← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
If the rate of compression of the soil layer is controlled solely by the flow of water under the induced hydraulic gradient the process is referred to as
A)
Immediate consolidation
B)
Primary consolidation
C)
Secondary consolidation
D)
Permanent consolidation
When the rate of compression of a soil layer is controlled solely by the dissipation of excess pore water pressure and the resulting flow of water under the induced hydraulic gradient, it is called primary consolidation. Immediate consolidation happens instantly due to elastic deformation, while secondary consolidation occurs after primary consolidation due to creep of the soil skeleton. 'Permanent consolidation' is not the standard term here.
Estimation technique of discharges from catchment for an area over 5000 sq km is
A)
Rational method
B)
Unit hydrograph
C)
Over land flow hydrograph
D)
Floodrouting
For large catchments, especially areas greater than about 5000 sq km, the Rational method is not suitable because it is mainly used for small catchments and peak runoff estimation. Flood routing is used to trace how a flood wave moves through a river channel or reservoir, not to estimate discharge from rainfall over a catchment. Overland flow hydrograph is associated with runoff generation on the land surface, but the standard technique for estimating discharge from a catchment of this size is the Unit hydrograph method.
The distribution mains in water supply system are designed for
A)
Maximum daily demand
B)
Peak hourly demand
C)
Average daily demand
D)
Maximum hourly demand on maximum consumption day
Distribution mains in a water supply system must carry the highest likely flow in the distribution network. Therefore, they are designed for the maximum hourly demand occurring on the maximum consumption day, since this represents the peak stress condition.
Why not the others?
- (a) Maximum daily demand: too low for design of mains.
- (b) Peak hourly demand: does not specify the worst day, so it is incomplete.
- (c) Average daily demand: far below actual design requirement.
Hence, the correct answer is maximum hourly demand on maximum consumption day.
A flood ofa certain magnitude has a return period of 25 years.. The probability of exceedance would be
A)
0
B)
0.04
C)
50
D)
1
Return period T = 25 years means the annual probability of exceedance is 1/T. So, probability = 1/25 = 0.04 = 4%. Hence option (b) is correct. The other options are incorrect because 0 is impossible for a flood with finite return period, 50 is not a probability, and 1 would mean certainty of exceedance every year.
Surface water should never be used before treatment because it _
A)
Contains large amount of impurities
B)
Is contaminated by impurities while travelling
C)
Contains disease producing bacteria
D)
Allofthese
Surface water is generally not safe for direct use because it usually contains a large amount of impurities, gets contaminated while flowing over land, and often carries disease-producing bacteria. Since all three statements are true, the correct answer is 'All of these'.
Specific weight of liquid ;
A)
Remains constant at every place
B)
Does not remain constant at every place
C)
Varies. from place to place on earth
D)
Does not vary on any other planet
Specific weight (unit weight) of a liquid is the weight per unit volume, given by γ = ρg. For a given liquid, density is practically constant and in standard fluid mechanics problems g is taken as constant at a location, so specific weight is treated as constant throughout the liquid. Hence, the correct statement is that it remains constant at every place. The other options are incorrect because they suggest variation without a change in the liquid or conditions.
Superflous variables in dimensional analysis are
A)
Variables that govern the flow phenomenon.
B)
Variables that gives characteristic fluid property
C)
Variables of fundamental quantities
D)
Variables included that do not affect the phenomenon
In dimensional analysis, superfluous variables are those that are included in the analysis but do not actually influence the phenomenon under study. They are unnecessary for forming the correct dimensionless relationship.
- (a) Variables that govern the flow phenomenon are relevant variables, not superfluous.
- (b) Variables that give characteristic fluid property are also relevant.
- (c) Variables of fundamental quantities refers to base dimensions, not superfluous variables.
- (d) Correct, because superfluous variables are those that do not affect the phenomenon.
Air valves are generally provided in water supply pressure mains
A)
Atpipe junctions
B)
Atsummits
C)
Atlow points
D)
Near service pipes
Air valves are provided at the high points or summits of pressure mains to release trapped air that accumulates there during operation. Air pockets reduce flow capacity and can cause pressure surges, so venting at summits is necessary. Pipe junctions, low points, and near service pipes are not the general locations for air valves in pressure mains.
The process of distribution of water in irrigation is called
A)
Canal breaches
B)
Control system
C)
Regulation
D)
Rotation
In irrigation engineering, the distribution of water among different fields or outlets in a planned sequence is called rotation (rotational water distribution or warabandi). It means water is supplied turn by turn to users. Canal breaches are accidental failures, control system refers to management structures, and regulation means controlling flow, not the specific process of distributing water among users.
