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ScotlandEngineering ScienceQuick questions

Area 2: Electronics and control

Quick questions on Systems and block diagrams (input, process, output) - SQA National 5 Engineering Science

6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.

What is input sub-system?
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A sensor (transducer) that detects a physical condition - light, temperature, movement, a switch being pressed - and converts it into an electrical signal. Examples: a switch, a light-dependent resistor (LDR), a thermistor.
What is process sub-system?
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The decision-making or controlling part. It takes the input signal, processes it, and controls the output. Examples: a logic gate or combination of gates, an operational amplifier acting as a comparator, or a microcontroller running a program.
What is output sub-system?
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The device that performs the useful action. It converts the electrical signal back into a physical effect - light, sound, movement. Examples: a lamp, an LED, a buzzer, a motor.
What is q1?
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State the order of the three sub-systems in a universal systems block diagram. [1 mark]
What is q2?
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Give one example of an output device. [1 mark]
What is q3?
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Explain what feedback does in a control system. [2 marks]

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