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Analogue and digital signals key terms
Study Analogue and digital signals with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.
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key terms
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Topic
Analogue and digital signals
Key terms
analogue signal
A continuous signal that represents physical measurements, where the signal can take any value within a given range.
digital signal
A discrete signal that represents data as a sequence of distinct values, typically in binary form (0s and 1s).
key difference
The primary distinction is that analogue signals are continuous and can vary smoothly, while digital signals are discrete and represent information in distinct steps.
sampling
The process of converting a continuous signal into a discrete signal by taking measurements at regular intervals.
quantisation
The process of mapping a continuous range of values into a finite range of discrete values, often used in digital signal processing.
analogue signal
A continuous signal that represents physical measurements, where the signal can take any value within a given range.
analogue signal
A continuous signal that represents physical measurements, where the information is conveyed through varying voltage or current levels.
digital signal
A discrete signal that represents data as a sequence of separate values, typically in binary form, where information is conveyed through distinct voltage levels.
noise
Unwanted disturbances that affect the quality of a signal, which can interfere with the transmission and processing of both analogue and digital signals.
Amplitude
The maximum displacement of a signal from its equilibrium position, indicating its strength.
Frequency
Frequency is a precise Difference between analogue and digital signals term in AQA A-Level Physics electronics. The number of complete signal cycles per unit time, measured in hertz (Hz). When using this term, connect it to the input condition, the relevant component or circuit response, and the output signal, measurement, graph feature, or control effect. This makes the definition curriculum-specific and prevents it becoming a generic electronics phrase.
Sampling rate
The number of samples taken per second when converting a continuous signal to a digital representation.
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