Hydraulic ram is a device used
A)
To lift water without electric motor
B)
To accelerate water flow
C)
For lifting heavy load
D)
None of these
A hydraulic ram is a pump that uses the kinetic energy of flowing water to lift a portion of that water to a higher level without requiring any external power source like an electric motor. Hence, option (a) is correct. Option (b) is incorrect because it does not accelerate water flow; it converts flow energy into pumping action. Option (c) is unrelated, as it is not used for lifting heavy loads.
Waste water disposal in soil, major activity both biological and chemical occurs
A)
Atdeeper levels
B)
Atthe surface of the earth
C)
Within a few millimeters of the soil
D)
Inthe upper 300 mm of the soil
In soil-based wastewater disposal, the main purification processes—both biological degradation by microorganisms and chemical reactions—occur predominantly in the upper layer of soil where oxygen, moisture, and microbial activity are highest. The upper 300 mm (about 30 cm) of soil is therefore the most active zone. Deeper layers are less active because oxygen and biological activity decrease with depth. Hence, option (d) is correct.
If the pressure surface of Aquifer lies above the ground surface, the well will be
A)
Artesian well
B)
Non-artesian well
C)
Flowing artesian well
D)
Non-flowing artesian well
When the pressure surface (piezometric surface) of a confined aquifer lies above the ground surface, water rises in the well and overflows naturally at the surface. Such a well is called a flowing artesian well. An artesian well may have water rise in it, but if the pressure surface is below ground level, it will not flow out naturally. Non-artesian wells are ordinary wells without confined aquifer pressure.
All the water flowing in the stream channel at any given section expressed for long period of time is
A)
Runoff
B)
Surface run off
C)
Yield of draining basin
D)
Depression storage
The term for all the water flowing in a stream channel at any given section, considered over a long period of time, is the **yield of a drainage basin**. It represents the total water contribution from the basin to the stream.
- **Runoff** is a broader term for water that flows over/through the land to the stream.
- **Surface runoff** is only the portion flowing over the ground surface.
- **Depression storage** is water temporarily held in small surface depressions.
Hence, the correct answer is **(c) Yield of draining basin**.
The greatest mass constituent of any air pollutant is :
A)
Sulphur dioxide
B)
Hydro carbons
C)
Carbon monoxide
D)
Nitrogen oxide
Among common air pollutants, carbon monoxide is generally the greatest by mass because it is emitted in very large quantities, mainly from incomplete combustion in vehicle engines and other fuel-burning processes. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are important pollutants, but their total emitted mass is usually lower than carbon monoxide. Hydrocarbons are also significant, but CO typically dominates in mass contribution among these options.
Since stream line is everywhere tangent to the velocity vector
A)
There isa velocity component at right angle to the stream line
B)
Velocity of flow is maximum across the stream line
C)
There can be no flow of fluid across the stream line
D)
Flow across the stream line is identical
A stream line is defined as a curve that is everywhere tangent to the instantaneous velocity vector of the fluid. Therefore, the fluid velocity at any point is along the streamline, not across it. Hence, there is no normal component of velocity across a streamline. Option (a) is wrong because the velocity component perpendicular to the streamline is zero. Option (b) is unrelated to the definition. Option (d) is vague and not the correct physical statement.
The velocity of fluid flow within the boundary layer
A)
Increases from zero at the boundary surface
B)
Decreases to zero from the boundary surface
C)
Remains the same with the main stream
D)
Ismaximum at the boundary
In a boundary layer, the no-slip condition at the solid surface makes the fluid velocity zero at the boundary surface. As we move away from the surface, the velocity gradually increases until it matches the free-stream velocity outside the boundary layer. Hence, the velocity increases from zero at the boundary surface. Options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect because the velocity does not decrease to zero, does not remain equal to the main stream throughout the boundary layer, and is not maximum at the wall.
A time-intensity graph of a rain storm is assumed to be made up of
A)
Straight line
B)
Curves
C)
Irregular shaped line
D)
Mixture of straight line and curves
A time-intensity graph (hyetograph) of a rain storm is generally represented by a combination of straight lines and curves, depending on how rainfall intensity varies with time. It is not usually assumed to be only straight lines, only curves, or an irregular shape alone. Hence, the correct choice is a mixture of straight line and curves.
