Thennal & Infrared

Questions & An
upple
Recomme
BookJ

nd Ill
estions

The American Society for

Nondestructive Testing, Inc.
ii

Published by
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Copyright © 2010 by The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc. ASNT is not responsible for
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IRRSP, NOT Handbook, The NOT Technician and www.asnt.org are trademarks of The American Society
for Nondestructive Testing, Inc. ACCP, ASNT, Levell// Study Guide, Materials Evaluation, Nondestructive
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ASNT Mission Statement: ,

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tesOng.

ISBN-~3: 978-1-57117-~97-9

Pririted in the United States of America

1/10 first printing

•
 iii

• Contents

Acknowledgments iv

Recommended References v

Reference Usage vi

Level I Questions 1
Level II Questions 7

Level Ill Questions 15

iv

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Terry Clausing, Drysdale & Associates, Inc., and Rob Spring, Snell Group, for
writing and coordinating this edition of Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A
(Q & A Book) Infrared and Thermal Testing Method.

Thank you also to the following contributors who assisted with the peer review of this book:

Doug Burleigh Alberto F. Reyna

Patrick L. Cerny Bob Rogers
Jacky C. H. Chen Dave Ronzani
Babu S.K. Daniel R. Ryan
Grace Liang Dan Simon
Kathryn M. Lee Kris Krumreich Simmons
Bernie Lyon Jeffrey G. Thompson
Scott Miller Raymond HO Fook Wing
Gary Orlove Werner Yzelman
Philip Raw John Zabita
K. Ravindran

Cynthia M. Leeman
Educational Materials Supervisor

•
 v

• Recommended References
Thermal and Infrared Testing Method
The following references were used in formulating the questions contained in this book.

References
A. Maldague, X.P.V., tech. ed., Patrick 0. Moore, ed. Nondestructive Testing Handbook, third edition: Volume 3,
Infrared and Thermal Testing. Columbus, OH: The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc. 2001.
B. lncropera, F.P., and David P. Dewitt. Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 5th Edition. Hoboken, NJ: John
Wiley & Sons. 2001.
c. Guyer, E.C. Handbook of Applied Thermal Design. Philadelphia, PA: Taylor & Francis. 1999.
D. Holman, J.P. Experimental Methods for Engineers. Boston, MA. McGraw-Hill. 2001.
E. Holst, G.C. Testing and Evaluation of Infrared Imaging Systems. Maitland, FL. JCD Pub. Co. 1993.
F. Kaplan, H. ASNT L/11 Study Guide: Infrared and Thermal Testing Method. Columbus, OH. The American Society
for Nondestructive Testing, Inc. 2001.
G. ASTM C 1060, "Standard Practice for Thermographic Inspection of Insulation Installations in Envelope Cavities
of Frame Buildings." Annual Book of ASTM Standards. West Conshohocken, PA; American Society for Testing and
Materials. Most recent edition.
H. ASTM E 1153, "Standard Test Method for Efficacy of Sanitizers Recommended for Inanimate Non-Food Contact
Surfaces." Annual Book of ASTM Standards. West Conshohocken, PA; American Society for Testing and

•
Materials. Most recent edition .
I. ASTM E 2582, "Standard Practice for Infrared Flash Thermography of Composite Panels and Repair Patches
Used in Aerospace Applications." Annual Book of ASTM Standards. West Conshohocken, PA; American Society
for Testing and Materials. Most recent edition.
J. Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A: Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive Testing.
Columbus, OH. The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc. Most recent edition.
Each question found in this book contains letter(s) and page number(s) in bold type immediately following the
answers. For example,

5. The first law of thermodynamics states:

a. energy moving into a body equals the energy leaving a body if it is at steady state
b. energy moves from areas of high temperature to areas of low temperature
c. energy moves from cooler areas to warmer areas
d. energy moving out of a body equals the energy transmitting through the body.
8.13

In this example, the letter "B" refers to Reference Bin the list provided above and 13 is the specific page in the
reference where the answer to the question can be found .

•
 .\
vi

Reference Usage

Reference A: Total =114 Reference F: Total = 1

Levell 27 Levell 0
Levell! 40 Levell! 0
Level Ill 47 Level Ill 1

Reference 8: Total = 10 Reference G: Total = 3

Levell 2 Levell 0
Levell! 4 Levell! 3
Level ill 4 Level Ill 0

Reference C: Total = 15 Reference H: Total = 3

Levell 12 Levell 1
Levell! 2 Level II 2
Level Ill 1 Level Ill 0

.!
Reference D: Total = 8 Reference 1: Total = 6
Levell 5 Levell 0
Level II 2 Levell! 0
Level Ill 1 Level Ill 6

Reference E: Total = 4
Levell 2
Levell! 1
Level Ill 1
 Level I Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 1

• Level I Questions
Thermal and Infrared Testing Method

1. One calorie is equivalent to how much 4. The second law of thermodynamics

heat energy? states:

a. raising the temperature of 1 lb of a. energy moving into a body equals the

water 1 op energy leaving a body if it is at steady
b. raising the temperature of 1 g of water state
1"C b. energy moves from areas of high
c. raising the temperature of 1 lb of temperature to areas of low
water 1 oc temperature
d. raising the temperature of lg of water c. energy moves from cooler areas to
1 "F warmer areas
A.26 d. energy moving out of a body equals
the energy transmitting through the
2. Which of the following is incorrect? body
0.355

