean

E. Regression and curve fitting

F. Expected value (weighted average) in decision-making

G. Hypothesis testing
AM III. Chemistry 9% 4.5% Chemistry eliminated from specifications -4.5%
A. Nomenclature
B. Oxidation and reduction
C. Periodic table
D. States of matter
E. Acids and bases
F. Equations (e.g., stoichiometry)
G. Equilibrium
H. Metals and nonmetals
AM IV. Computers 7% 3.5% 3. Computational Tools (3-5) 3% -0.5%
A. Terminology (e.g., memory types, CPU, baud rates, Internet) A. Spreadsheets
B. Spreadsheets (e.g., addresses, interpretation, “what if,”
B. Flowcharts
copying formulas)
C. Structured programming (e.g., assignment statements, loops
and branches, function calls)
AM V. Ethics and Business Practices 7% 3.5% 4. Ethics and Professional Practice (3-5) 3% -0.5%
A. Code of ethics (professional and technical societies) A. Codes of ethics

B. Agreements and contracts B. Agreements and contracts

C. Ethical versus legal C. Ethical and legal considerations
D. Professional liability D. Professional liability
E. Public protection issues (e.g., licensing boards) E. Public health, safety, and welfare
AM VI. Engineering Economics 8% 4.0% 5. Engineering Economics (3-5) 3% -1.0%
A. Discounted cash flow (e.g., equivalence, PW, equivalent
A. Time value of money
annual , FW, rate of return)
B. Cost (e.g., incremental, average, sunk, estimating) B. Cost, including incremental, average, sunk, and estimating

C. Analyses (e.g., breakeven, benefit-cost) C. Economic analyses

D. Uncertainty (e.g., expected value and risk) D. Depreciation
AM VII. Engineering Mechanics (Statics and
5% 2.5% 7. Statics (8-12) 8% 5.5%
Dynamics)
A. Statics A. Resultants of force systems
1. Resultants of force systems B. Concurrent force systems
2. Concurrent force systems C. Equilibrium of rigid bodies
3. Equilibrium of rigid bodies D. Frames and trusses
4. Frames and trusses E. Centroids
5. Centroid of area F. Moments of inertia
6. Area moments of inertia G. Static friction
7. Friction
B. Dynamics 5% 2.5% 8. Dynamics, Kinematics, and Vibrations (9-14) 9% -1.0%

1. Linear motion (e.g., force, mass, acceleration, momentum) A. Resultants of force systems
2. Angular motion (e.g., torque, inertia, acceleration,
B. Kinetic friction
momentum)
3. Mass moments of inertia - moved to new specifications 7. C. Newton's second law for particles

4. Impulse and momentum applied to: D. Work-energy of particles

a. particles E. Impulse-momentum of particles
b. rigid bodies F. Kinematics of rigid bodies
5. Work, energy, and power as applied to: G. Kinematics of mechanisms - moved from PM II.
a. particles H. Newton's second law for rigid bodies
b. rigid bodies I. Work-energy of rigid bodies
6. Friction J. Impulse-momentum of rigid bodies
K. Free and forced vibrations - moved from PM II.
AM VIII. Strength of Materials 7% 3.5% 9. Mechanics of Materials (8-12) 8% 4.5%
A. Shear and moment diagrams A. Shear and moment diagrams

B. Stress types (e.g., normal, shear, bending, torsion) B. Stress types (axial, bending, torsion, shear)

C. Stress strain caused by: C. Stress transformations

1. axial loads D. Mohr's circle
2. bending loads E. Stress and strain caused by axial loads
3. torsion F. Stress and strain caused by bending loads
4. shear G. Stress and strain caused by torsion
D. Deformations (e.g., axial, bending, torsion) H. Stress and strain caused by shear
E. Combined stresses I. Combined loading
F. Columns J. Deformations
G. Indeterminant analysis K. Columns
H. Plastic versus elastic deformation
AM IX. Material Properties 7% 3.5% 10. Material Properties and Processing (8-12) 8% -0.5%
A. Properties, including chemical, electrical, mechanical, physical,
A. Properties
and thermal
1. chemical B. Stress-strain diagrams - moved from PM III.
2. electrical C. Engineered materials
3. mechanical D. Ferrous metals
4. physical E. Nonferrous metals
B. Corrosion mechanisms and control F. Manufacturing processes - moved from PM III.
C. Materials G. Phase diagrams - moved from PM III.
H. Phase transformation, equilibrium, and heat treating - moved
1. engineered materials
from PM III.
2. ferrous metals I. Materials selection - moved from PM III.
3. nonferrous metals J. Surface conditions - moved from PM III.

