CONTROL SYSTEMS — 100 Theory MCQs with Answers
Section 1: Introduction to Linear Control Systems
1. Which of the following is a basic element of a control system?
a) Amplifier
b) Sensor
c) Controller
d) All of the above
Ans: d
2. The purpose of feedback in a control system is to:
a) Increase gain
b) Reduce error
c) Reduce bandwidth
d) None of these
Ans: b
3. Which system is more accurate?
a) Open-loop
b) Closed-loop
c) Both same
d) Depends on gain
Ans: b
4. Which one is not a type of control system?
a) Open loop
b) Closed loop
c) Forward loop
d) Feedback loop
Ans: c
5. A control system is considered linear if it obeys:
a) Superposition principle
b) Nyquist criterion
c) Root locus
d) None of these
Ans: a
Section 2: System Representations
6. A transfer function is defined as the ratio of:
a) Output to input in time domain
b) Output to input in Laplace domain
c) Input to output in frequency domain
d) None of these
Ans: b
7. Block diagram reduction is used for:
a) Simplifying circuits
b) Finding equivalent transfer function
c) Measuring gain only
d) Drawing root locus
Ans: b
8. Signal flow graphs use:
a) Mason’s gain formula
b) Routh’s criterion
c) Nyquist plot
d) Bode plot
Ans: a
9. Which element is not used in block diagrams?
a) Summing point
b) Take-off point
c) Multiplier
d) Node
Ans: d
10.The gain of a branch in a signal flow graph represents:
a) Output
b) Input
c) Transfer function of that branch
d) Phase margin
Ans: c
Section 3: Time Domain Analysis
11.A unit step input is used to analyze:
a) Steady state only
b) Transient only
c) Both steady state and transient
d) None of these
Ans: c
12.Rise time is defined for:
a) Underdamped response
b) Overdamped response
c) Critically damped response
d) All of these
Ans: d
13.For a first-order system, time constant is:
a) The time to reach 50% of final value
b) The time to reach 63.2% of final value
c) The time to reach 100%
d) None of these
Ans: b
14.Overshoot is observed in:
a) First-order system
b) Second-order underdamped system
c) Critically damped system
d) All systems
Ans: b
15.Steady state error for type 0 system for step input is:
a) Zero
b) Finite
c) Infinite
d) Depends on gain
Ans: b
Absolutely — here’s the part from question 16 to 30, rewritten in plain text only (no tables) so
you can copy directly:
16. A control system that has feedback is called:
a) Closed-loop system
b) Open-loop system
c) Nonlinear system
d) Time varying system
Answer: a
17. An open-loop control system is:
a) More accurate
b) Less accurate
c) Always stable
d) Highly reliable
Answer: b
18. Feedback helps to:
a) Increase system gain only
b) Reduce error
c) Make system open-loop
d) None
Answer: b
19. Transfer function is defined as:
a) Input/output ratio
b) Output/input ratio for zero initial conditions
c) Output/input for any conditions
d) None
Answer: b
20. A block diagram represents:
a) Mathematical model
b) Electrical circuit
c) Frequency response
d) None
Answer: a
21. A signal flow graph represents:
a) Block diagram
b) Flow of signals using nodes and branches
c) Phase response
d) None
Answer: b
22. The unit step function is used to:
a) Test steady state behavior
b) Test frequency response
c) Test only stability
d) None
Answer: a
23. The time constant of a first-order system is the time to reach:
a) 50% of final value
b) 63.2% of final value
c) 90% of final value
d) 100% of final value
Answer: b
24. Which is not a time domain specification:
a) Rise time
b) Peak time
c) Phase margin
d) Settling time
Answer: c
25. The overshoot is maximum for:
a) Underdamped system
b) Critically damped system
c) Overdamped system
d) Unstable system
Answer: a
26. Damping ratio determines:
a) Steady state error
b) Type of input
c) Nature of transient response
d) Open loop poles
Answer: c
27. If damping ratio is zero, the response is:
a) Overdamped
b) Underdamped
c) Critically damped
d) Undamped
Answer: d
28. For critical damping, damping ratio is:
a) Zero
