Electrical Waveforms and Circuit Analysis

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to electrical waveforms and circuit analysis.

What is an Alternating waveform?

A waveform that oscillates above and below a defined reference level.

What does Angular velocity refer to in waveforms?

The velocity with which a radius vector projecting a sinusoidal function rotates about its center.

How is Average value defined in waveforms?

The level of a waveform defined by the condition that the area enclosed by the curve above this level is equal to the area enclosed by the curve below this level.

What is the purpose of a Calibration factor?

A multiplying factor used to convert from one meter indication to another.

What is a Clamp Meter® used for?

A clamp-type instrument that allows non-invasive current measurements and can also function as a conventional voltmeter or ohmmeter.

What does a Converter do?

It converts AC to DC.

Define the term Cycle in relation to waveforms.

A portion of a waveform contained in one period of time.

What is Effective value in electrical terms?

The equivalent DC value of any alternating voltage or current.

What are Electrodynamometer meters?

Instruments that can measure both AC and DC quantities without a change in internal circuitry.

How is Frequency (f) defined?

The number of cycles of a periodic waveform that occur in 1 second.

What is the function of a Frequency counter?

An instrument that provides a digital display of the frequency or period of a periodic time-varying signal.

What does Instantaneous value represent?

The magnitude of a waveform at any instant of time, denoted by lowercase letters.

What is the function of an Inverter?

It converts DC to AC.

Define Lagging waveform.

A waveform that crosses the time axis later than another waveform of the same frequency.

Define Leading waveform.

A waveform that crosses the time axis ahead of another waveform of the same frequency.

What is an Oscilloscope?

An instrument that displays the characteristics of a time-varying signal using a cathode-ray tube.

What does Peak amplitude refer to?

The maximum value of a waveform as measured from its average or mean value, denoted by uppercase letters.

What is the Peak-to-peak value?

The total swing of a signal from positive to negative peaks, which is the sum of the absolute values of the positive and negative peak values.

Define Peak value in waveforms.

The maximum value of a waveform, denoted by uppercase letters.

What is Period (T) in the context of waveforms?

The time interval necessary for one cycle of a periodic waveform.

What characterizes a Periodic waveform?

A waveform that continually repeats itself after a defined time interval.

What is Phase relationship in waveforms?

An indication of which of two waveforms leads or lags the other, and by how many degrees or radians.

Define Radian (rad).

A unit of measure used to define a segment of a circle, approximately equal to 57.3 degrees.

What is the Root-mean-square (rms) value?

The effective value of a waveform.

What is a Sinusoidal ac waveform?

An alternating waveform that oscillates with equal amplitude above and below a given axis.

What does VOM stand for?

A multimeter capable of measuring resistance and both AC and DC levels of current and voltage.

How is Average or real power defined?

The power delivered to and dissipated by the load over a full cycle.

Define Complex conjugate.

A complex number defined by changing the sign of the imaginary component of a complex number in rectangular form.

What defines a Complex number?

A number that represents a point in a two-dimensional plane with reference to two distinct axes.

What is the Derivative in calculus?

The instantaneous rate of change of a function with respect to time or another variable.

What do leading and lagging power factors indicate?

They indicate whether a network is primarily capacitive (leading) or inductive (lagging).

What is a Phasor?

A radius vector that has a constant magnitude at a fixed angle and represents a sinusoidal voltage or current in the vector domain.

What is a Phasor diagram?

A snapshot of the phasors representing multiple sinusoidal waveforms at t=0.

Define Polar form in the context of complex numbers.

A method defining a point in a complex plane by its distance from the origin and the angle from the positive real axis.

What does Power factor ( Fp ) indicate in electrical systems?

An indication of how reactive or resistive an electrical system is.

What is Reactance?

The opposition of an inductor or capacitor to the flow of charge, leading to energy exchange in the circuit.

What is a Reciprocal?

A format defined by 1 divided by the complex number.

Define Rectangular form in relation to complex numbers.

A method to define a point in a complex plane using both the real and imaginary components.

What is a Bridge network?

A configuration having the appearance of a diamond, with no two branches in series or parallel.

What is a Capacitance comparison bridge used for?

To determine an unknown capacitance and associated resistance using a galvanometer.

What does Delta (∆) configuration refer to?

A network configuration shaped like the capital Greek letter delta.

What is a Dependent (controlled) source?

A source whose magnitude and/or phase angle is determined by a current or voltage of the system.

What is a Hay bridge?

A bridge configuration used for measuring the resistance and inductance of coils where resistance is a small fraction of reactance.

Define an Independent source.

A source whose magnitude is independent of the connected network, maintaining its characteristics even when isolated.

What is a Maxwell bridge used for?

Used for inductance measurements when the coil resistance is large enough not to require a Hay bridge.

What is Mesh analysis?

A method to determine the loop currents of a network, which helps find branch currents directly.

Define Nodal analysis.

A method to determine the nodal voltages of a network using Kirchhoff’s voltage law.

What is Source conversion?

Changing a voltage source to a current source or vice versa, while maintaining the same terminal behavior.

What is a Wye (Y) configuration?

A network configuration shaped like the capital letter Y.

What is Millman’s theorem?

A method using voltage-to-current source conversions to determine unknown variables in a multiloop network.

What does Norton’s theorem permit?

The reduction of any two-terminal linear AC network to a single current source and parallel impedance.

What does the Reciprocity theorem state?

For single-source networks, the current in any branch due to a voltage source will equal the current through that branch if the source is moved.

What is the Substitution theorem?

If voltage and current in a branch are known, that branch can be replaced by any combination of elements maintaining the same voltage and current.

What is the Superposition theorem used for?

To analyze networks by considering the effects of each source independently.

What does Thévenin’s theorem allow?

The reduction of any two-terminal linear AC network to a single voltage source and series impedance.

What is a Voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS)?

A voltage source whose parameters are controlled by a voltage elsewhere in the system.