Which term describes an amplifier's ability to magnify the amplitude of acquired signals?

Which term describes an amplifier's ability to magnify the amplitude of acquired signals?

• A. Gain
• B. Attenuation
• C. Bandwidth
• D. Slew Rate

Answer: (A)

Magnifying the amplitude of an acquired signal is described by the amplifier's gain. Gain is the ratio of the output signal amplitude to the input signal amplitude, often written as Vout/Vin and sometimes expressed in decibels. A higher gain means a larger output for a given input, which is exactly what “magnifying” the signal means. Attenuation would shrink the amplitude rather than increase it. Bandwidth concerns the range of frequencies the amplifier can pass effectively, not how much it amplifies. Slew rate describes how quickly the output can change over time, which limits waveform speed but not the amount of amplification.

Magnifying the amplitude of an acquired signal is described by the amplifier's gain. Gain is the ratio of the output signal amplitude to the input signal amplitude, often written as Vout/Vin and sometimes expressed in decibels. A higher gain means a larger output for a given input, which is exactly what “magnifying” the signal means. Attenuation would shrink the amplitude rather than increase it. Bandwidth concerns the range of frequencies the amplifier can pass effectively, not how much it amplifies. Slew rate describes how quickly the output can change over time, which limits waveform speed but not the amount of amplification.