b) Less than 1
c) Equal to 1
d) Greater than 1
Answer: c
29. Root locus method shows variation of:
a) Poles with gain
b) Zeros with gain
c) Poles with frequency
d) None
Answer: a
30. The centroid of root locus branches is found by:
a) Sum of poles minus sum of zeros divided by number of poles minus zeros
b) Product of poles divided by number of poles
c) Sum of poles plus zeros
d) None
Answer: a
Got it! I’ll rewrite the remaining questions without using a table, in plain text so you can copy
easily. Picking up from question 31 — here we go:
31. Gain margin indicates:
a) How much gain can increase before instability
b) How much phase can decrease
c) Both
d) None
Answer: a
32. Phase margin indicates:
a) Additional phase lag for instability
b) Gain at crossover
c) Bandwidth
d) None
Answer: a
33. Nyquist criterion uses:
a) Open-loop transfer function
b) Closed-loop transfer function
c) Step response
d) Time domain response
Answer: a
34. Which plot gives both gain and phase:
a) Bode plot
b) Polar plot
c) Both a and b
d) None
Answer: c
35. A lag compensator mainly improves:
a) Stability margin
b) Steady state error
c) Speed of response
d) Phase margin
Answer: b
36. A lead compensator mainly improves:
a) Speed of response
b) Steady state error
c) Steady gain
d) None
Answer: a
37. PID stands for:
a) Proportional Integral Derivative
b) Proportional Instant Derivative
c) Partial Integral Derivative
d) None
Answer: a
38. Integral control reduces:
a) Overshoot
b) Steady state error
c) Rise time
d) Phase margin
Answer: b
39. Derivative control reduces:
a) Overshoot
b) Steady state error
c) Steady gain
d) None
Answer: a
40. Lead compensator adds:
a) Phase lead
b) Phase lag
c) Gain only
d) None
Answer: a
41. Lag compensator adds:
a) Phase lead
b) Phase lag
c) Both lead and lag
d) None
Answer: b
42. Compensators are used to:
a) Improve system performance
b) Reduce system cost
c) Increase system order
d) None
Answer: a
43. Transfer function of a PID controller is:
a) Kp + Ki/s + Kds
b) Kp + Kd + s
c) Kp + Kis + Kd/s
d) None
Answer: a
44. Which is not a basic control action:
a) Proportional
b) Integral
c) Derivative
d) Adaptive
Answer: d
45. A type 1 system has:
a) No integrator
b) One integrator
c) Two integrators
d) Infinite poles
Answer: b
46. Phase crossover frequency is when:
a) Phase is 0°
b) Phase is -90°
c) Phase is -180°
d) Phase is 180°
Answer: c
47. Gain crossover frequency is when:
a) Gain = 1
b) Gain = 0
c) Phase = 180°
d) Phase = 0°
Answer: a
48. Which is true for stable system:
a) Poles on left half plane
b) Poles on right half plane
c) Poles on imaginary axis
d) Poles at origin only
Answer: a
49. A second order system has how many poles:
a) Zero
b) One
c) Two
d) Infinite
Answer: c
50. Bode plot shows:
a) Magnitude vs frequency
b) Phase vs frequency
c) Both
d) Neither
Answer: c
Let’s move ahead — now from 51 to 100:
51. Signal flow graph method uses:
a) Nyquist plot
b) Mason’s gain formula
c) Root locus
d) State equations
Answer: b
52. A forward path is a path from:
a) Output to input
b) Input to output
c) Any loop
d) None
Answer: b
53. Self-loop in signal flow graph is a:
a) Node
b) Loop with single branch
c) Forward path
d) None
Answer: b
54. A system is controllable if:
a) State can be driven anywhere
b) Output equals input
c) Poles are zero
d) None
Answer: a
55. A system is observable if:
a) States can be estimated from output
b) Inputs are known
c) Poles are positive
d) None
Answer: a
56. State transition matrix is denoted by:
a) A(t)
b) B(t)
c) e^(At)
d) None
Answer: c
57. For time invariant systems, A matrix is:
a) Constant
b) Variable
c) Zero
d) None
Answer: a
58. State equations are:
a) Differential equations
b) Algebraic equations
c) Both
d) None
Answer: a
59. Which is not a test input:
a) Unit step
b) Unit ramp
c) Unit parabola
d) Unit pole
Answer: d
60. Root locus shows:
a) Variation of poles with gain
b) Variation of zeros
c) Time response
d) None
Answer: a
