Question 1(a) [3 marks]

Define following term: (1) Accuracy (2) precision (3) Reproducibility

Answer:

Accuracy: Closeness of measured value to the true value of measured quantity
Precision: Ability of an instrument to reproduce the same output for repeated applications of same input under identical conditions
Reproducibility: Degree of agreement between results of measurements of same quantity when measured under changed conditions (different method, observer, or time)

Mnemonic: "APR: Accurate-to-truth, Precise-repeats, Reproduce-under-change"

Question 1(b) [4 marks]

Explain construction of RTD Transducer with necessary diagram in detail. Also list application of it.

Answer:

RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) is a temperature sensor that operates on the principle that electrical resistance of metals changes with temperature.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Sensing Element] --> B[Lead Wires]
    B --> C[Support]
    C --> D[Protective Sheath]
    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#bbf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Sensing Element: Pure platinum, nickel, or copper wire wound around ceramic core
Lead Wires: Connect RTD to measuring circuit
Support: Provides mechanical stability to sensing element
Protective Sheath: Protects sensing element from external environment

Applications of RTD:

Temperature measurement in process industries
Food processing temperature monitoring
HVAC systems
Medical equipment

Mnemonic: "RTD: Resistance Temperature Detector - Precise Temperature Measurement"

Question 1(c) [7 marks]

Explain working of Maxwell's Bridge with circuit diagram. List its advantages, disadvantages and applications.

Answer:

Maxwell's Bridge is used to measure unknown inductance in terms of known capacitance and resistance.

Circuit Diagram:

graph LR
    A((R1)) --- B((R2))
    B --- C((R3))
    C --- D((R4))
    D --- A
    E[L1] --- A
    E --- D
    F[C4] --- B
    F --- C
    G[Supply] --- A
    G --- C
    H[Detector] --- B
    H --- D
    style E fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style F fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working: At balance condition: L1 = C4 × R2 × R3

When the bridge is balanced, the detector shows zero current. The unknown inductance L1 is calculated using above equation, where C4 is known capacitance and R2, R3 are known resistances.

Parameter	Value
Balance Equation	L1 = C4 × R2 × R3
Quality Factor	Q = ωL1/R1 = ωC4R3

Advantages:

High accuracy for medium Q inductors
Balance equations are independent of frequency
Simple calculation for inductance

Disadvantages:

Not suitable for low Q inductor measurement
Requires variable standard capacitor
Affected by stray capacitance

Applications:

Measuring inductance in laboratories
Calibration of inductance standards
Testing of inductive components

Mnemonic: "Maxwell's Magic: Inductance equals Capacitance times Resistance squared"

Question 1(c) OR [7 marks]

Explain working of Wheatstone bridge with circuit diagram for balance condition. List its advantages, disadvantages, and applications.

Answer:

Wheatstone bridge is used to measure unknown resistance by comparing it with known resistance values.

Circuit Diagram:

graph LR
    A((P)) --- B((Q))
    B --- C((S))
    C --- D((R))
    D --- A
    E[Battery] --- A
    E --- C
    F[Galvanometer] --- B
    F --- D
    style D fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style F fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working: At balance condition: P/Q = R/S or R = S × (P/Q)

When bridge is balanced, galvanometer shows zero deflection. Unknown resistance R is calculated using the ratio of other resistances.

Component	Function
P, Q, S	Known resistances
R	Unknown resistance
G	Galvanometer (detector)
E	DC voltage source

Advantages:

High accuracy in resistance measurement
Simple construction and operation
Wide range of resistance measurement

Disadvantages:

Cannot measure very low or very high resistances
Requires battery as power source
Temperature effects on resistors cause errors

Applications:

Precise resistance measurement
Strain gauge measurements
Temperature sensing using RTDs
Transducer applications

Mnemonic: "When WheatStone Balances: Product of opposites are equal (P×S = Q×R)"

Question 2(a) [3 marks]

Compare moving iron and moving coil type instruments.

