Abstract: This chapter discusses the amplitude descriptions of a sinusoidal waveform. Any sinusoidal waveform can be described completely by identifying either time or frequency parameters and one of three possible amplitude specifications. There are three possible ways to express the amplitude of a sinusoidal waveform: peak, peak-to-peak, and root-mean-square (RMS). The sinusoidal waveform is a symmetrical waveform, so the positive peak value is same as the negative peak value. The peak-to-peak amplitude is simply a measurement of the amplitude of a waveform taken from its positive peak to its negative peak. There is a mathematical relationship of peak and peak-to-peak amplitude specifications for all sine waves. Because the positive peak value is equal to the negative peak value, the peak-to peak value is equal to two times the value of either peak voltage. Root-mean-square allows the comparison of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) circuit values, and RMS values are the most common methods of specifying sinusoidal waveforms. In fact, almost all AC voltmeters and ammeters are calibrated, so that they measure AC values in terms of RMS amplitude. The chapter introduces the basic trigonometric functions in relation to sinusoidal waveforms.
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 3
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