A flow in which each liquid particle has definite path, and the path of individual particles do not cross each other is called
A)
Steady flow
B)
Uniform flow
C)
Streamline flow
D)
Turbulent flow
In streamline (laminar) flow, each fluid particle follows a definite path called a streamline, and these paths do not intersect each other. This matches the description in the question. Steady flow means flow properties at a point do not change with time, and uniform flow means flow properties are same at every point at a given instant. Turbulent flow is irregular and chaotic, so it does not have definite particle paths.
The continuity equation of fluid flow is the mathematical statement of
A)
The Principle of Conservation of Mass
B)
The Principle of Conservation of Energy
C)
The Principle of Conservation of Momentum
D)
The Principle of Conservation of Impulse Momentum
The continuity equation in fluid mechanics expresses that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a flow. For a control volume, the rate of mass entering equals the rate of mass leaving plus the rate of accumulation. Hence, it is the mathematical form of the Principle of Conservation of Mass. The other options relate to different governing equations: energy conservation gives Bernoulli/energy equation, and momentum conservation gives the momentum equation, not continuity.
A flow in which the velocities of liquid particles at all sections of the pipe or channel are equal, is called as ;
A)
Uniform flow
B)
Laminar flow
C)
Turbulent flow
D)
Unsteady flow
In a uniform flow, the velocity of the liquid remains the same at all sections of the pipe or channel. This means there is no change in velocity from one section to another.
Why others are wrong:
- Laminar flow refers to smooth, orderly motion of fluid layers, not necessarily equal velocity at all sections.
- Turbulent flow is irregular and chaotic motion.
- Unsteady flow means velocity changes with time at a given point.
So the correct term is Uniform flow.
For standing crops in undulating sandy fields, the best method of irrigation is
A)
Sprinkler irrigation
B)
Free flooding
C)
Check method
D)
Furrow method
In undulating sandy fields, water application by surface methods is inefficient because sandy soil has high infiltration and the uneven ground makes uniform distribution difficult. For standing crops, sprinkler irrigation is best because it applies water in a controlled, uniform manner over the field, suits sandy soils, and works well on undulating land. Free flooding and check methods are more suitable for level fields, while furrow irrigation is generally preferred for row crops on reasonably level land.
As a general rule, new sewer systems must be designed
A)
To combine sanitary and storm flows
B)
To separate sanitary and storm flows
C)
To care for storm water first and then sanitary sewage
D)
To treat storm sewage contamination
As a general rule, new sewer systems are designed as separate systems so that sanitary sewage and storm water are carried independently. This prevents overloading of treatment plants during rainfall and reduces the size and cost of sewage treatment. Combined sewers are generally avoided in new designs. Hence, option (b) is correct. Options (a), (c), and (d) do not state the standard design principle for new sewer systems.
A body in neutral equilibrium will rotate about
A)
Centre of gravity and metacenter
B)
Centre of pressure and metacenter
C)
Centre of gravity and centre of buoyancy
D)
Centre of gravity, centre of buoyancy and metacenter
A floating body is in neutral equilibrium when, after a small angular displacement, it neither returns to its original position nor moves further away. In this condition, the metacentre coincides with the centre of gravity, so the body effectively rotates about the centre of gravity and the centre of buoyancy. Hence, the correct option is (c). Options involving the centre of pressure are unrelated to floating-body equilibrium.
The losses in canal are usually measured by a simple method known as
A)
Absorption
B)
Inflow and outflow
C)
Percolation
D)
Shallow pumping
Canal losses are commonly measured by the **inflow and outflow method**, where discharge entering a canal reach is compared with the discharge leaving it. The difference gives the loss due to seepage, evaporation, and other causes.
- **(a) Absorption**: not a standard method of measuring canal losses.
- **(c) Percolation**: this is one type of loss, not a measuring method.
- **(d) Shallow pumping**: unrelated to canal loss measurement.
Therefore, the correct answer is **inflow and outflow**.
The most promising method of disposal of radio active wastes seems to be
A)
Mixed with cement or other immobilizing agents
B)
Sealed in a steel drum for burial
C)
Vitrification
D)
Burial at great depth
Radioactive wastes are best disposed of by converting them into a stable glass-like solid through vitrification. This method immobilizes the radionuclides, greatly reduces the chance of leakage, and makes long-term storage safer. Mixing with cement or sealing in drums is less secure, and deep burial alone does not provide as reliable long-term containment as vitrification.