Answer:

Characteristic	Moving Iron Type	Moving Coil Type
Principle	Magnetic attraction/repulsion	Electromagnetic force
Scale	Non-uniform	Uniform
Damping	Poor	Good
Accuracy	Less accurate (2-5%)	High accuracy (0.1-2%)
Frequency range	DC and AC	DC only (without rectifier)
Power consumption	High	Low
Cost	Less expensive	More expensive

Mnemonic: "IMAP-CAD: Iron-Magnetic-AC-Poor damping, Coil-Accurate-DC-Damped well"

Question 2(b) [4 marks]

Explain working and construction of successive approximation type DVM with necessary diagram.

Answer:

Successive Approximation type Digital Voltmeter (DVM) converts analog voltage to digital value using binary search technique.

Block Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Input] --> B[Sample & Hold]
    B --> C[Comparator]
    D[DAC] --> C
    C --> E[SAR - Successive Approximation Register]
    E --> D
    E --> F[Display]
    G[Clock] --> E
    style E fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style C fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working:

Sample & Hold circuit captures input voltage
SAR sets MSB to 1, other bits to 0
DAC converts digital word to analog voltage
Comparator compares DAC output with input voltage
If DAC output > input, bit is reset to 0; otherwise kept 1
Process repeats for next bit until all bits are tested
Final digital word represents input voltage

Advantages:

Medium conversion speed (10-100 μs)
Good resolution and accuracy
Moderate cost

Mnemonic: "SAR DVM: Sample-And-Register by Digital-Voltage-Matching"

Question 2(c) [7 marks]

1- A moving coil ammeter reading up to 10 amperes has a resistance of 0.02 ohm. How this instrument could be adopted to read current up to 1000 amperes? 2- A moving coil voltmeter reading up to 200 mV has a resistance of 5 ohms. How this instrument can be adopted to read voltage up to 300 volts?

Answer:

Part 1: Ammeter Range Extension

To extend ammeter range from 10A to 1000A, a shunt resistor is connected in parallel with the meter.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Current Input] --> B{Branch}
    B -->|Shunt Path| C[Rsh]
    B -->|Meter Path| D[Meter]
    C --> E{Join}
    D --> E
    E --> F[Output]
    style C fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Calculation:

Original meter resistance (Rm) = 0.02 Ω
Original full-scale current (Im) = 10 A
Desired full-scale current (I) = 1000 A
Current through shunt (Ish) = I - Im = 1000 - 10 = 990 A
Voltage across meter = Voltage across shunt
Im × Rm = Ish × Rsh
Rsh = (Im × Rm) ÷ Ish = (10 × 0.02) ÷ 990 = 0.0002 Ω

Part 2: Voltmeter Range Extension

To extend voltmeter range from 200mV to 300V, a multiplier resistor is connected in series with the meter.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Voltage Input] --> B[Rs]
    B --> C[Meter]
    C --> D[Output]
    style B fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Calculation:

Original meter resistance (Rm) = 5 Ω
Original full-scale voltage (Vm) = 200 mV = 0.2 V
Desired full-scale voltage (V) = 300 V
Series resistance (Rs) = [(V ÷ Vm) - 1] × Rm
Rs = [(300 ÷ 0.2) - 1] × 5 = (1500 - 1) × 5 = 1499 × 5 = 7495 Ω

Mnemonic: "ShuntSeries: Shunt-for-Current, Series-for-Voltage"

Question 2(a) OR [3 marks]

Explain working and construction of Clamp on Meter with necessary diagram.

Answer:

Clamp on Meter (Current Clamp) measures current without breaking the circuit by using electromagnetic induction.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Clamp Jaw] --> B[Current Transformer]
    B --> C[Rectifier Circuit]
    C --> D[Measuring Circuit]
    D --> E[Display]
    style A fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style B fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Construction & Working:

Clamp Jaw: Split core transformer that can be opened to encircle conductor
Current Transformer: Converts primary current to proportional secondary current
Rectifier: Converts AC to DC for measurement circuit
Measuring Circuit: Processes signal and calculates current value
Display: Shows measured current value

When a current-carrying conductor passes through the clamp jaw, it induces current in the secondary winding proportional to primary current, which is then measured.

Mnemonic: "CLAMP: Current-Loop Amplifies Magnetic Proportionally"

Question 2(b) OR [4 marks]

Explain working of PMMC instruments with necessary diagram.

