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Eduqas GCSE Electronics > Year 10 Mock Assessment > Flashcards

Year 10 Mock Assessment Flashcards

1
Q

What is the primary function of an input system in electronics?

A

Converts physical quantities (light, temp, sound) into electrical signals

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2
Q

What are 3 common input transducers?

A

LDR (light), thermistor (temp), microphone (sound)

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3
Q

How does a microphone work as an input device?

A

Converts sound waves into varying voltage signals

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4
Q

What is the purpose of signal conditioning in input systems?

A

Amplifies/filters weak/noisy signals for processing (e.g., op-amp circuits)

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5
Q

What does a processing system do?

A

Manipulates input signals (e.g., amplifies, compares, counts, or computes)

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6
Q

Name 3 types of processing components.

A

Op-amps, microcontrollers, logic gates

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7
Q

What is the role of an amplifier in processing?

A

Increases signal power/voltage (e.g., pre-amp boosts microphone signals)

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8
Q

How does a microcontroller process inputs?

A

Runs programmed instructions to make decisions (e.g., traffic light sequences)

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9
Q

What is the function of an output system?

A

Converts electrical signals back into physical actions (light, motion, sound)

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10
Q

Name 4 output devices.

A

LEDs, motors, speakers, relays

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11
Q

How does an LED work as an output?

A

Lights up when current passes through (requires current-limiting resistor)

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12
Q

What is a relay used for in output systems?

A

Electrically isolates control circuit from high-power loads (e.g., motors)

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13
Q

How does a speaker convert electrical signals?

A

Coil vibrates in magnetic field to produce sound waves

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14
Q

What is the purpose of a driver circuit (e.g.

A

transistor/MOSFET)?

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15
Q

Give an example of a closed-loop system.

A

Thermostat: input (temp sensor) → processing (comparator) → output (heater)

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16
Q

What is feedback in electronic systems?

A

Output signal fed back to input to regulate performance (e.g., gain control)

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17
Q

How does a public address (PA) system chain work?

A

Mic (input) → pre-amp → mixer → power amp → speaker (output)

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18
Q

What is the difference between analog and digital processing?

A

Analog: continuous signals; Digital: discrete binary values (0/1)

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19
Q

Why use buffers between subsystems?

A

Prevents loading (e.g., op-amp voltage follower isolates stages)

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20
Q

What is impedance matching?

A

Ensures max power transfer between stages (e.g., mic to pre-amp)

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21
Q

What is Ohm’s Law formula?

A

V = I × R

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22
Q

How do you calculate power in a circuit?

A

P = V × I

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23
Q

What is the potential divider formula?

A

Vout = Vin × (R2/(R1+R2))

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24
Q

Why use a potential divider?

A

To obtain fraction of input voltage

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25
Q

How does resistance affect current?

A

Higher resistance = lower current (V constant)

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26
Q

What happens to voltage in a series circuit?

A

Divides proportionally to resistances

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27
Q

What happens to current in a parallel circuit?

A

Divides inversely with resistances

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28
Q

How to calculate total series resistance?

A

Rtotal = R1 + R2 + …

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29
Q

How to calculate total parallel resistance?

A

1/Rtotal = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + …

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30
Q

What is the loading effect?

A

“Voltage drop when load draws current”question

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31
Q

How to read 4-band resistor color codes?

A

1st-2nd: digits, 3rd: multiplier, 4th: tolerance

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32
Q

What does a SPST switch do?

A

Single Pole Single Throw - simple on/off

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33
Q

What does a SPDT switch do?

A

Single Pole Double Throw - changes path

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34
Q

What is a push-to-make switch?

A

Closes circuit only while pressed

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35
Q

What is a push-to-break switch?

A

Opens circuit only while pressed

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36
Q

What is a reed switch?

A

Magnetic switch with metal contacts

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37
Q

What is a variable resistor?

A

Resistance can be adjusted manually

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38
Q

What is a thermistor?

A

Temperature-dependent resistor (NTC/PTC)

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39
Q

What is an LDR?

A

Light Dependent Resistor - resistance changes with light

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40
Q

What is a fuse?

A

Protects circuit by melting at excess current

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41
Q

What are the 3 terminals of a bipolar transistor?

A

Collector, Base, Emitter

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42
Q

What is hFE in transistors?