61. Gain margin is positive for:
a) Stable system
b) Unstable system
c) Marginally stable system
d) None
Answer: a
62. Phase margin should be:
a) Negative
b) Zero
c) Positive
d) Infinite
Answer: c
63. Routh-Hurwitz criterion gives:
a) Exact pole location
b) Relative stability
c) Absolute stability
d) Both b and c
Answer: d
64. A system with poles at s = 0 is:
a) Stable
b) Unstable
c) Marginally stable
d) None
Answer: c
65. Transfer function is valid for:
a) Linear time invariant system
b) Nonlinear system
c) Time varying system
d) None
Answer: a
66. The order of the system is:
a) Number of zeros
b) Number of poles
c) Number of inputs
d) None
Answer: b
67. Relative stability means:
a) How stable
b) Stable or not
c) Pole-zero cancellation
d) None
Answer: a
68. Static error constants are used for:
a) Transient error
b) Steady state error
c) Overshoot
d) None
Answer: b
69. Which input has infinite steady state error for type 0:
a) Step
b) Ramp
c) Parabola
d) None
Answer: c
70. Bandwidth indicates:
a) Speed
b) Stability
c) Gain margin
d) None
Answer: a
71. Closed-loop poles determine:
a) Steady state only
b) Transient only
c) Both
d) None
Answer: c
72. BIBO stability means:
a) Output bounded for bounded input
b) Infinite input
c) Infinite output
d) None
Answer: a
73. State diagram shows:
a) States and transitions
b) Frequency response
c) Time response
d) None
Answer: a
74. Transfer function of series systems is:
a) Product of individual TFs
b) Sum of TFs
c) Difference
d) None
Answer: a
75. Block diagram representation helps in:
a) Simplification
b) Simulation
c) Both
d) None
Answer: c
76. Controllability matrix is:
a) B AB A²B …
b) C CA CA² …
c) AB BC CD
d) None
Answer: a
77. Observability matrix is:
a) B AB …
b) C CA CA² …
c) AB BC CD
d) None
Answer: b
78. Poles of transfer function are:
a) Zeros of denominator
b) Zeros of numerator
c) Both
d) None
Answer: a
79. Zeros are:
a) Zeros of numerator
b) Poles
c) Gain
d) None
Answer: a
80. Dead time is:
a) Pure delay
b) Pure gain
c) Pure lead
d) None
Answer: a
81. Bode plot slope for pole at origin:
a) -20 dB/decade
b) +20 dB/decade
c) 0
d) None
Answer: a
82. Resonant peak indicates:
a) Overshoot
b) Gain margin
c) Phase margin
d) None
Answer: a
83. Static position error constant is denoted by:
a) Kp
b) Kv
c) Ka
d) None
Answer: a
84. Ramp error constant is:
a) Kp
b) Kv
c) Ka
d) None
Answer: b
85. Parabolic error constant is:
a) Kp
b) Kv
c) Ka
d) None
Answer: c
86. Higher order systems can be approximated by:
a) First order
b) Second order
c) Both
d) None
Answer: c
87. Closed-loop TF is:
a) G/(1+GH)
b) G/(1-GH)
c) G(1+GH)
d) None
Answer: a
88. Mason’s gain formula uses:
a) Loops
b) Paths
c) Determinants
d) All
Answer: d
89. Which is a property of state transition matrix:
a) Φ(0) = I
b) Φ(t1 + t2) = Φ(t1)Φ(t2)
c) Both a and b
d) None
Answer: c
90. Stability of state model depends on:
a) Eigenvalues of A
b) B matrix
c) C matrix
d) D matrix
Answer: a
91. Servo mechanism is a type of:
a) Feedback control
b) Open loop
c) Feedforward
d) None
Answer: a
92. Open-loop gain is high in:
a) Open-loop system
b) Closed-loop system
c) Both
d) None
Answer: a
93. Block diagram reduction uses:
a) Moving summing point
b) Moving take-off point
c) Both
d) None
Answer: c
94. Phase lag means:
a) Output lags input
b) Output leads input
c) Both same
d) None
Answer: a
95. Servo motor used in control system is usually:
a) DC motor
b) Induction motor
c) Synchronous motor
d) None
Answer: a
96. Tachogenerator measures:
a) Speed
b) Position
c) Acceleration
d) None
Answer: a
97. Inertial element is:
a) Integrator
b) Differentiator
c) Gain
d) None
Answer: a
98. Bode plot for differentiator:
a) +20 dB/decade
b) -20 dB/decade
c) 0 dB
d) None
Answer: a
99. Unit impulse response is:
a) System’s natural behavior
b) Step response
c) Ramp response
d) None
Answer: a
100. Unit ramp response for first order system is:
a) Exponential
b) Parabolic
c) Linear
d) None
Answer: c
