Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Sys Eng - Electrical > Circuit Symbols > Flashcards

Circuit Symbols Flashcards

1
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Wire

To pass current very easily from one part of a circuit to another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q
A

Wires joined

A ‘blob’ should be drawn where wires are connected (joined), but it is sometimes omitted. Wires connected at ‘crossroads’ should be staggered slightly to form two T-junctions, as shown on the right.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q
A

Wires not joined

In complex diagrams it is often necessary to draw wires crossing even though they are not connected. The simple crossing on the left is correct but may be misread as a join where the ‘blob’ has been forgotten. The bridge symbol on the right leaves no doubt!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q
A

Transformer

Two coils of wire linked by an iron core. Transformers are used to step up (increase) and step down (decrease) AC voltages. Energy is transferred between the coils by the magnetic field in the core. There is no electrical connection between the coils.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q
A

Cell

Supplies electrical energy.
The larger terminal (on the left) is positive (+).
<small>A single cell is often called a battery, but strictly a battery is two or more cells joined together.</small>

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q
A

Battery

Supplies electrical energy. A battery is more than one cell.
The larger terminal (on the left) is positive (+).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q
A

Solar Cell

Converts light to electrical energy.
The larger terminal (on the left) is positive (+).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q
A

DC supply

Supplies electrical energy.
DC = Direct Current, always flowing in one direction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q
A

AC supply

Supplies electrical energy.
AC = Alternating Current, continually changing direction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q
A

Fuse

A safety device which will ‘blow’ (melt) if the current flowing through it exceeds a specified value.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q
A

Earth

A connection to earth. For many electronic circuits this is the 0V (zero volts) of the power supply, but for mains electricity and some radio circuits it really means the earth. It is also known as ground.

(Ground)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q
A

Lamp (lighting)

A transducer which converts electrical energy to light. This symbol is used for a lamp providing illumination, for example a car headlamp or torch bulb.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q
A

Lamp (indicator)

A transducer which converts electrical energy to light. This symbol is used for a lamp which is an indicator, for example a warning light on a car dashboard.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q
A

Heater

A transducer which converts electrical energy to heat.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q
A

Motor

A transducer which converts electrical energy to kinetic energy (rotational motion).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q
A

Bell

A transducer which converts electrical energy to sound.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q
A

Buzzer

A transducer which converts electrical energy to sound.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q
A

Inductor (Coil, Solenoid)

A coil of wire which creates a magnetic field when current passes through it. It may have an iron core inside the coil. It can be used as a transducer converting electrical energy to mechanical energy by pulling on something.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q
A

Push Switch (push-to-make)

A push switch allows current to flow only when the button is pressed. This is the switch used to operate a doorbell.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q
A

Push-to-Break Switch

This type of push switch is normally closed (on), it is open (off) only when the button is pressed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q
A

On-Off Switch

SPST = Single Pole, Single Throw.
An on-off switch allows current to flow only when it is in the closed (on) position.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q
A

2-Way Switch (SPDT)

SPDT = Single Pole, Double Throw.
A 2-way changeover switch directs the flow of current to one of two routes according to its position. Some SPDT switches have a central off position and are described as ‘on-off-on’.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q
A

Dual On-Off Switch (DPDT)

DPST = Double Pole, Single Throw.
A dual on-off switch which is often used to switch mains electricity because it can isolate both the live and neutral connections.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q
A

Reversing Switch (DPDT)

DPDT = Double Pole, Double Throw.
This switch can be wired up as a reversing switch for a motor. Some DPDT switches have a central off position.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q
A

Relay

An electrically operated switch, for example a 9V battery circuit connected to the coil can switch a 230V AC mains circuit.
<small>NO = Normally Open, COM = Common, NC = Normally Closed.</small>

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Resistor

A resistor restricts the flow of current, for example to limit the current passing through an LED. A resistor is used with a capacitor in a timing circuit.
<small>Some publications use the old resistor symbol:</small>

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Variable Resistor (Rheostat)

This type of variable resistor with 2 contacts (a rheostat) is usually used to control current. Examples include: adjusting lamp brightness, adjusting motor speed, and adjusting the rate of flow of charge into a capacitor in a timing circuit.

28
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Variable Resistor (Potentiometer)

This type of variable resistor with 3 contacts (a potentiometer) is usually used to control voltage. It can be used like this as a transducer converting position (angle of the control spindle) to an electrical signal.

