OR gate behavior – is the output HIGH only when all inputs are HIGH?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Incorrect

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The OR gate forms the basis of sum-of-products design. Understanding its activation condition is crucial for alarms, enables, and multiplexing logic where any triggering input should set the output.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Standard OR gate with two or more inputs.
  • Active-HIGH logic convention.
  • No inversion at inputs or output (i.e., not NOR).


Concept / Approach:
OR outputs 1 if at least one input is 1. Requiring “all inputs HIGH” would turn OR into an AND function, which contradicts the definition. Therefore, the claim is false.


Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Define OR: Y = A + B + C + ...2) If any input equals 1, Y = 1.3) The statement demands all-HIGH for HIGH output, which is the AND condition.4) Conclusion: the statement is incorrect.


Verification / Alternative check:
Truth table check: OR(1,0)=1; OR(0,1)=1; OR(1,1)=1. Only AND requires all 1s. NOR is the inverted OR, giving 0 when any input is 1 and 1 only when all are 0, but that is a different gate entirely.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Correct” contradicts the OR definition. “Only for wired-OR buses” conflates wiring technique with logic function. “Only with positive logic” is irrelevant; OR semantics remain with consistent polarity. “Only for two-input devices” is false; the rule scales to N inputs.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing OR with AND or NOR due to symbol similarities. Remember: “+” denotes OR in Boolean algebra; “*” denotes AND.


Final Answer:
Incorrect

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