•
a. 0 "C = 32 "F
b. -40 "C = -40 "F 5. The first law of thermodynamics states:
c. "C = 32 + (9/5 x "F)
d. 100 "C = 212 "F a. when energy moving into a body plus
A.27 any internal energy generated equals
the energy leaving a body, that body is
3. Newton's Law of convective cooling states in a steady state condition
that: b. energy moves from areas of high
temperature to areas of low
a. the rate of heat loss·is proportional to temperature
the heat capacity of the body and its c. energy moves from cooler areas to
surface area warmer areas
b. the rate of cooling is inversely d. energy moving out of a body equals
proportional to the temperature the energy transmitting through the
c. the rate of heat loss is inversely body.
proportional to the temperature of the B.i3
body
d. the rate of heat loss of a body is 6. Which of the following temperature
proportional to the difference in scales is considered an absolute scale?
temperature between the body and its
fluid surroundings. a. Fahrenheit
A.54 b. Boltzmann
c. Celsius
d. kelvin
0.356

• pg eg Qt PS 00 QT :1\a).j J8MSU\f
2 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

7. Which of the following temperature 13. You are inspecting an energized 440 V (J
scales is considered to be a relative scale? electrical three-phase fused disconnect.
The fuse caps on the fuses are copper and
a. Rankine appear cooler than the fuse cardboard
b. Boltzmann bodies. What is probably the reason?
c. Celsius
d. kelvin a. the fuse caps are emitting the coolness
0.356 inside themselves
b. the fuse caps are radiating less energy
8. For every degree on the Celsius and reflecting the cooler room
temperature scale how many degrees are temperatures
on the Fahrenheit scale? c. the fuse bodies are actually warmer
than the fuse caps
a. 5/9- 32 d. the fuse bodies are reflecting your
b. 1.8 body's warmth
c. 32 A.36
d. 100
0.356 14. Emittance of a surface may vary with
which of the following?
9. The material property that relates to the
rate that heat flows though a solid a. thermal conductance
material is called: b. angle of view
c. thermal resistance
a. thermal conductivity d. coefficient of convective heat transfer
b. convective efficiency A.298
c. conductive efficiency
d. emissive conductivity 15. A low sloped roof is inspected in the early
8.4 evening after a sunny day. Wet absorbent
roof insulation appears warmer than the
10. A micron is a unit of: dry insulation because:

a. length a. the wet insulation is a better emitter of

b. wave amplitude thermal radiation
c. temperature b. the wet inst1.lation is more reflective
d. roughness than the dry insulation
A.33 c. the dry insulation cools off slower
than the wet insulation
11. A micron is a unit of measure that is: d. the wet insulation cools off slower
than the dry insulation
a. one thousandth of a meter A.57
b. one thousand thousandth of a inch
c. one millionth of a meter 16. Which of the following equations is used
d. one millionth of an inch to calculate the amount of radiant energy
A.33 emitted from a surface?

12. Which material below is transmissive to a. R+A+T=I

long wave (8-14 [liD) infrared radiation? b. Q=aeP
c. [liD = biT absolute
a. polyethylene film d. E =me'
b. glass A.38; 0.9

•
c. rubber
d. human skin
A.292

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 Level I Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 3

• 17. Which of the following IR camera

settings may affect a radiometric
temperature measurement?

a. span
22. Thermal infrared radiation occurs at
wavelengths:

a.
b.
shorter than X- rays
shorter than visible light
b. level c. longer than visible light
c. palette d. longer than radio waves
d. focus A.33; C.:t.2-59,
C.:t.2-6i
23. An opaque graybody surface with an
18. Which of the following camera emissivity of 0.04 would be:
parameters is not adjustable in
post-processing computer software? a. transparent to infrared radiation
b. a fairly good emitter
a. span c. almost a perfect reflector
b. level d. almost a perfect emitter
c. emissivity A.94; C.:t.2-63
d. range
C.:t.2-6i 24. The radiant energy emitted by an object
is a function of what power of its absolute
19. A thick ceramic coffee mug has an temperature?
emissivityof0.84 in the 8-I41Jm wave
band. What is its reflectivity? a~ first power
b. second power

•
a. 0.84 c. third power
b. 0.48 d. fourth power
c. 0.34 A.89
d. 0.16
C.:t.2-64 25. What are the three modes of heat
transfer?
20. The temperature of an aluminum bus bar
is being measured. You have determined a. reflected, transmitted, emitted
emissivity is 0.15. What is the reflectivity b. conductive, convective, radiative
of the bus bar? c. absorption, emission, transmission
d. temperature, thermal movement,
a. 0.0 absorbency
b. 0.15 A. 54
c. 0.85
d. 1.0 26. A quick and simple technique for
A.94; C.:t.2-63 improving the emissivity of highly
reflective surfaces is to:
21. A perfect thermal mirror would bave an
emittance equal to: a. use a shorter wavelength infrared
camera
a. 0.0 b. apply black electrical tape to the
b. O.Gl surface
c. 0.5 c. cover the surface with aluminum foil
d. 1.0 d. adhere black thin film polyethelene
A.94; C.:t.2-63 A.30; C.:t.2·64

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4 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-:LA (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

27. What can we say fur certain about a clear 31. What does IFOV stand for?
piece of thin plastic?
a. increasing field of view
a. it is transparent to infrared b. instantaneous field of view
b. it is opaque to infrared c. infringing field of view
c. its emissivity is less than 1 d. image field of view
d. its reflectivity is more than 1 A.281
A.89; C.12-62
32. At what temperature does the emittance
28. A large variance of the viewing angle of thermal radiation begin?
from the normal (90°) to a non-metallic
surface of interest the emitted a. above-273 K
energy sensed. b. atO oc
c. aboveO K
a. decreases d. above -460 R
b. increases linearly A.27
c. increases exponentially
d. has no effect on 33. Why do a block of wood and a piece of
A.95 steel at the same temperature feel so
different when they come into contact
29. In an infrared roof moisture survey, what with your body?
effects cause the areas of roof over wet
insulation to be warmer at night than a. the thermal conductivity of the steel is
those over dry insulation? greater

