What is the Difference Between an Analog and Digital System?
This classification is based upon the type of signals used in the systems. Before looking into the differences between an analog system and a digital system, let us first try to see what the terms analog and digital mean. An Analog signal is one in which the values taken can be continuous. For example, if a signal varies in magnitude between 0 volts and 5 volts, it can take any value between 0 and 5. With a digital signal, there can only be discrete values. For example, a signal ranging from 0 to 5 volts could take the discrete values of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in a digital system. If a signal in the above digital system has the value of say, 2.2 at any instant of time, it is represented by the nearest discrete value (2, in this case). It may be noted that all signals ranging from 2 to 2.5 would be represented by 2 and all signals ranging from 2.5 to 3 would be represented by 3.
This classification is based upon the type of signals used in the systems. Before looking into the differences between an analog system and a digital system, let us first try to see what the terms analog and digital mean. An Analog signal is one in which the values taken can be continuous. For example, if a signal varies in magnitude between 0 volts and 5 volts, it can take any value between 0 and 5. With a digital signal, there can only be discrete values. For example, a signal ranging from 0 to 5 volts could take the discrete values of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in a digital system. If a signal in the above digital system has the value of say, 2.2 at any instant of time, it is represented by the nearest discrete value (2, in this case). It may be noted that all signals ranging from 2 to 2.5 would be represented by 2 and all signals ranging from 2.5 to 3 would be represented by 3. As a special case, if a signal in a digital system is represented by only two values – zero or one, it is called
Author: Pinky Mcbanon This classification is based upon the type of signals used in the systems. Before looking into the differences between an analog system and a digital system, let us first try to see what the terms analog and digital mean. An Analog signal is one in which the values taken can be continuous. For example, if a signal varies in magnitude between 0 volts and 5 volts, it can take any value between 0 and 5. With a digital signal, there can only be discrete values. For example, a signal ranging from 0 to 5 volts could take the discrete values of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in a digital system. If a signal in the above digital system has the value of say, 2.2 at any instant of time, it is represented by the nearest discrete value (2, in this case). It may be noted that all signals ranging from 2 to 2.5 would be represented by 2 and all signals ranging from 2.5 to 3 would be represented by 3. As a special case, if a signal in a digital system is represented by only two values – zer
