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    Displaying 14 glossary terms found.

     

    Waterfall Curve
    (Waterfall Plot) A 3-D graph that shows the relationships between three quantities. For loudspeakers, a waterfall curve will typically show amplitude (vertical), frequency (horizontal), and elapsed time or angular direction with respect to the probe mike (diagonal).
    Watt
    A unit of electrical power used to indicate the rate of energy produced by, or consumed by an electrical device. One watt is one joule of energy per second.
    Waveform
    A display of a signal (on an oscilloscope) that shows the magnitude of current or voltage with respect to time. For example, by displaying the waveform of a signal on an oscilloscope, and measuring the time between cycles, its frequency can be calculated.
    Waveform Monitor
    A special oscilloscope used to display and analyze electrical (voltage or current) video signals.
    Wavelength
    The distance between the beginning and end of a wave or cycle. Wavelength is determined by the formula: V = F X where: V = velocity of sound (1130 ft. Per second) f = frequency, Hz = wavelength. Since wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional, low frequencies tend to have much longer wavelengths than high frequencies. For example, a 1000 Hz signal would have a wavelength of approximately 13.5 inches, whereas a 40 Hz tone would have a wavelength over 28-feet in length.
    White
    The lightest visible surface, created by a reflection of all colored light.
    White Level
    The signal level which corresponds to the maximum picture brightness in television and defines the brightness range between the darkest and lightest parts of a picture. The white level set by the contrast control.
    White Noise
    Noise with random amplitude (strength) over a wide frequency range. Used to test loud speakers for resonance and sensitivity. Low levels of white noise can be used to cover up other random noises, for example in an open office environment.
    Wideband Video Amplifier
    Electronic circuitry that delivers the video signal from the NTSC decoder to the picture tube. The wideband characteristics are needed to maintain all of the horizontal resolution available in he source signal. This circuitry does not increase the horizontal resolution of the source signal and is only one link in the chain of elements that determine the horizontal resolution one sees on the screen. Some manufacturers use the bandwidth of this amplifier to specify the entire set’s horizontal resolution capability. This, of course, is not legitimate because it only represents part of the path.
    Widescreen
    An image with an aspect ratio greater than 1.33:1. Displaying the original theatrical aspect ratio at it was intended to be exhibited with full horizontal width (but no added top or bottom image area not intended to be seen). Typically 1.85:1, 2.35:1 (2.40:1) and 1.66:1 aspect ratios.
    Width
    The size of an image in a horizontal direction.
    Wireless Remote Control
    Handheld device that uses infrared signals to control video, audio, or other equipment. See Infrared Remote Control.
    Woofer
    Low-frequency (bass) loudspeaker driver.
    WWW
    World Wide Web. An international network of subscriber sites where selected information in the form of text and/or graphics is made available to computer users (Web site visitors).

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