•
b. the thermal conductivity of the wood
a. high heat capacity of water and is greater
daytime insolation c. the wood is a much better emitter
b. increase thermal resistance of wet than the steel
insulation d. the steel is heavier than the wood
c. warmer evening temperatures A.54
combined with cooler interior
temperatures 34. During the summer with clear sunny
d. lower heat capacity of water and days, clear nights and a diurnal
cooler evening temperatures temperature swing from 32 oc (90 °F) to
A.57; C.12-68 10 oc (50 °F), a lake and the surrounding
land would probably have the following
thermal relationship:
30. Which of the following is not a typical
pattern of an anomalous thermal image a. the land would be cooler than the lake
associated with wet roof insulation? at night
b. the land would be warmer than the
a. circular lake during the daytime
b. amorphous c. the land would be warmer than the
c. picture frame lake day and night
d. board type d. the land would be cooler earlier in the
H.5 evening then become warmer by
1norning
A. 57

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•
 Level I Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 5

•
. of the radiant emittance of a 39. Which of the following is a commonly
35. The ratiO k . used technique to increase contrast in
. b 4Y to that of a blac body IS
giVen o thermal images?
defined as:
a. adjust camera to a higher temperature
a. radiance
range
b. reflectivitY
b. increase the span setting of the
c. emissivity
transmissivity thermal image
d. A.38 c. use a gray monochrome palette
d. change to a multi-division color
. h of the following has the lowest palatte such as a rainbow
36. WbK d .. > A.364
thermal con uctlVlty.

aluminum 40. Periodically most focal plane array

a.
thermal imagers pause the live image and
b. steel
go through an internal routine called
c. wood
what?
d. copper
A.57
a. non-uniformity correction
Wb. h of the following camera b. internal temperature calibration
37.
d. lCt e ts is used to optimize thermal c. thermal temperature correction
a JUS 111 11 .
t of a thermal Image? d. temperature uniformity calibration
contras
E.45

a. focus
41. An appropriate thermal span and level
span

•
b.
setting for imaging a human face in a
c. level
22 °C (72 °F) room is:
d. range
C.12-61
a. 37 °C (98.6 °F)
Which of the following camera b. 27 to 38 °C (80 to!OO °F)
38.
adjustmeots will have an effect on c. 35 to 43 °C (95 to 110 °F)
temperature measurement? d. 13 to 22 oc (55 to 72 op)
E.5

a. focus
b. span
c. level
d. palette
C.12-61

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6 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

•
 Level II Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 7

• Level II Questions
Thermal and Infrared Testing Method

L Infrared cameras measure: 5. The plant's main switchgear is to be

inspected. The main switchgear has new
a. the temperature of a surface aluminum busbar. The emissivity of new
b. the radiosity of a surface aluminum busbar is approximately:
, c. the radiosity that is absorbed by the
detector in an infrared camera a. 1.0
d. the emittance of a surface b. 0.90
A.279 c. 0.50
d. 0.10
2. A camera has an IFOV of 1.9 rnRad. A.36
What is its theoretical minimum spot size
at a distance of 100 em? 6. What weather conditions are necessary
for conducting a thermal infrared roof
a. 1.9 ern inspection?
b. 0.19crn
c. 0.019 em a. it should have rained within 24 h,

• d. 52 ern inspect during a sunny day

A.279 b. it must not have rained within the last
24 h, inspect during a sunny day
3. The slit response function is used to c. it must have rained within the last
measure: 24 h, inspect at night
d. it must not have rained within the last
a. field of view (FOV) 24 h, inspect after sundown following
b. IFOVmeasurement a clear sunny day
c. NETD H.4
d. MRTD
A.281 7. How should the level and span be set
when inspecting overhead electrical bus
4. What is the most important factor when plugs?
inspecting electrical equipment using IR?
a. set the camera to auto adjust mode
a. thermal sensitivity of the IR camera allowing the camera to adjust level
b. safety and span
c. image focus b. set the span wide for the full scene
d. thermal span and level and adjust level to the ambient
A.299 temperature
c. set span wide and allow the camera to
automatically adjust level
d. set the span very narrow and adjust
the level to the temperature of the bus
E.5

.,.
.a

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8 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC"1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

8. A thermal infrared inspection of a

building is conducted to determine the
12.
presence of insulation. What is the
recommended minimum temperature
difference between inside and outside?
When a thermal imaging radiometer is
out of calibration and reading
I)
temperatures incorrectly, what can be
done to bring it back into radiometric
calibration?

a. 3 "C (5 °F) a. perform an external non-uniformity

b. 5 "C (9 "F) correction (NUC)
c. 10 "C (18 °F) b. adjust the calibration with a calibrated
d. 20 oc (36 "F) blackbody reference source
G.6 c. send the camera back to the
manufacturer (or relevant body) for
9. An object that is not at thermal recalibration
equilibrium with its surrounding d. adjust the emissivity until the camera
environment is said to be: reads the correct temperature
A.293
a. at steady state
b. thermally isolated 13. The effects of the sun can prevent the
c. thermally transmissive accurate inspection of light frame
d. thermally transient buildings. In accordance with ASTM C
A.698 1060, how long should a wall of light
frame construction be free from direct

.,
10. If the amount of insulation in an attic is solar radiation in order to conduct an
increased from 10 em to 20 em (3.94 in. infrared inspection of the wall?
to 7.87 in.) what effect does it have on the
conductive heat transfer? a. 1h
b. 3h
a. heat transfer will stay the same c. Sh
b. heat transfer will increase by 1/2 d. 12 h
c. heat transfer will be reduced by 1/2 G.6
d. heat transfer will increase by 2 times
A.54 14. A kilogram of each of the following
materials is heated to 90 "C (194 "F).
11. If the temperature difference from inside a Which of the following materials has the
house to outside the house decreases most stored thermal energy?
from 36 to 9 oc (64.8 to 16.2 "F), what
effect does it have on the conductive heat a. arr
transfer through the walls? b. aluminum
c. steel
a. heat transfer will stay the same d. water
b. heat transfer will increase by four A.57
times
c. heat transfer will be reduced by four
times
d. heat transfer will be reduced by two
times
A. 54