Answer:

PMMC (Permanent Magnet Moving Coil) instruments operate on the principle of electromagnetic force on current-carrying conductor in magnetic field.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Permanent Magnet] --> B[Air Gap]
    B --> C[Moving Coil]
    C --> D[Pointer]
    C --> E[Spring]
    C --> F[Damping Mechanism]
    style C fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style A fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working:

Current flows through rectangular coil placed in magnetic field
Electromagnetic force produces torque proportional to current
Spring provides controlling torque
Pointer deflects proportionally to current
Damping system prevents oscillations

Components:

Permanent magnet creates strong magnetic field
Soft iron core concentrates magnetic flux
Moving coil carries current to be measured
Control springs provide restoring force
Damping system (air or eddy current) reduces oscillations

Mnemonic: "PMMC: Permanent Magnet Makes Current-proportional movement"

Question 2(c) OR [7 marks]

Draw the block diagram, working and construction of Integrating type DVM with necessary diagram and waveform.

Answer:

Integrating type DVM (Digital Voltmeter) converts analog voltage to digital value by integrating the input over a fixed time.

Block Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Input Voltage] --> B[Buffer Amplifier]
    B --> C[Integrator]
    D[Clock] --> E[Control Logic]
    E --> C
    E --> F[Counter]
    C --> G[Comparator]
    G --> E
    F --> H[Display]
    I[Reference Voltage] --> G
    style C fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style G fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Waveforms:

    ^
    |    ______ Time T1 ______
 Vi |   /|                    |\
    |  / |                    | \
    | /  |                    |  \
    |/   |                    |   \
    +----+--------------------+----+---> t
         |                    |
         | Integration period |
         |<----------------->|

Working:

Dual-Slope Method:
- Input voltage is integrated for fixed time T1
- Integrator is connected to negative reference voltage
- Time T2 required to return to zero is proportional to input voltage
- Digital display shows count proportional to T2

Phase	Action
Phase 1	Integrate unknown voltage for fixed time T1
Phase 2	Integrate known reference voltage until zero
Phase 3	Count clock pulses during phase 2 (T2)

Advantages:

High noise rejection (especially 50/60 Hz)
Good accuracy
Automatic zero adjustment

Mnemonic: "Integrate-twice: Up with unknown, Down with reference"

Question 3(a) [3 marks]

In CRO What is the value of unknown DC voltage, if a straight line below x-axis is obtained with a displacement of 4cm and volt/div knob = 3V. calculate the unknown voltage Vdc.

Answer:

Calculation: Displacement = 4 cm (below x-axis) Volt/div setting = 3 V/div Direction = Below x-axis (negative voltage)

Vdc = -(Displacement × Volt/div) Vdc = -(4 cm × 3 V/div) Vdc = -12 V

Therefore, the unknown DC voltage is -12 V.

Mnemonic: "Voltage = Deflection × Scale"

Question 3(b) [4 marks]

Draw internal structure of CRT. Explain in short.

Answer:

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) is the display device used in analog oscilloscopes.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Electron Gun] --> B[Focusing System]
    B --> C[Deflection System]
    C --> D[Phosphor Screen]
    E[Glass Envelope] --> A
    E --> B
    E --> C
    E --> D
    style A fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Components:

Electron Gun: Consists of heater, cathode, control grid, and anodes; produces electron beam
Focusing System: Focuses electron beam into sharp point using electrostatic lenses
Deflection System: Deflects electron beam horizontally and vertically using deflection plates
Phosphor Screen: Converts electron energy to visible light
Glass Envelope: Vacuum-sealed container housing all components

Working:

Electron gun emits electrons
Focusing system narrows electron beam
Deflection plates move beam across screen
Beam strikes phosphor screen creating visible trace

Mnemonic: "GFDS: Gun-Focus-Deflect-Screen"

Question 3(c) [7 marks]

Explain Construction, Block diagram, working and advantage of DSO with necessary diagram.

Answer:

Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) converts analog signals to digital form and stores them for display and analysis.

