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Electronics Glossery: A

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Symbol for ampere

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Refers to the position of the key in the ignition switch; A wire showing 12 Volts (+) when in this position.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Alternating Current

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

Trivalent atoms that accept free electrons from pentavalent atoms.

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Circuit that passes an AC signal while blocking a DC voltage.

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Equipment that will operate on either an AC or DC power source

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Device used to transform mechanical energy into AC electrical power

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A graph representing all possible combinations of AC output voltage and current for an amplifier.

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The region of BJT operation between saturation and cutoff used for linear amplification

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A voltage in which the polarity alternates

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A component that changes the amplitude of a signal between input and output

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A filter that uses an amplifier in addition to reactive components to pass or reject selected frequencies

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Acoustic Absorption

The sound deadening properties of any substance, measured in sabine units. One sabine is equal to the absorption of 1 square foot of surface which will absorb all incident energy.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Acoustic Feedback

A squealing sound when the output of an audio circuit is fed back in phase into the circuit's input.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Acoustics

The study of sound. The science of production, effects, and transmission of sound waves through various mediums and the effects of absorption, diffraction, interference, reflection, and refraction.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Analog to Digital Converter

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

(symbol "Y") Measure of how easily AC will flow through a circuit. Admittance is the reciprocal of impedance and is measured in siemens

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

Audio Frequency

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automatic frequency control

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automatic gain control

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Name for an AC generator.

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A primary cell that delivers more current than a carbon-zinc cell. Also known as an "alkaline manganese cell".

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Ratio of collector current to emitter current in a bipolar junction transistor (BJT). Greek letter alpha "a" is the symbol used

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Aliasing Noise

The result of the sampling frequency not being at least double the highest analog frequency during the digital encoding of an analog signal.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Alternate-Channel Selectivity

A measurement of a tuner's ability to select one radio station's signal and reject the signal of another radio station two channels (0.4 Mhz) away. Measured in decibels, the higher the number the better.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Alternating Current (AC)

An electric current that reverses direction at regular intervals. Measured in Volts AC at Hertz, example: 110 volts AC 60 Hz.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Amplitude Modulation

also see: Amplitude Modulation
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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

American Wire Gauge (AWG)

A standard of the dimensional characteristics of wire used to conduct electrical current or signals. AWG is identical to the Brown and Sharpe (B & S) wire gauge.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Ammeter

An instrument that measures the magnitude of an electric current in amperes.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Ampere (amp)

A unit that defines the rate of flow of electricity (current) in a circuit.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Amplification

The increase in signal level, amplitude or magnitude.

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Amplifier

1) A device which increases the level of a signal by increasing the current or voltage.
2) May also be used to isolate or control a signal and even decrease the level as in a line output converter.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Amplifier, Power

An amplifier designed for driving loudspeakers and having a higher power output than a line amplifier or preamplifier.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Amplitude

The maximum value of a periodically varying quantity.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Amplitude Modulation (AM)

The encoding of a carrier wave by variation of it's amplitude in accordance with an input signal.

also see: AM Stereo
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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

The positive electrode or terminal of a device. The "P" material of a diode

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

A device that converts an electrical wave into an electromagnetic wave that radiates away from the antenna

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Analog

A way to represent data by means of continuously variable quantities. A control or circuit which continuously changes the level of a signal in direct relationship to the control setting. An electrical signal whose frequency and level vary continuously in direct relationship to the original acoustical sound waves. (something that is analogous)
Information represented as continously varying voltage or current rather than in discrete levels as opposed to digital data varying between two discrete levels

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Analog to Digital Convertor (ADC)

A circuit that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. With a continuous input signal the ADC will check the signal several time per second (sampling), assign values to the samples and represent it as a binary number (quantization and encoding).

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Analogous

Alike in certain ways. Similar in function but not in origin or structure.

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Antenna

An apparatus used for sending and receiving radio waves, usually constructed of metal.

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A device that converts a radiated electromagnetic wave into an electrical wave

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

Antenna Trimmer

An adjustment found on analog radios used to maximize AM reception. Turning this trimmer to the point where the sound is the loudest increases the sets signal to noise ratio optimizing performance.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Power attained in an AC circuit as a product of effective voltage and current which reach their peak at different times

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

Discharge of electricity through a gas such as lightning discharging through the atmosphere

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The rotating or moving component of a magnetic circuit

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An oscillator that uses an isolation transformer to achieve positive feedback from output to input

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An oscillator that produces a square wave output from a DC voltage

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To reduce the amplitude of an action or signal. The opposite of amplification

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Attenuator

A device to decrease or increase the strength of a signal.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Auto Eject

Feature of a cassette player that ejects the tape when it has finished playing one side.

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Auto Loud

Automatically provides low frequency boost for listening at low levels.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Auto Replay

Feature of a cassette player that automatically rewinds a tape when it has reached the end of one side, then begins to replay.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Auto Reverse

Feature of a cassette player that automatically plays the reverse side of a tape when one side has reached the end.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Auto Stop

Feature of a cassette player that automatically shuts off power when a tape has reached the end of either side in any mode.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Relating to frequencies that can be heard by the human ear. Approximately 20 Hz. to 20 kHz

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

A single winding transformer where the output is taken from taps on the winding

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Automatic Gain Control (AGC)

A circuit that continuously adjust the recording amplifier gain to maintain a relatively constant recording level.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

A value of voltage or current where the area of the wave above the value equals the area of the wave below the value

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

automatic volume control

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Aviation electronics

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Abbreviation for "american wire gauge". A gauge that assigns a number value to the diameter of a wire

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

Azimuth

The perpendicular alignment of the tape to the head of a tape player / recorder.

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Source:http://www.the12volt.com/glossary/glossary.asp

Definition

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Source:http://www.twysted-pair.com/dictionary.htm

Created: __/__/03
Updated: __/__/__
Checked: __/__/__