ELECTRONICS DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Abstract algebra: the area of modern mathematics that considers algebraic

structures to be sets with operations defined on them, and extends algebraic

concepts usually associated with the real number system to other more general

systems, such as groups, rings, fields, modules and vector spaces

2. Algebra: a branch of mathematics that uses symbols or letters to represent

variables, values or numbers, which can then be used to express operations and

relationships and to solve equations

3. Algebraic expression: a combination of numbers and letters equivalent to a

phrase in language, e.g. x2 + 3x - 4

4. Algebraic equation: a combination of numbers and letters equivalent to a

sentence in language, e.g. y = x2 + 3x - 4

5. Algorithm: a step by step procedure by which an operation can be carried out
6. Amicable numbers: pairs of numbers for which the sum of the divisors of one

number equals the other number, e.g. 220 and 284, 1184 and 1210
7. Analytic (Cartesian) geometry: the study of geometry using a coordinate

system and the principles of algebra and analysis, thus defining geometrical

shapes in a numerical way and extracting numerical information from that

representation
8. Analysis (mathematical analysis): grounded in the rigorous formulation of

calculus, analysis is the branch of pure mathematics concerned with the notion of

a limit (whether of a sequence or of a function)

9. Arithmetic: the part of mathematics that studies quantity, especially as the result

of combining numbers (as opposed to variables) using the traditional operations

of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division (the more advanced

manipulation of numbers is usually known as number theory)

10. Associative property: property (which applies both to multiplication and

addition) by which numbers can be added or multiplied in any order and still yield

the same value, e.g. (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) or (ab)c = a(bc)

11. Asymptote: a line that the curve of a function tends towards as the independent

variable of the curve approaches some limit (usually infinity) i.e. the distance

between the curve and the line approaches zero

12. Axiom: a proposition that is not actually proved or demonstrated, but is

considered to be self-evident and universally accepted as a starting point for

deducing and inferring other truths and theorems, without any need of proof.
13. Absolute field strength meter Device used for accurate measurements of

signal strength. Usually measured in microvolts per meter.

14. Absorption In fiber-optic communication, the way light energy is converted to

heat in the core material owing to the impurity of the

15. glass or plastic.
16. Absorption wave meter Variable tuned circuit with an indicator that tells when

the tuned circuit is resonant to a signal coupled to the meter by a transmitter;

provides a rough indication of frequency.

17. Access method The protocol used for transmitting and receiving information on

a bus.
18. Access point (AP) A Wi-Fi LAN hot-spot connection device.
19. Accumulator The combination of a register and adder.
20. Acknowledge character (ACK) A character that acknowledges that a

transmission was received.

21. Additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) A synthetic random noise based on a

Gaussian distribution of frequencies and amplitudes used in bit error rate (BER)

testing of digital communications equipment.

22. Advanced encryption standard (AES) An encryption method developed by the

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to be more secure than

the older DES standard because it uses 128, 192, or 256 bit keys.
23. Advanced mobile phone system (AMPS) The original cell phone system,based

on analog radio technologies.

24. Advanced television standards committee (ATSC) A standards body that sets

thespecifications for digital high-definition televisionand other video systems.

25. A-law companderThe type of companding used in European telephone

networks.
26. Aliasing A problem that occurs when the sampling frequency is not high enough.
27. All-pass filter A filter that passes all frequencies equally well over its design

range but has a fixed or predictable phase shift

28. American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) The most

widelyused data communication code. This is a

29. 7-bit binary code.
30. Amplification The boosting of signal voltage and power.
31. Amplitude modulation Varying the amplitude of a carrier signal to transmit

information.
32. Amplitude shift keying (ASK) Amplitude modulation by square waves or

rectangular binary pulses.

33. Analog multiplier A type of IC that performs mathematical multiplication of two

signals and can be used as a balanced modulator. It

34. uses differential amplifiers operating in a linear mode.
35. Analog oscilloscope Device that amplifies the signal to be measured and

displays it on the face of a CRT at a specific sweep rate.

36. Analog signal A smoothly and continuously varying voltage or current.
37. Analog-to-digital conversion (A/D conversion)The process of sampling or

measuringan analog signal at regular intervals andconverting it into a binary

value.
38. Angle modulation A collective term referring to FM and PM.
39. Angle of elevation The angle between the line from the earth station’s antenna

to the satellite and the line between the same antenna and the earth’s horizon.
40. Angle of incidence An angle A between the incident ray and the normal at the

reflecting surface.
41. Angle of inclination The angle formed between the line that passes through the

center of the earth and the north pole and the line that passes through the center

of the earth and is also perpendicular to the orbital plane.

42. Angstrom (Å) A unit of measure for light wavelength, equal to 10210 m or 1024

μm.
43. Answering machineA feature on an electronic telephone that answers a call

after a preprogrammed number of rings and saves the voice message. More

formally called voice mail.

44. Antenna An electromechanical device used to transmit or receive radio signals.
45. Antenna array Two or more antenna elements combined to create an antenna
46. Antenna bandwidth The range of frequencies over which an antenna operates

efficiently; the difference between the upper and lower cutoff frequencies of the

antenna, which acts as a resonant circuit or bandpass filter.

47. Antenna directivity The ability of an antenna to send or receive signals over a

narrow horizontal or vertical directional range.

48. Antenna Q The ratio of inductive reactance to resistance. Although it is diffi cult

to calculate the exact Q for an antenna, the higher the Q,the narrower the

bandwidth. Lowering Q widens bandwidth.

49. Antenna radiation pattern The geometric shape of the signal strength around

an antenna.
50. Antenna reciprocity The condition that exists when the characteristics and

performance of an antenna are the same whether the antenna is radiating or

intercepting a signal.