A

Current gain (Ic/Ib)

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43
Q

How does an NPN transistor work?

A

Current at base controls larger collector current

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44
Q

What is transistor saturation?

A

Max current flow (fully on state)

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45
Q

What is transistor cutoff?

A

No current flow (fully off state)

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46
Q

What are MOSFET terminals?

A

Drain, Gate, Source

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47
Q

What is Vgs(th) for MOSFETs?

A

Minimum gate-source voltage to turn on

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48
Q

What is gM in MOSFETs?

A

Transconductance (ΔId/ΔVgs)

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49
Q

Why use MOSFET over bipolar transistor?

A

Voltage controlled, very high input impedance

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50
Q

What is a Darlington pair?

A

“Two transistors for very high current gain”question

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51
Q

What is the forward voltage of silicon diode?

A

~0.7V

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52
Q

What does a diode do?

A

Allows current in one direction only

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53
Q

What is a LED?

A

Light Emitting Diode - emits light when forward biased

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54
Q

What is a zener diode used for?

A

Voltage regulation (reverse breakdown)

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55
Q

What is a bridge rectifier?

A

4 diodes converting AC to DC

56
Q

What is a thyristor?

A

Latching switch (stays on once triggered)

57
Q

What is a triac?

A

Bidirectional thyristor for AC control

58
Q

What is a DIAC?

A

Bidirectional trigger device for triacs

59
Q

What is the purpose of a flyback diode?

A

Protects from voltage spikes when switching inductive loads

60
Q

What is optical isolation?

A

Uses LED-phototransistor to isolate circuits

61
Q

What are the 7 basic logic gates?

A

NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR, XNOR

62
Q

What is the truth table for AND gate?

A

0-0=0, 0-1=0, 1-0=0, 1-1=1

63
Q

What is De Morgan’s Theorem?

A

¬(A+B) = ¬A·¬B and ¬(A·B) = ¬A+¬B

64
Q

What is a universal gate?

A

Can make all other gates (NAND or NOR)

65
Q

How to implement NOT using NAND?

A

Connect both NAND inputs together (A·A)’ = A’

66
Q

How to implement AND using NAND?

A

NAND followed by NOT (using another NAND)

67
Q

How to implement OR using NAND?

A

Use De Morgan’s: A+B = (A’·B’)’ (NAND inverted inputs)

68
Q

How to implement NOR using NAND?

A

OR-with-NAND followed by NOT (two NANDs)

69
Q

How to implement XOR using NAND?

A

4 NANDs: (A NAND (A NAND B)) NAND (B NAND (A NAND B))

70
Q

How to implement XNOR using NAND?

A

XOR-with-NAND followed by NOT (5 NANDs total)

71
Q

What is the NAND-only circuit for A·B + C?

A

3 NANDs: (A NAND B)’ NAND C’

72
Q

How to make a 2-input multiplexer with NAND?

A

6 NANDs (requires AND/OR/NOT equivalents)

73
Q

Why is NAND preferred in IC design?

A

Fewer transistors needed in CMOS fabrication

74
Q

What is the NAND equivalent of A+B+C?

A

Invert inputs, NAND them: (A’·B’·C’)’

75
Q

How to verify NAND implementation correctness?

A

Compare truth tables with original gate

76
Q

What is the minimum NANDs needed for AND-OR logic?

A

n+1 (for n-input AND followed by NOT)

77
Q

How to implement A⊕B⊕C with NAND?

A

Cascade XOR NAND designs (12 NANDs)

78
Q

What is the NAND-only SR latch design?

A

Cross-coupled NANDs with Set/Reset inputs

79
Q

How to optimize NAND circuits?

A

Share common sub-expressions (e.g., (A NAND B)’ reuse)

80
Q

What is the NAND gate symbol?

A

AND symbol with bubble on output

81
Q

What is the Boolean algebra for NAND?

82
Q

What is the NAND truth table?

A

0-0=1, 0-1=1, 1-0=1, 1-1=0

83
Q

How does NAND behave as a NOT gate?

A

A NAND A = A’ (both inputs same)

84
Q

What is the NAND-based half-adder design?

A

Sum: XOR (4 NANDs), Carry: AND (2 NANDs)

85
Q

Why learn NAND implementations?