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•
 Level II Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 9

• 15 . Latent heat energy can be described as:

a. the energy that creates or breaks the

molecular bonds of the phase state of
a material
b. the energy that when added to a
18. The accuracy of the liquid level gage on
the 946 353 L (250 000 gal) oil tank is
being questioned. Verification of the
liquid level is critical but the safety
manager is not available to issue a
confined entry permit to physically verify
material will cause its temperature to the level. It is spring time. Last night was
increase cool and it is now noon and a bright
c. the energy released by a material that sunny day. What might you consider to
will cause its temperature to decrease determine the oil level?
d. the energy released by an object that
will break the molecular bonds of a a. Assume the liquid level indicator is
material correct unless definitive proof is
8.15 submitted otherwise.
b. Examine the tank with your infrared
16. Which of the following surfaces will camera. When you see no level
generally provide the most accurate indication between liquid and air it is
radiometric temperature measurement? safe to open the tank access door.
c. Examine the tank with your infrared
a. thin film plastic camera. The air should be warmer
b. oxidized aluminum than the liquid and should provide a
c. glass clear indication of the liquid level.
d. water-based paint d. Examine the tank with your infrared
A.36 camera. The air will be cooler than
the liquid and should provide a clear

• 17. The instantaneous field of view (IFOV)

measurement of a radiometric system is
1.2 mRad. What is the maximum size
object this system can accurately measure
at a distance of 25m?
19.
indication of the liquid level.

How hot does an electrical connection

need to be for it to be a classified as a
serious problem?
A.290

a. 3m
b. 3mm a. I to 5 "C (33.8 to 41 "F)
c. 3cm b. 5 to 15 "C (41 to 59 "F)
d. 20.8 ern c. greater than 15 "C (59 "F)
A.279 d. depends on the criticality of
equipment to continued safe
operation
A.533

• P6T P9T
10 ·Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method
20. Most imaging infrared radiometers
operate in the 3 to 5 or 8 to 12 11m band.
This is because of:
a. atmospheric reflection of solar
radiation is adequately attenuated in
these two bands
b. the electromagnetic energy emitted by
a target outside these two bands is
generally too small to provide usable
data
c. atmospheric absorption within these
two bands is small enough to provide
minimal impact on radiometry
d. technological limits of producing
detectors with uniform characteristics
except for these two wave bands
A. SO
21. Long wave (8-141.Jm) infrared
thermography is an excellent tool for
inspecting all except which of the
following:
a. drive belts for proper alignment
b. bearings for signs of impending
failure
c. thin film plastics
d. the temperature for creating baseline
comparison
A.289
22. While doing an IR inspection of a heated
stainless steel component with several
surface holes you notice that one of the
holes appears hotter than the others.
What could explain this?
a. that hotter hole is warmer than the
other holes
b. that hole must be reflectiog
something hotter than the other holes
c. the hotter hole must have more
thermal capacitance
d. the hotter hole probably is deeper
than the other holes
A.123
23. After heating one side of a honeycomb
composite with a 4 ply graphite epoxy
f)
face sheet, and thermally viewing from
the same side, you notice a dark or cool
indication that seems to be confined to a
group of honeycomb cells. What is the
probable cause of this thermal pattern?
a. there is a disband between the top
sheet and the honeycomb cells
b. there is a disbond between the bottom
face sheet and the honeycomb
c. there is most likely water or some
other liquid in the cells
d. the honeycomb is most likely crushed
A.57, 64
24. From the ground you see a hot spot on a
1 in. (2.54 em) bolted connector of a
transmission line that is approximately
27.4 m (90ft) away. When you go to
measure the temperature, it reads much
lower than you think it should be, in fact
it appears to be below ambient. What is a
probable reason?
a. your IFOV is not turned on
b. you are not in focus
c. you are too far away to accurately
measure
d. the emissivity is probably set
•
incorrectly
A.295
25. Thin film plastics, such as polyethylene,
are thermally different from most
materials because they are:
a. highly reflective to short-wave
thermal radiation
b. highly absorptive to long-wave
thermal radiation
c. highly transmissive to both mid- and
long-wave thermal radiation
d. opaque to both mid- and long-wave
thermal radiation
A.291
PZ:Z: ooz;

• 26
'
Why is infrared thermal imaging often
used by building analysts to locate mold
growth?
a. wold is exothermic and appears
warmer on the surface
b. wold is endothermic and absorbs heat
from surroundings, thus appearing
warm
c. wold grows on damp surfaces, which
appear cooler due to evaporative
cooling
d. wold is endothermic thus cooling the
surface
0.15
27. Which of the following materials has the
, , ',,highest thermal capacitance?
a. steel
b. brick
' c. water
d. glass
A.57
28; Which of the following factors will have
the greatest affect on the accuracy of a
_ temperature measurement of a loose
-~:_t1~: ,ffci)Jilledion on a copper alloy bolted plate
connection? Assume the copper has an
~lnissivity of 0.28.
estimating the copper has an
emissivity of 0.29
setting relative humidity at 65%
rather than the preset 50%
leaving the distance to object set to
3.05 m (10ft) instead of 4.6 m (15ft)
adjusting the background temp
76.6 °C ( 170 °F) to actual
!lffif>erature of 28.3 oc (83 °F)
A.289
of the following lists gives the
order for the thermal capacitance
,materials? Assume list goes from
to lowest thermal capacitance.
steel, air
air, steel
A.57
eot: PB6
Level II Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 11
30. To measure the temperature of heater
tubes in a natural gas-fired furnace using
a mid-wave sensing system you must:
a. add the correct filter
b. set emissivity at 0.05
c. put a piece of tape on the heater tube
d. mid-wave systems are not suitable for
furnace inspections
A.573
31. You have found a motor bearing that is
32 op warmer than normal. Convert this
temperature difference (/', T) to degrees
Celsius.
a. ooc
b. 17.7 oc
c. 89.6 oc
d. 100°C
A.27
32. Which of the following typically has the
greatest influence on taking a radiometric
temperature measurement on a
low-emissivity object?
a. background temperature
b. foreground air temperature
c. distance to the target
d. relative humidity
A.296
33. Which of the following camera settings
has the greatest impact on taking an
accurate temperature measurement of an
object that actually has an emissivity of
0.87, a background temperature of
23.9 oc (75 °F), relative humidity of 50%
and distance to the object is 3.05 m
(10ft)?
a. relative humidity set at 40% instead of
50%
b. distance to object set at 5.5 m (18ft)
c. emissivity set at 0.72
d. background temperature set at
21.1 oc (70 °F) instead of 23.9 oc
(75 °F)
A.296
09(;
12 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

34. While conducting a roof moisture

inspection at night after a sunny day, why
is it important for theroof surface to be
dry?

a. evaporating water will mask the

38. The IR system being used stores images
to videotape. Back in the office you find
you'd like to adjust the level and span of
an image. How is this accomplished?

a. digitize the thermal image and adjust

thermal patterns below the roof
surface
b. a dry roof surface is a better
conductor than a wet roof surface
c. it is better to have a wet roof surface
so you can find the leak easier
d. a dry roof surface will radiate better
to the cold sky
H.4
35. Which of the following materials emits
quite differently in the mid-wave
(3.5-5 microns) band than in the
long-wave band (8-14 microns)?
•
the level and span in software
b. import the video into your
manufacturer's software and adjust
level and span
c. send the video to your camera
manufacturer for conversion to 12 bit
data
d. data captured on videotape will not
allow the adjustment of level and span
A.361; 8.12-61
39. The easiest and cheapest way to improve
the spatial resolution of a thermal image
is to:

a. plate glass a. buy a new imager with a detector that

b. polished aluminum has more detector elements
c. painted steel b. move the camera as close to the target
d. ceramic as possible without compromising
0.734 safety .A\
c. install a telephoto lens •
36. Using an infrared system with an d. defocusthelens
IFOVmeasurement ratio of 180:1. What is A.279, 297
the smallest size object you can
accurately measure at a distance of 3 m 40. Atmospheric attenuation for imaging
(3.3 ft)? systems that sense 8-12 microns thermal
radiation is:
a. 16.6 mm (0.65 in.)
b. 18.7 mm (0.74 in.) a. greater than the attenuation for
c. 50.0 mm (1.97 in.) 3-5 micron radiation
d. 166.0 mm (6.54 in.) b. less than the attenuation for
A.295 3-5 micron radiation
c. equal to the attenuation for
37. You are looking at an electrical 3-5 micron radiation
connection 20m in the air. What IFOV d. greater than the attenuation for
measurement is required to accurately 6-8 micron radiation
measure the temperature on the 2.54 em A.180
(I in.) head of a bolt?

a. 0.125 mRad
b. 1.25 mRad
c. 2.5 mRad
d. 25 mRad
A.295

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(.
Level II Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 13

41. When looking at a thermal image, the
thermographer is viewing:
a. thermal patterns representing
temperatures on the surface of the
target
b. thermal patterns of objects reflected
from the surface of the target
c. radiance (combined reflected,
transmitted and emitted energy)
patterns from the surface of the target
d. radiance (combined reflected,
transmitted and emitted energy)
patterns of objects reflected from the
surface of the object
A.89
42. As a surface cools, the peak of its radiated
infrared energy:
a. shifts to longer wavelengths
b. shifts to shorter wavelengths
45. The energy content of a gram of steam at
100 'C (212 'F) is much higher than that
of a gram of water at 100 'C (212 'F)
because of:
a. a 20 'C ( 68 'F) temperature difference
b. the latent heat of vaporization
c. the additional shortwave thermal
radiation
d. the latent heat of fusion
8.15
46. The heat capacity of an object is:
a. inversely proportional to the
material's specific heat
b. directly proportional to a material's
specific heat and density
c. inversely proportional to its density
d. the ratio of short-wave infrared
radiation absorbed by an object to
long-wave infrared radiation emitted

,.
c. remains constant if emissivity remains by the object
constant A.57
d. remains constant even if emissivity
varies 47. V\That component of earth's atmosphere
A.90 will completely or partially absorb
infrared electromagnetic energy in the
43. The spectral band in which glass wave band of 6-8 [lm?
transmits infrared radiation most
efficiently is the _ _ region. a. water vapor (H 2 0)
b. nitrogen (N) and oxygen (0 2 )
a. 2-4 jlm combined
b. 5-7 jlm c. oxygen (02 )
c. 6-10 jlm d. nitrogen (N)
d. 10-15 jlm A.180
A.291
48. Since wind will convectively cool
44. When water freezes: building components reducing thermal
differences, it is not advisable to perform
a. heat energy is absorbed from the building inspections on the windward
surroundings side when air speeds are in excess of:
b. the volume decreases and
conductivity increases a. 6 km/h (3.7 mph)
c. heat energy is released to the b. 12 km/h (7.5 mph)
surroundings c. 18 km/h (II mph)
d. the volume increases and conductivity d. 24 km/h (15 mph)
decreases G.6
8.15

• P817 eL17 Q917 Q917 01717 et;17 e;;17 or17

14 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

49. Which of the following statements

regarding infrared emission and
absorption is false?

a. good emitters are good absorbers

51. Distribution of energy over the
wavelength spectrum for a given
temperature is best described by which of
the following?
•
b. poor absorbers are poor emitters a. Planck's Law
c. good reflectors are good emitters b. Stefan-Boltzmann Law
d. poor reflectors are good absorbers c. Newton's Law
A.39 d. Fourier's Law
A.90; C.j_4-49
50. Radiosity is defined as:

a. the perfect emittance of a blackbody

surface
b. detectivity/transmissivity
c. a graybody whose emissivity is less
than 1
d. the total radiant exitance leaving a
surface (reflectance, emittance and
transmittance)
A.89; C.j_2-62

POS ~617
•
 Level Ill Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 15

I Level Ill Questions

Thermal and Infrared Testing Method

1. Energy is measured in units called: 4. Which device would be most appropriate

a. kelvin
b. joule
c. watt
d. Rankine
A.25
2. You are asked to inspect a new paper
laminating process, with a long oven and
stainless steel rollers, 91.44 em (36 in.)
wide. The paper is laminated with a foil,
and only the foil side is visible as it curves
around the stainless steel roller at the
oven exit. It is important to ensure the foil
temperature is uniform at the oven exit
for the adhesive to cure properly. What is
the best way to ensure the material is
cured?
a. view the nip between the roller and
the foil with an infrared radiometric
imager
b. use a thermocouple to measure the
moving foil temperature.
c. use reflective radiometry to get an
accurate temperature of the foil
d. increase the emissivity of the foil with
black paint
A.122
3. When observing an object at 51.85 oc
(325 K), which of the following detectors
has the greatest detectivity (D*)?
for measuring the surface temperature of
polyethylene film?
a. a focal plane array radiometer with a
InSb detector (3 to 5 ~m) cooled to
77 K (-196.15 °C)
b. a single element scanner with HgCdTe
detector (8 to 12 ~m) cooled to
77 K (-196.15 °C)
c. infrared point radiometer filtered to
detect 3.45 ~m radiation
d. calil:rrated bi-metal thermometer
A.292
5. Liquid-in-glass thermometers are
designed and calibrated for three
conditions of use. Which of the following
is not a condition of use for a
liquid-in-glass thermometer.
a. suspended immersion
b. total immersion
c. partial immersion
d. complete immersion
8.12-35
6. Which of the following nonuniformity
corrections (NUC) will best provide both
uniform detector response and correct
for offset between the target signal and
the detector response over the
temperature range of an active pulse IR
inspection?

a. HgCdTe (8 to 12 f1111) cooled to a. one point external

-19.6;15. oc (77 K) b. one point internal
b. triglyqene sulfate.(8 to 12 ~m) at c. two point external
ambient d. two point internal
c. InS!J (cH9 5 f1111}cooled to -196.15 oc E.45
(77 K)

•
d. PtSi(3to5~m)cooledto-196.15°C
(77 K)

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16 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

7. The energy emitted from a piece of metal

is measured and the temperature is
determined to be 900 oc (1652 °F)
assuming a surface emissivity of 0.79. It is
later found that the true emissivity is
11. What is the correct value of the
Stefan-Boltzmann constant?

a.
b.
5.67 X
5.67 x
10"'W/cm
10·" W/m'
•
0.84. What is the closest temperature of c. 5.67 x 1o·• W/m'. K'
the metal from the values listed below. d. 5.67 x 10·• W/cm' · K'
A.54
a. 918 °C (1684 °F)
b. 900 °C (1652 °F) 12. Wien's displacement law for determining
C. 882 °C (1620 °F) the peak wavelength of emitted radiation
d 400 °C (752 °F) may be expressed as:
0.389
a. Am"= 2897 /TK
8. Radiometric imagers of what wavelength b. Amu = TK · 2897
should be used for accurate surface C. Amu = 2.897/TK
temperature measurement of plate glass? d. Amox = 289.77/TK
A.38
a. wavelengths less than 1.0 fllll
b. wavelengths less than 4.5 flm 13. A change in the electrical resistance of
c. wavelengths greater than the responsive element in an infrared
4.5 flm detector due to temperature changes
d. wavelengths between 1.0 and produced by absorbed, incident infrared
2.4 flill radiation describes the:

•
A.29i
a. thermovoltaic effect
9. Actual surfaces frequently exhibit b. photovoltaic effect
variable emissivities over the wavelength c. pyroelectric effect
spectrum. These surfaces are commonly d. bolometric effect
referred to as: A.21

a. real bodies 14. The slit response method is the generally

b. graybodies accepted method for determining
c. blackbodies IFOVmeasurement. What percent
d. white bodies modulation is required to obtain an
C.385 accurate temperature?

10. The peak spectral radiance from a a. greater than 90%

blackbody with a temperature of 1800 K b. less than 90%
(1526.85 °C) is: c. 50%
d. none of the above
a. equal to that of a blackbody at A.296
1800 °R (726.85 °C)
b. twice that of a blackbody at 900 K 15. Thermographic stress analysis is based
(626.85 °C) on which of the following effects that
c. less than that of a blackbody at 900 K relates dynamic changes in stress to the
(626.85 °C) temperature changes they produce:
d. greater than that of a blackbody at
900 K (626.85 °C) a. thermal conductivity effect
A. 54 b. thermal diffusivity effect

•
c. thermoelastic effect
d. thermal gradient effect
A.325

PET POT 08
 Level Ill Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 17

• 16 Vibrothermography is a nondestructive
test method that involves monitoring the
surface of a material with an infrared
imager while the material is subjected to:
20. Heat is applied to the surface of a
0,635 em (0.25 in.) graphite epoxy
laminate. Which of the following
statements are true?

a. forced mechanical oscillations a. when heat is applied evenly over the

b. thermal waves surface, heat flow will be
c. laser eXcitation multidirectional into the part
d. sudden thermal shock b. when heat is applied unevenly over
A.334 the surface, heat flow will be one
dimensional through the part
18. Thermal radiation is strongly absorbed c. when heat is applied evenly over the
by water vapor in which of the following surface, heat flow will be
wave bands? unidirectional through the part until a
discontinuity is reached
a. 3.5 to 5 f111l d. when heat is applied evenly over the
b. 6to8f1m surface, heat flow will be
c. 9to 10f1111 multidirecynal through the part until
d. 10 to l2f1m a discontinuity is reached
A.180 8.54

18. The responsive element of infrared 21. You are asked to determine the minimum
detectors can be divided into what two defect size (surface indication) that can
groups? be resolved using a thermal imaging
system with an IFOV of 1.5 milliradians.

rl a. reflective detectors and emissive

detectors
You are following ASTM 2582-07 which
requires that nine contiguous pixels are
b. thermal detectors and photon projected within the boundaries of the
detectors indication. The minimum focus distance
c. static detectors and dynamic detectors of the thermal imager is 60.96 em (24 in.).
d. quantitative detectors and qualitative Assuming the surface of the component
detectors has an emissivity of 0.94, what is the
A.274 minimum defect size that can be resolved
using the above system?
19. A good material for making a lens for an
infrared imager is a. 0.0914 em (0.036 in.)
b. 0.1829 em (0.072 in.)
a. germanium c. 0.2743 em (0.108 in.)
b. graphite epoxy d. 0.9144 em (0.36 in.)
c. indium antimonide A.279; 1.2
d. glass
8.12-58

• om:
18 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

22. How do you know that an active pulse

thermographic inspection of a material
had sufficient power and inspection time?

a. using the log plot, look for a break in

25, For the purpose of thermally locating
subsurface discontinuities; what is the
best method of applying heat to the
surface of an 8 ply carbon fiber face sheet
to detect a delamination between ply 1
•
the straight line indicating heat hitting and2?
the back wall
b. using full power on the flash lamps a. quartz lamps
will always provide sufficient power b. hot air gun
c. the peak contrast plot will indicate all c. incandescent heat lamp
possible indications are identified d. capacitor driven flash lamps
d. there is no way to determine sufficient A.376
power and time have been used
1.4 26. Thermal diffusivity is proportional to:

23. You are inspecting a 1 in. (2.54 em) thick a. emissivity times reflectivity
aluminum panel that has been heated to b. heat capacitance
50 'C (122 'F). A small surface hole in the c. thermal conductivity divided by heat
panel appears warmer than the smooth capacitance
surface surrounding it. Why? d. spectral bandwidth divided by
responsivity
a. the crack or hole has a higher A.57
emittance
b. the surface emits less long wave 27. You suspect that a potential defect

•
thermal radiation indication in a sample may be due to a
c. the reflectivity of a crack or hole reflection from the flash larup. What
equals 0.9999 should you do to determine if the
d. radiation-is not emitted by alwninum anomaly was a defect or a reflection?
surfaces
A.123 a. unless the anomaly looks like a
reflection of the lamp it must be a
24. What is the best surface preparation for defect
using quartz lamps to conduct an active b. rotate the part and test again - if the
thermographic inspection of a composite anomaly moves with the part it is
component? probably a defect
c. do destructive analysis to see if the
a. optically reflective and thermally indication was a defect
reflective d. flip the part over and inspect from the
b. optically absorptive and thermally back side
emissive 1.2
c. optically absorptive and thermally
neutral 28. When using solvent to clean a test piece
d. optically reflective and thermally for thermal evaluation it is important to:
emissive
A.122 a. be sure the solvent is dry for 5 min
before the inspect begins
b. be sure the solvent has fully
evaporated
c. be sure the piece has returned to
thermal equilibrium

qa:
d. never use solvents before thermal
NDT evaluations

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•
 Level Ill Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 19

• 29. According to.ASTM E2582-07, as. the

depth of a flaw increases, the size of the
minimum detectable flaw must:

a. remain the same

34. The minimum resolvable temperature
difference is a subjective measurement
that depends on the:

a. infrared imaging systems spatial

b. increase resolution only
c. decrease b. infrared imaging systems thermal
d. elongate sensitivity and spatial resolution
1.2 c. infrared imaging systems
measurement resolution only
30. According to ASTM E2582-07, the optics d. infrared imaging system's minimum
and the focal plane should be sufficient so spot size
that the projection of nine contiguous A.177
pixels onto the sample plane is:
35. The spatial resolution of an instrument is
a. greater than the minimum flaw area related to the:
b. equal to or greater than the minimum
flaw area a. instantaneous field of view and the
c. less than the minimum flaw area working distance
d. less than or equal to the minimum b. thermal resolution and the system
flaw area detectivity
1.2 c. spectral band width and the working

(.
distance
31. According to ASTM E2582-07, the peak d. system responsivity divided by the
contrast time of a subsurface defect working distance
depends on which of the following: A.281

a. depth of the flaw 36. How does temperature affect the

b. orientation of the flaw wavelength of infrared peak emittance of
c. size of the flaw an object?
d. depth and size of the flaw
1.2 a. lower temperature objects have
shorter peak emittance wavelengths
b. higher temperature objects have
32. For high-speed imaging (in excess of shorter peak emittance wavelengths
60 frames per second), which of the c. temperature variations do not affect
following detector materials is most the wavelength of emitted radiation
appropriate: d. objects experiencing transient
temperatures will emit longer waves
a. PtSi when they are increasing in
b. pyroelectric vidicon temperature and shorter waves when
c. InSb they are cooling
d. mercury cadmium telluride F.6
A.191, 274
37. Of the following contact temperature
33. A pyroelectric vidicon is a sensors, which is considered to be the
sensor. most accurate sensor?

a. photon a. RTDs
b. thermal b. thermocouples
c. bolometer c. thermistors
:t d. thermal/pressure
A.188
d. liquid in glass thermometers
A.229

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20 Supplement to Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

38. Which optica1 property changes due to

temperature changes in liquid crystals?

a.
b.
absorptivity
reflectivity
42. The energy emitted by an object radiates
from a surface layer that is how thick?

a.
b.
3t04flm
10 f!m
•
c. transmissivity c. 100 flill
d. emissivity d. 200 to 400 11m
A.37 A.119

