ANALOG SIGNALS

Analog signals are continuous signals that vary smoothly and continuously over time. They represent information by varying their amplitude, frequency, or phase in a continuous manner. Analog signals can have an infinite number of values within a given range.

Here are some key characteristics of analog signals:

1. **Continuous**: Analog signals are continuous in nature, meaning they can take on any value within a specific range. There are no breaks or interruptions in the signal. For example, in an audio signal, the varying air pressure is continuously represented by the corresponding electrical voltage or current.

2. **Amplitude**: The amplitude of an analog signal refers to the strength or magnitude of the signal. It represents the range of values the signal can take. In an audio signal, the amplitude corresponds to the loudness or intensity of the sound.

3. **Frequency**: Frequency represents the rate at which the analog signal repeats its pattern over time. It is measured in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz). In the context of audio signals, frequency determines the pitch or perceived musical note.

4. **Waveform**: Analog signals are often represented graphically as waveforms. A waveform depicts how the signal's amplitude varies with respect to time. Common waveforms include sine waves, square waves, triangle waves, and sawtooth waves.

Analog signals are used in various applications, such as audio and video transmission, instrumentation, measurement, and control systems. However, analog signals can be susceptible to noise, distortion, and degradation over long distances, as they can be influenced by external factors and interferences.

Analog-to-digital conversion is often employed to convert analog signals into digital form for processing, storage, and transmission in digital systems. This conversion involves sampling the analog signal at discrete time intervals and quantizing its amplitude to a finite number of digital values.