A

Foundation for CMOS logic and fault tolerance

86
Q

What is a truth table?

A

Shows all input combinations and outputs

87
Q

How many rows for n-input truth table?

88
Q

What is a multiplexer (MUX)?

A

Selects one of many inputs to output

89
Q

What is a demultiplexer (DEMUX)?

A

Routes single input to one of many outputs

90
Q

What is a decoder?

A

Converts binary code to activated output line

91
Q

What is an encoder?

A

Converts activated input to binary code

92
Q

What is a comparator?

A

Compares two numbers, outputs relationship

93
Q

What is a flip-flop?

A

1-bit memory storage element

94
Q

What is a shift register?

A

Stores and shifts data sequentially

95
Q

What is a counter?

A

“Sequences through predetermined states”question

96
Q

What is hysteresis in Schmitt trigger?

A

Different switching thresholds for rising/falling inputs

97
Q

Why use Schmitt trigger?

A

Clean switching with noisy signals, prevents chatter

98
Q

What are typical CMOS Schmitt thresholds?

A

V+ ≈ 2/3Vdd, V- ≈ 1/3Vdd

99
Q

How does comparator differ from Schmitt?

A

Comparator has single threshold, no hysteresis

100
Q

What is window comparator?

A

Checks if signal is between two voltages

101
Q

What is open-collector output?

A

Requires pull-up resistor, allows wired-OR

102
Q

What is rail-to-rail output?

A

Output swings nearly to supply voltages

103
Q

What is input offset voltage?

A

Small voltage difference needed for zero output

104
Q

What is comparator positive feedback?

A

Creates hysteresis (Schmitt trigger)

105
Q

What is comparator negative feedback?

A

Creates linear operation (op-amp)

106
Q

What is capacitor charging formula?

A

Vc = Vs(1-e^(-t/RC))

107
Q

What is time constant (τ)?

A

τ = R×C (time to reach 63% of Vs)

108
Q

How many τ to fully charge capacitor?

A

~5τ (99.3% charged)

109
Q

What is capacitor discharge formula?

A

Vc = V0×e^(-t/RC)

110
Q

What are electrolytic capacitor precautions?

A

Observe polarity, voltage rating

111
Q

What is Xc (capacitive reactance)?

A

Xc = 1/(2πfC)

112
Q

How do capacitors behave in DC?

A

Open circuit at steady state

113
Q

How do capacitors behave in AC?

A

Frequency-dependent resistance

114
Q

What is coupling capacitor?

A

Blocks DC, passes AC

115
Q

What is decoupling capacitor?

A

Filters power supply noise

116
Q

What is monostable output?

A

Single pulse of fixed duration

117
Q

What is astable output?

A

Continuous square wave

118
Q

555 monostable time formula?

A

T = 1.1×R×C

119
Q

555 astable frequency formula?

A

f = 1.44/((R1+2R2)×C)

120
Q

555 astable mark time?

A

T1 = 0.7×(R1+R2)×C

121
Q

555 astable space time?

A

T2 = 0.7×R2×C

122
Q

What is mark-space ratio?

A

T1/T2 = (R1+R2)/R2

123
Q

How to make 50% duty cycle astable?

A

Make R2&raquo_space; R1

124
Q

What is retriggerable monostable?

A

Can extend pulse by retriggering

125
Q

What is Schmitt trigger oscillator?

A

Uses RC network with hysteresis

126
Q

How to find unknown resistor in series?

A

Rtotal - known resistors

127
Q

How to find unknown resistor in parallel?

A

1/Runknown = 1/Rtotal - 1/Rknown

128
Q

How to calculate current through component?

A

I = V/R (Ohm’s Law)

129
Q

How to find voltage across component?

A

V = I×R or potential divider

130
Q

How to calculate power dissipation?

A

P = I²R or V²/R

131
Q

How to determine time constant?

A

τ = R×C (for RC circuits)

132
Q

How to measure frequency from oscilloscope?

A

f = 1/period (count divisions)

133
Q

How to calculate gain in dB?

A

20×log10(Vout/Vin)

134
Q

How to determine bandwidth?

A

f2 - f1 where gain drops by 3dB

135
Q

How to calculate charge on capacitor?

Eduqas GCSE Electronics (4 decks)

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