Block Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Input] --> B[Attenuator/Amplifier]
    B --> C[ADC]
    C --> D[Memory]
    D --> E[Microprocessor]
    E --> F[DAC]
    F --> G[Display]
    E --> H[Control Panel]
    style C fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style E fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Construction and Working:

Input Stage: Attenuator/amplifier conditions signal
ADC: Converts analog signal to digital at sampling rate
Memory: Stores digital samples
Microprocessor: Controls operation and processes data
DAC: Converts digital data back to analog for display
Display: Shows waveform

Advantages of DSO:

Signal storage capability for later analysis
Pre-trigger viewing of signal
Single-shot signal capture
Automatic measurements and calculations
Waveform processing (FFT, averaging, etc.)
Digital interfacing (USB, Ethernet)
Higher bandwidth and sampling rates

Mnemonic: "SAMPLE: Store-Analyze-Measure-Process-Link-Examine"

Question 3(a) OR [3 marks]

In CRO vertical displacement for peak is = 1cm and volt/div knob = 10mV. Find peak value and RMS value of voltage.

Answer:

Calculation: Vertical displacement (peak) = 1 cm Volt/div setting = 10 mV/div

Peak value (Vp) = Displacement × Volt/div Vp = 1 cm × 10 mV/div = 10 mV

For sinusoidal waveform: RMS value (Vrms) = Vp ÷ √2 Vrms = 10 mV ÷ 1.414 = 7.07 mV

Therefore, peak value = 10 mV and RMS value = 7.07 mV.

Mnemonic: "Peak-to-RMS: Divide by root-2"

Question 3(b) OR [4 marks]

Explain CRO Screen in detail.

Answer:

CRO (Cathode Ray Oscilloscope) screen displays waveforms and provides measurement references.

Diagram:

+-------------------------------+
|                               |
|       GRATICULE LINES         |
|   +---+---+---+---+---+---+   |
|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| --+---+---+---+---+---+---+-- |
|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
|   +---+---+---+---+---+---+   |
|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| --+---+---+---+---+---+---+-- |
|   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
|   +---+---+---+---+---+---+   |
|                               |
+-------------------------------+

Components:

Phosphor Coating: Converts electron energy to visible light
Graticule: Grid pattern for measurements
X-Axis: Represents time (horizontal)
Y-Axis: Represents voltage (vertical)
Center Point: Reference for measurements (0,0)

Screen Features:

Divisions: Typically 8×10 divisions for measurement
Intensity Control: Adjusts brightness of display
Focus Control: Sharpens displayed trace
Scale Illumination: Illuminates graticule

Mnemonic: "PAXED: Phosphor-Axes-X-time-Y-amplitude-Equal-Divisions"

Question 3(c) OR [7 marks]

Explain Measurement of Voltage, Frequency, Time delay and Phase angle using CRO with necessary diagram.

Answer:

CRO (Cathode Ray Oscilloscope) can measure various electrical parameters accurately.

1. Voltage Measurement:

    ^
    |
    |   /\      /\
    |  /  \    /  \
    | /    \  /    \
 ---+-------\/------\/--> t
    |
    |

Method:

Set vertical position to center line
Count vertical divisions of waveform
Multiply by V/div setting
Amplitude = Vertical divisions × V/div

2. Frequency Measurement:

    ^
    |
    |   /\      /\      /\
    |  /  \    /  \    /  \
    | /    \  /    \  /    \
 ---+-------\/------\/------\/--> t
    |        <-T->
    |

Method:

Measure time period (T) between similar points
Frequency = 1/T
T = Horizontal divisions × Time/div setting
Frequency = 1/(Horizontal divisions × Time/div)

3. Time Delay Measurement:

    ^
    |      Signal 1    Signal 2
    |        /\          /\
    |       /  \        /  \
    |      /    \      /    \
 ---+-----/------\----/------\----> t
    |    /        \  /        \
    |   /          \/          \
    |  /                        \
    | /                          \
    |<-----Delay Time (Td)------>|

Method:

Trigger on first signal
Measure horizontal distance to second signal
Time delay = Horizontal divisions × Time/div setting

4. Phase Angle Measurement:

    ^
    |      Signal 1    Signal 2
    |        /\          /\
    |       /  \        /  \
    |      /    \      /    \
 ---+-----/------\----/------\----> t
    |    /        \  /        \
    |   /          \/          \
    |  /                        \
    | /                          \
    |<-----------T-------------->|
    |<----Td---->|

Method:

Measure time period (T) of one complete cycle
Measure time delay (Td) between corresponding points
Phase angle = (Td/T) × 360°

Mnemonic: "VFTP: Vertical-Frequency-Time-Phase"

Question 4(a) [3 marks]

Compare active and passive transducers.