K. Corrosion mechanisms and control - moved from PM III.

L. Thermal failure - moved from PM III.

M. Ductile or brittle behavior - moved from PM III.
N. Fatigue
O. Crack propagation
AM X. Fluid Mechanics 7% 3.5% 11. Fluid Mechanics (9-14) 9% -2.0%
A. Flow measurement A. Fluid properties
B. Fluid properties B. Fluid statics
C. Fluid statics C. Energy, impulse, and momentum
D. Energy, impulse, and momentum equations D. Internal flow
E. Pipe and other internal flow E. External flow - moved from PM VI.
F. Incompressible flow - moved from PM VI.
G. Compressible flow - moved from PM VI.
H. Power and efficiency - moved from PM VI.
I. Performance curves - moved from PM VI.
J. Scaling laws for fans, pumps, and compressors - moved from
PM VI.
AM XI. Electricity and Magnetism 9% 4.5% 6. Electricity and Magnetism (3-5) 3% -1.5%
A. Charge, energy, current, voltage, power A. Charge, current, voltage, power, and energy
B. Work done in moving a charge in an electric field (relationship
B. Current and voltage laws (Kirchoff, Ohm)
between voltage and work)
C. Force between charges C. Equivalent circuits (series, parallel)
D. Current and voltage laws (Kirchhoff, Ohm) D. AC circuits
E. Equivalent circuits (series, parallel) E. Motors and generators
F. Capacitance and inductance
G. Reactance and impedance, susceptance and admittance

H. AC circuits
I. Basic complex algebra
AM XII. Thermodynamics 7% 3.5% 12. Thermodynamics (13-20) 13% -3.0%
A. Properties of ideal gases and pure substances - moved from
A. Thermodynamic laws (e.g., 1st Law, 2nd Law)
PM V
B. Energy, heat, and work B. Energy transfers
C. Availability and reversibility C. Laws of thermodynamics
D. Cycles D. Processes
E. Ideal gases E. Performance of components - moved from PM V
F. Power cycles, thermal efficiency, and enhancements - moved
F. Mixture of gases
from PM V and PM VIII
G. Refrigeration and heat pump cycles and coefficients of
G. Phase changes
performance - moved from PM VIII
H. Heat transfer H. Nonreacting mixtures of gases
I. Properties of: I. Psychrometrics - moved from PM VIII
J. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) processes -
1. enthalpy
moved from PM VIII
2. entropy K. Combustion and combustion products - moved from PM V

PM I. Mechanical Design and Analysis 15% 7.5% 15. Mechanical Design and Analysis (9-14) 9% 1.5%
A. Stress analysis (e.g., combined stresses, torsion, normal,
A. Stress analysis of machine elements
shear)
B. Failure theories (e.g., static, dynamic, buckling) B. Failure theories and analysis

C. Failure analysis (e.g., creep, fatigue, fracture, buckling) C. Deformation and stiffness

D. Deformation and stiffness D. Springs

E. Components (e.g., springs, pressure vessels, beams, piping,
E. Pressure vessels
bearings, columns, power screws)
F. Power transmission (e.g., belts, chains, clutches, gears, shafts,
F. Beams
brakes, axles)
G. Joining (e.g., threaded fasteners, rivets, welds, adhesives) G. Piping

H. Manufacturability (e.g., fits, tolerances, process capability) H. Bearings

I. Quality and reliability I. Power screws

J. Mechanical systems (e.g., hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-
J. Power transmission
hybrid)
K. Joining methods
L. Manufacturability
M. Quality and reliability
N. Hydraulic components
O. Pneumatic components
P. Electromechanical components

PM II. Kinetics, Dynamics, and Vibrations 15% 7.5%

A. Kinematics of mechanisms - moved to new specifications 8.

B. Dynamics of mechanisms - moved to new specifications 8.

C. Rigid body dynamics - moved to new specifications 8.

D. Natural frequency and resonance - moved to new
specifications 8.
E. Balancing of rotating and reciprocating equipment

F. Forced vibrations (e.g., isolation, force transmission, support

motion) - moved to new specifications 8.