39. When heat is applied to an inspection
surface for active nondestructive
evaluation of a material, a thermogram
will develop that is a function of the
material, the nature of the discontinuity)
the heat intensity and:
a. the time of observation
b, the wave band of the thermal imager
used
c. the responsivity of the thermal
detector
d. surface roughness of the material
A.37
43. What are the two atmospheric gases that
absorb transmitted radiation over the
wave band of 1 to 15 f!m?
a. ozone and carbon dioxide
b. oxygen and ozone
c. water vapor and ozone
d. water vapor and carbon dioxide
A.180
44. Minimum resolvable temperature
difference is a subjective measurement
that depends on the infrared imaging
system's:

•
40. With respect to thermal nondestructive a. thermal sensitivity
testing, an empirical rule of thumb says b. spatial resolution
that the radius of the smallest detectable c. detectivity (D*)
discontinuity should be at least d. thermal sensitivity and spatial
_ _ _ _ as its depth under the surface. resolution
A.177
a. one-quarter as large
b. one-half as large 45. You are asked to choose a thermal
c. as large imaging camera for a critical inspection
d. as large and preferably two or more of an aerospace component. If an
times as large anomaly is present it is expected to have a
A.43 very subtle signal with an MRTD about
75 mK. Expected surface temperature is
41. What is the term used to describe a in the vicinity of 350 K. Which of the
thermal NDT technique where following detectors will provide the
mechanical vibrations are externally greatest thermal contrast?
induced into a structure producing heat
caused by frictiori at discontinuities such a. vanadium oxide microbolometer
as cracks and delaminations? 8 to 12 11m
b. mercury cadmium telluride 8 to
a. ultrasonic thermography 12 flm
b. mechanically induced thermography c. lead selinide 3 to 5 11m
c. frictionally induced thermography d. indium antimonide 3.5 to 5 11m
d. vibrothermography A.182, 188
A.44-45

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•
 Level Ill Questions: Thermal & Infrared Testing Method 21

• 46. When the radiant emission from a small

opening in an isothermal enclosure. is
examined, the spectral response is found
to closely approximate that of a:
50. An important and critical assumption
when using two-color pyrometers is that
a smooth curve exists between two
variables. What are these two variables?

a. spectral body a. roughness and color

b. colored body b. emissivity and wavelength
c. blackbody c. emissivity and temperature
d. graybody d. spectral translucence and emissivity
A.:l.23 A.i99

47. Which type of cryogenic cooling system 51. Compared to a thermocouple, an

for a photovoltaic type detector is
perhaps the best choice for laboratory
operation where reliability, quiet
operation, and low temperature are
required?
a. joule-thompson gas expansion using
argon gas
b. sterling cooler using helium as
coolaot
advantage of a resistance temperature
detector (RTD) is:
a. less expensive than a thermocouple
b. more linear than a thermocouple
c. wider temperature range than a
thermocouple
d. less stable than a thermocouple
A.229

(.
c. liquid nitrogen in a metal dewar 52. One of the advantages of using
d. thermoelectric coolers using the thermocouples for temperature
peltier effect measurement over a resistance
A.i82 temperature detector (RTD) is:

48. Which of following thermal detectors has a. thermocouples are more rugged
the highest detectivity (D*)? b. thermocouples are more stable
c. thermocouples are more accurate
a. InSb d. thermocouples are more linear
b. HgCdTe A.229
c. pyro-electric
d. microbolometer 53. One of the advantages of using a
A. iSS resistance temperature detector (RTD)
over a thermocouple is RTDs:
49. A material that has a flat spectral
emissivity curve from 3-12 ~m is a. have a wide temperature range
considered a: b. are self-powered
c. are more accurate
a. graybody d. are more rugged
b .. colored body A.229
c. blackbody
d. spectral body 54. The seebeck effect is the basis for what
A.54. :1.97. 687 temperature measurement device?

a. liquid-in-glass thermometers
b. thermocouples
c. thermistors
d. resistance temperature detectors

•
A.23i

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22 Supplement ioRecotnmendedPractiGe SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book): Thermal & Infrared Testing Method

55. You· are asked to choose a surface
temperature measuring device that must
meet the following·criteha: wide
tetnpefature· range; -operate ih a·variety of
environments, simple to install, rugged
and relatively ineXpensive. Which of the
followingdevices·meetsyour
requirenierits the best?
a. liquid-in-glass thermometers
b. resistance temperature detectors
c. thermistors
d. thermocouples
A.235
56. What material is used as the primary
element in high-accur"acy resistance
thermometers?
a. silVer
b. triglycene sulfate
c. nickel
d. platinum
A.248
59, You are asked to measure the temperature •
.of polyethelene at a temperattire tange
· 80to90°C(l76to194°F),What
waveband and with which filter will you
choose to make these temperature
measurements?
a. 3.4 to 5 flill with a 3.45 flm narrow
band pass filter
b. 3.4 to 5 fim with 4.8 flill high pass
filter
c. 8 to 13 flm with 7.9 flill lowpass filter
d. 8 to 13 fllli with a 10.3 flm narrow
band pass filter
A.292
60. When capturing a series of thermal·
images that record a transient thermal
event, such as occurs with pulse heating
of a material to detect subsurface
anomalies) most of the rapid Changes in
the thermal evolution curve occUr in the
time interval immediately following
thermal excitation. It is beneficial to view

•
the thermal images using what type of
57. Distinguishing real temperature changes time scale?
from apparent temperature changes is one
of the biggest challenges facing infrared a. linear
thermographers. Apparent temperature b. logarithmic
changes can be caused by differences in c. exponential
all of the following except: d. statistical
A.363
a. emissivity
b. thermal diffusivity
c. transmissivity
d. target geometry
A.289

58. Which spectral range will you choose to

measure the temperature of an object
with a temperature range of 200 to
1000 oc (392 to 1S32 °F), inside a heating
chamber with a glass viewing port?

a. 2to3f1m
b. 4to5rm
c. 6to8f1m
d. 8 to 13 flm
A.291

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•