Answer:

Characteristic	Active Transducers	Passive Transducers
Power source	Self-generating (no external power)	Requires external power
Output	Generates energy from input	Modifies external energy
Examples	Thermocouple, Photovoltaic cell	Strain gauge, RTD, LVDT
Sensitivity	Generally lower	Generally higher
Response time	Faster	Slower
Cost	Usually less expensive	Usually more expensive
Complexity	Simpler	More complex

Mnemonic: "APE-GSR: Active-Produces-Energy, Gets-Signal-Requiring-power"

Question 4(b) [4 marks]

Explain Working of strain Gauge with necessary diagram in detail. Also list application of it.

Answer:

Strain gauge converts mechanical deformation to electrical resistance change.

Diagram:

    +----------------------------+
    |                            |
    |  /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\    |
    | /                      \   |
    |/                        \  |
    |\                        /  |
    | \                      /   |
    |  \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/    |
    |                            |
    +----------------------------+

Working:

When a conductor is stretched, its length increases and cross-sectional area decreases
This causes an increase in electrical resistance: ΔR/R = GF × ε
- Where ΔR/R is fractional change in resistance
- GF is gauge factor (sensitivity)
- ε is strain

Types:

Metal foil strain gauges
Semiconductor strain gauges
Wire strain gauges

Applications:

Load cells for weighing systems
Structural health monitoring
Pressure sensors
Torque measurement
Mechanical stress analysis

Mnemonic: "STRAIN: Stretch-To-Resistance-Alteration-In-Narrow-conductor"

Question 4(c) [7 marks]

Explain Gas Sensor MQ2 with necessary diagram in detail.

Answer:

MQ2 is a semiconductor gas sensor that detects combustible gases, smoke, and LPG.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Anti-explosion Network] --> B[SnO2 Sensing Element]
    B --> C[Heater Coil]
    D[Electrode] --> B
    E[Housing] --> A
    E --> B
    E --> C
    E --> D
    style B fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style C fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Construction:

Sensing Element: Tin dioxide (SnO2) semiconductor
Heater: Maintains operating temperature (around 200-400°C)
Electrodes: Measure resistance changes
Housing: Protects components and allows gas flow

Working Principle:

In clean air, sensor has high resistance
When combustible gases present, surface reactions occur
Electrons are released, decreasing resistance
Resistance decreases proportionally to gas concentration

Circuit Connection:

    Vcc +5V
      |
      |
    +-+-+     +-------+
    |   |-----|       |
    | R |     |  MQ2  |
    |   |-----|       |
    +-+-+     +-------+
      |           |
      |           |
    Vout         GND

Applications:

Domestic gas leakage detectors
Industrial combustible gas alarms
Portable gas detectors
Air quality monitoring
Fire alarms

Mnemonic: "MQ2: Measures Quick-leaks of 2+ gases (LPG, Propane)"

Question 4(a) OR [3 marks]

Compare primary and secondary transducers

Answer:

Characteristic	Primary Transducers	Secondary Transducers
Definition	Directly convert physical quantity to electrical signal	Convert output of primary transducer to usable form
Function	First stage of conversion	Second stage of conversion
Examples	Thermocouple, Photocell, Piezoelectric	Amplifiers, ADCs, Signal conditioners
Input	Physical parameter	Output from primary transducer
Output	Electrical signal	Modified electrical signal
Location	At sensing point	May be remote from primary transducer
Accuracy	Affects overall system accuracy	Further processes already converted signal

Mnemonic: "PS-FLIP: Primary-Senses, Secondary-Further-Level-Improves-Processing"

Question 4(b) OR [4 marks]

Explain Capacitive Transducer with necessary diagram in detail. Also list application of it.

Answer:

Capacitive transducer converts physical displacement into capacitance change which is then converted to electrical signal.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Fixed Plate] --- B[Dielectric]
    B --- C[Movable Plate]
    D[Physical Parameter] --- C
    E[Circuit] --- A
    E --- C
    style B fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style C fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working: Capacitance C = ε₀εᵣA/d Where:

ε₀ = Permittivity of free space
εᵣ = Relative permittivity of dielectric
A = Area of plates
d = Distance between plates

Capacitance changes by:

Varying distance between plates
Varying overlap area of plates
Varying dielectric constant

Applications:

Pressure sensors
Displacement measurements
Level indicators
Humidity sensors
Thickness measurement
Touch screens

Mnemonic: "CAPACITIVE: Change-Area-Plates-And-Change-In-Thickness-Impacts-Value-Electrically"

Question 4(c) OR [7 marks]

Explain LVDT Transducer operation, construction with necessary diagram in detail. Also list advantage, disadvantage and application of LVDT.

Answer:

LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) is an electromagnetic transducer that converts linear displacement to electrical signal.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Primary Coil] --- B[Core]
    C[Secondary Coil 1] --- B
    D[Secondary Coil 2] --- B
    E[AC Excitation] --- A
    F[Output] --- C
    F --- D
    style B fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style A fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Construction:

Primary Coil: Center coil excited by AC source
Secondary Coils: Two coils connected in series opposition
Core: Ferromagnetic material that moves with measured displacement
Housing: Protects the coil assembly

Working:

AC excitation applied to primary coil
At null position (center), equal voltages induced in secondary coils
Moving core changes magnetic coupling
Differential voltage proportional to displacement
Phase indicates direction of movement

Advantages:

Non-contact operation (frictionless)
High resolution and sensitivity
Infinite resolution
Good linearity
Robust construction
Long operational life

Disadvantages:

Requires AC excitation source
Sensitive to external magnetic fields
Larger size compared to other transducers
Higher cost
Requires signal conditioning circuit

Applications:

Machine tool positioning
Hydraulic/pneumatic cylinder position feedback
Robotics and automation
Aircraft control systems
Structural testing
Process control systems

Mnemonic: "LVDT: Linear-Variation-Detected-Through electromagnetic induction"

Question 5(a) [3 marks]

Explain working of Thermocouple sensor with necessary diagram in detail.

Answer:

Thermocouple is a temperature sensor based on the Seebeck effect, where junction of two dissimilar metals generates voltage proportional to temperature difference.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Metal A] --- B((Hot Junction))
    B --- C[Metal B]
    A --- D((Cold Junction))
    C --- D
    D --- E[Voltmeter]
    style B fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working:

Two dissimilar metals joined at two points (hot and cold junctions)
Temperature difference between junctions creates Seebeck voltage
EMF generated is proportional to temperature difference
Voltage measured is calibrated to temperature

Types:

Type K (Chromel-Alumel): General purpose, -200°C to 1260°C
Type J (Iron-Constantan): -40°C to 750°C
Type T (Copper-Constantan): -250°C to 350°C

Mnemonic: "THC: Temperature-produces Hot-junction Current"

Question 5(b) [4 marks]

Explain working of Digital IC tester with necessary diagram in detail.

Answer:

Digital IC Tester is used to test functionality of digital integrated circuits by applying test vectors and analyzing responses.

Block Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Power Supply] --> B[Control Unit]
    B --> C[Test Vector Generator]
    C --> D[IC Under Test]
    D --> E[Response Analyzer]
    E --> F[Display Unit]
    B --> F
    G[User Interface] --> B
    style C fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style E fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working:

IC placed in test socket with proper orientation
Test mode selected (test, multiple test, or unknown IC)
Test vectors applied to IC pins
Output responses compared with expected results
Pass/Fail indication displayed

Features:

Tests various IC families (TTL, CMOS, HCMOS)
Auto-detection of unknown ICs
Tests for stuck-at faults, open circuits
Multiple test patterns for thorough verification

Mnemonic: "VECTOR: Verify-Each-Circuit-Through-Output-Response"

Question 5(c) [7 marks]

Explain working of function generator with necessary diagram in detail.

Answer:

Function generator produces different waveforms (sine, square, triangle) with adjustable frequency and amplitude.