PM III. Materials and Processing 10% 5.0%

A. Mechanical and thermal properties (e.g., stress/strain
relationships, ductility, endurance, conductivity, thermal
expansion) - moved to new specifications 10.

B. Manufacturing processes (e.g., forming, machining, bending,

casting, joining, heat treating) - moved to new specifications 10.
C. Thermal processing (e.g., phase transformations, equilibria) -
moved to new specifications 10.
D. Materials selection (e.g., metals, composites, ceramics,
plastics, bio-materials) - moved to new specifications 10.

E. Surface conditions (e.g., corrosion, degradation, coatings,

finishes) - moved to new specifications 10.
F. Testing (e.g., tensile, compression, hardness) - moved to new
specifications 10.
PM IV. Measurements, Instrumentation, and 14. Measurements, Instrumentation, and Controls
10% 5.0% 5% 0.0%
Controls (5-8)
A. Mathematical fundamentals (e.g., Laplace transforms,
A. Sensors
differential equations)
B. System descriptions (e.g., block diagrams, ladder logic,
B. Block diagrams
transfer functions)
C. Sensors and signal conditioning (e.g., strain, pressure, flow,
C. System response
force, velocity, displacement, temperature)

D. Data collection and processing (e.g., sampling theory,

D. Measurement uncertainty
uncertainty, digital/analog, data transmission rates)
E. Dynamics responses (e.g., overshoot/time constant, poles and
zeroes, stability)
PM V. Thermodynamics and Energy Conversion
15% 7.5%
Processes
A. Ideal and real gases - moved to new specifications 12.

B. Reversibility/irreversibility
C. Thermodynamic equiibrium
D. Psychometrics - moved to new specifications 12.
E. Performance of components - moved to new specifications
12.
F. Cycles and processes (e.g., Otto, Diesel, Brayton, Rankine) -
moved to new specifications 12.
G. Combustion and combustion products - moved to new
specifications 12.
H. Energy Storage
I. Cogeneration and regeneration/reheat
PM VI. Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Machinery 15% 7.5%
A. Fluid statics - moved to new specifications 11.

B. Incompressible flow - moved to new specifications 11.

C. Fluid transport systems (e.g., pipes, ducts, series/parallel

operations) - moved to new specifications 11.

D. Fluid machines: incompressible (e.g., turbines, pumps,

hydraulic motors) - moved to new specifications 11.

E. Compressible flow - moved to new specifications 11.

F. Fluid machines: compressible (e.g., turbines, compressors,

fans) - moved to new specifications 11.
G. Operating characteristics (e.g., fan laws, performance curves,
efficiencies, work/power equations) - moved to new
specifications 11.
H. Lift/drag

I. Impulse/momentum - moved to new specifications 11.

PM VII. Heat Transfer 10% 5.0% 13. Heat Transfer (9-14) 9% 4.0%
A. Conduction A. Conduction
B. Convection B. Convection
C. Radiation C. Radiation
D. Composite walls and insulation D. Thermal resistance
E. Transient and periodic processes E. Transient processes
F. Heat exchangers F. Heat exchangers
G. Boiling and condensation heat transfer G. Boiling and condensation
PM VIII. Refrigeration and HVAC 10% 5.0%
A. Cycles - moved to new specifications 12.
B. Heating and cooling loads (e.g., degree day data, sensible
heat, latent heat)
C. Psychrometric charts - moved to new specifications 12.

D. Coefficient of performance - moved to new specifications 12.

E. Components (e.g., compressors, condensers, evaporators,

expansion valve) - moved to new specifications 12.

Total 100% 100% 0%