Neets Master Glossary

1-48 NEGATION—The process of inverting the value of a function or variable [13]. NEGATIVE ALTERNATION—That part of a sine wave that is below the reference level [2] [10] [12]. NEGATIVE CLAMPER—A circuit that clamps the upper extremity of the output waveshape to a dc potential of 0 volts [9]. NEGATIVE ELECTRODE—A terminal or electrode having more electrons than normal. Electrons flow out of the negative terminal of a voltage source [1]. NEGATIVE FEEDBACK—Feedback in which the feedback signal is out of phase with the input signal. Also called DEGENERATIVE FEEDBACK [8]. NEGATIVE LOGIC—The form of logic in which the more positive voltage level represents a logic 0, FALSE, or LOW and the more negative voltage represents a logic 1, TRUE, or HIGH [13]. NEGATIVE-RESISTANCE ELEMENT—A component having an operating region in which an increase in the applied voltage increases the resistance and produces a proportional decrease in current. Examples include tunnel diodes and silicon unijunction transistors [11]. NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT—A characteristic of a semiconductor material, such as silver sulfide, in which resistance to electrical current flow decreases as temperature increases [1] [4] [7]. NETWORK—A combination of electrical components. In a parallel circuit it is composed of two or more branches [1]. NEUTRAL—(1) In a normal condition, hence neither positive nor negative. A neutral object has a normal number of electrons (the same number as protons) [1]. (2) The teletypewriter operation where current flow represents a mark and no flow represents a space [17]. NEUTRALIZATION—The process of counteracting or "neutralizing" the effects of interelectrode capacitance [8]. NEWTON'S SECOND LAW OF MOTION—If an unbalanced outside force acts on a body, the resulting acceleration is directly proportional to the magnitude of the force, is in the direction of the force, and is inversely proportional to the mass of the body [15]. NODE—The fixed minimum points of voltage or current on a standing wave or antenna [10]. NOISE—(1) In reference to sound, an unwanted disturbance caused by spurious waves that originate from man-made or natural sources [10]. (2) In radar, erratic or random deflection or intensity of the indicator sweep that tends to mask small echo signals [18]. NOISE FIGURE—The ratio of output noise to input noise in a receiver [18]. NOISE LIMITER—Circuit that clips the peaks of the noise spikes in a receiver [17]. NOISE SILENCER—See NOISE LIMITER [17]. NOISE SUPPRESSOR—See NOISE LIMITER [17]. NO-LOAD CONDITION—The condition that exists when an electrical source or secondary of a transformer is operated without an electrical load [2].