Block Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Oscillator] --> B[Waveshaping Circuit]
    B --> C[Attenuator]
    C --> D[Output Amplifier]
    D --> E[Output]
    F[Frequency Control] --> A
    G[Amplitude Control] --> C
    H[DC Offset Control] --> D
    I[Waveform Selector] --> B
    style A fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style B fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working:

Oscillator: Generates basic waveform (typically triangle)
Waveshaping Circuit: Converts to sine, square, or triangle waveforms
Attenuator: Controls amplitude of signal
Output Amplifier: Provides low output impedance and DC offset
Controls: Adjust frequency, amplitude, DC offset, duty cycle

Waveform Generation:

Triangle wave: Basic output of oscillator circuit
Square wave: Generated by comparator from triangle wave
Sine wave: Generated by waveshaping from triangle wave

Applications:

Testing electronic circuits
Signal source for experiments
Calibration of instruments
Educational demonstrations
Frequency response testing

Mnemonic: "FAST: Frequency-Amplitude-Signal-Type control"

Question 5(a) OR [3 marks]

Explain working of PH sensor with necessary diagram in detail.

Answer:

PH sensor measures hydrogen ion concentration in a solution, indicating acidity or alkalinity.

Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Glass Electrode] --- B[Reference Electrode]
    A --- C[pH Sensitive Bulb]
    B --- D[Reference Solution]
    A --- E[Voltage Measurement Circuit]
    B --- E
    E --- F[Display]
    style C fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working:

Glass electrode contains buffer solution with known pH
H⁺ ions in test solution interact with glass membrane
Potential difference develops proportional to pH difference
Reference electrode provides stable comparison voltage
Voltage difference = 59.16 mV per pH unit at 25°C

Components:

Glass electrode with pH-sensitive membrane
Reference electrode (often silver/silver chloride)
Temperature compensation circuit
Signal conditioning electronics

Mnemonic: "pH-MVH: Potential-of-Hydrogen Measured by Voltage per Hydrogen-ion concentration"

Question 5(b) OR [4 marks]

Describe working of Spectrum Analyzer with necessary diagram in detail

Answer:

Spectrum Analyzer displays signal amplitude vs. frequency, showing frequency components of signals.

Block Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Input Signal] --> B[Attenuator/Amplifier]
    B --> C[Mixer]
    D[Local Oscillator] --> C
    C --> E[IF Filter]
    E --> F[Envelope Detector]
    F --> G[Display]
    H[Sweep Generator] --> D
    H --> G
    style C fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style E fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working:

Input Stage: Attenuates or amplifies signal to optimum level
Mixer: Combines input with local oscillator signal
IF Filter: Passes only desired frequency components
Detector: Measures amplitude of IF signal
Display: Shows amplitude vs. frequency

Types:

Swept-tuned spectrum analyzer
FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) spectrum analyzer
Real-time spectrum analyzer

Applications:

Signal purity measurement
EMI/EMC testing
Modulation analysis
Communication system testing

Mnemonic: "SAFE-D: Signal-Amplitude-Frequency-Evaluation-Display"

Question 5(c) OR [7 marks]

Explain working of basic frequency counter with necessary diagram in detail

Answer:

Frequency counter measures frequency of input signal by counting cycles in a precise time interval.

Block Diagram:

graph LR
    A[Input Signal] --> B[Input Conditioning]
    B --> C[Schmitt Trigger]
    C --> D[Gate]
    E[Time Base] --> F[Control Logic]
    F --> D
    D --> G[Counter]
    G --> H[Display]
    F --> G
    style D fill:#f96,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style E fill:#9cf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style G fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

Working:

Input Conditioning: Amplifies and shapes input signal
Schmitt Trigger: Converts to square wave
Time Base: Crystal oscillator provides accurate reference
Gate Control: Opens gate for precise measurement interval
Counter: Counts input cycles during gate open time
Display: Shows counted frequency

Measurement Process:

Signal cycles are counted during precise gate time
Gate time determined by time base oscillator
Frequency = Count / Gate time

Accuracy Factors:

Time base stability (crystal oscillator quality)
Gate time (longer time improves resolution)
Trigger error (±1 count uncertainty)
Input signal conditioning quality

Applications:

Frequency measurement in laboratories
Radio transmitter calibration
Crystal oscillator testing
Digital system clock verification

Mnemonic: "COUNT: Cycles-Over-Unit-time-Numerically-Tallied"