29
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Variable Resistor (Preset/Trimpot)

This type of variable resistor (a preset) is operated with a small screwdriver or similar tool. It is designed to be set when the circuit is made and then left without further adjustment. Presets are cheaper than normal variable resistors so they are often used in projects to reduce the cost.

30
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

A transducer which converts electrical energy to light.

31
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Capacitor

A capacitor stores electric charge. A capacitor is used with a resistor in a timing circuit. It can also be used as a filter, to block DC signals but pass AC signals.

32
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Capacitor (Polarised/Electrolytic)

A capacitor stores electric charge. This type must be connected the correct way round. A capacitor is used with a resistor in a timing circuit. It can also be used as a filter, to block DC signals but pass AC signals.

33
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Variable Capacitor

A variable capacitor is used in a radio tuner.

34
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Trimmer Capacitor

This type of variable capacitor (a trimmer) is operated with a small screwdriver or similar tool. It is designed to be set when the circuit is made and then left without further adjustment.

35
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Diode

A device which only allows current to flow in one direction.

36
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Zener Diode

A special diode which is used to maintain a fixed voltage across its terminals.

37
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Photodiode

A light-sensitive diode.

38
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Transistor (NPN)

A transistor amplifies current. It can be used with other components to make an amplifier or switching circuit.

39
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Transistor PNP

A transistor amplifies current. It can be used with other components to make an amplifier or switching circuit.

40
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Phototransistor

A light-sensitive transistor.

41
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Microphone

A transducer which converts sound to electrical energy.

42
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Earphone

A transducer which converts electrical energy to sound.

43
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Loudspeaker

A transducer which converts electrical energy to sound.

44
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Piezo Transducer

A transducer which converts electrical energy to sound.

45
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Amplifier
<small>(generalsymbol)</small>

An amplifier circuit with one input. Really it is a block diagram symbol because it represents a circuit rather than just one component.

46
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Antenna / Aerial

A device which is designed to receive or transmit radio signals. It is also known as an antenna.

47
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Voltmeter

A voltmeter is used to measure voltage.
<small>The proper name for voltage is ‘potential difference’, but most people prefer to say voltage!</small>

48
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Ammeter
An ammeter is used to measure current.

49
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Galvanometer

A galvanometer is a very sensitive meter which is used to measure tiny currents, usually 1mA or less.

50
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Ohmmeter

An ohmmeter is used to measure resistance. Most multimeters have an ohmmeter setting.

51
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Oscilloscope

An oscilloscope is used to display the shape of electrical signals and it can be used to measure their voltage and time period.

52
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)

A transducer which converts brightness (light) to resistance (an electrical property).
LDR = Light Dependent Resistor

53
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

Thermistor

A transducer which converts temperature (heat) to resistance (an electrical property).

54
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

NOT

A NOT gate can only have one input. The ‘o’ on the output means ‘not’. The output of a NOT gate is the inverse (opposite) of its input, so the output is true when the input is false. A NOT gate is also called an inverter.

55
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

AND

An AND gate can have two or more inputs. The output of an AND gate is true when all its inputs are true.

56
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

NAND

A NAND gate can have two or more inputs. The ‘o’ on the output means ‘not’ showing that it is a Not AND gate. The output of a NAND gate is true unless all its inputs are true.

57
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

OR

An OR gate can have two or more inputs. The output of an OR gate is true when at least one of its inputs is true.

58
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

NOR

A NOR gate can have two or more inputs. The ‘o’ on the output means ‘not’ showing that it is a Not OR gate. The output of a NOR gate is true when none of its inputs are true.

59
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

EX-OR

An EX-OR gate can only have two inputs. The output of an EX-OR gate is true when its inputs are different (one true, one false).

60
Q

Can you name this circuit symbol and describe its function?

A

EX-NOR

An EX-NOR gate can only have two inputs. The ‘o’ on the output means ‘not’ showing that it is a Not EX-OR gate. The output of an EX-NOR gate is true when its inputs are the same (both true or both false).

61
Q

Can you identify this circuit symbol and describe its function?

Thermistor

PTC - Positive Temperature Coefficient

NTC - Negative Temperature Coefficient

A


62
Q

Can you identify this circuit symbol and describe its function?

Silicon Controlled Rectifier

A

63
Q

Can you identify this circuit symbol and describe its function?

TRIAC

A

64
Q

Can you identify this circuit symbol and describe its function?

Crystal

A

65
Q

Can you name and draw a range of LAN Topologies?

LAN Toplologies

A

Sys Eng - Electrical (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions