Neets Master Glossary

1-26 FERRITE—A powdered and compressed ferric oxide material that has both magnetic properties and light resistance to current flow [11]. FERRITE SWITCH—A ferrite device that blocks the flow of energy through a waveguide by rotating the electric field 90 degrees. The rotated energy is then reflected or absorbed [11]. FERROMAGNETIC MATERIAL—A highly magnetic material, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or their alloys [1]. FERRULES—The cylindrical metallic ends of a cartridge fuse [3]. FIBER OPTICS—Conductors or optical waveguides that readily pass light [17]. FIBROUS BRAID—An outer covering used to protect a conductor's insulating material. Commonly made from cotton, linen, silk, rayon, or fiberglass [4]. FIDELITY—(1) The faithful reproduction of a signal. (2) The accuracy with which a system reproduces a signal at its output that faithfully maintains the essential characteristics of the input signal [7] [8] [12] [17]. FIELD—The electromagnet which furnishes the magnetic field that interacts with the armature in motors and generators [5]. FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR (FET)—A transistor consisting of a source, a gate, and a drain. Current flow is controlled by the transverse electric field under the gate [7]. FIELD EXCITATION—The creation of a steady magnetic field within the field windings by the application of a dc voltage either from the generator itself or from an external source [5]. FIELD OF FORCE—A term used to describe the total force exerted by an action-at-a-distance phenomenon such as gravity upon matter, electric charges acting upon electric charges, and magnetic forces acting upon other magnets or magnetic materials [1]. FILAMENT—The cathode of a thermionic tube, usually a wire or ribbon, which is heated by current passing through it [6]. FILM ICs—Conductive or nonconductive material deposited on a glass or ceramic substrate. Used for passive circuit components, resistors, and capacitors [14]. FILTER—A selective network of resistors, capacitors, and inductors that offers comparatively little opposition to certain frequencies, while blocking or attenuating other frequencies [6] [9]. FINAL POWER AMPLIFIER (FPA)—The final stage of amplification in a transmitter [12]. FIRST DETECTOR—See MIXER [18]. FIXED BIAS—A constant value of bias voltage [6] [7] [13]. FIXED RESISTOR—A resistor having a definite resistance value that cannot be adjusted [1]. FIXED SPARK GAP—A device used to discharge the pulse-forming network. A trigger pulse ionizes the air between two contacts to initiate the discharge [12]. FLAT LINE—A transmission line that has no standing waves. This line requires no special timing devices to transfer maximum power [10].