Digital vs. analog — evaluate the statement. Claim: “The voltages in digital electronics are continuously variable.” Decide whether this claim is true or false.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: False

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Digital electronics represent information using discrete logic levels (commonly two: LOW and HIGH). Although underlying voltages are physical and can vary, digital design defines threshold regions to interpret signals as one of a small set of stable symbols, not a continuum of values for data encoding.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Standard 2-level digital logic (TTL/CMOS) is assumed.
  • Logic thresholds partition voltages into LOW, undefined, and HIGH regions.
  • Noise margins ensure robust binary interpretation.


Concept / Approach:
In digital systems, a wire carries symbols (0 or 1) determined by thresholding, not precise analog magnitudes. While signals physically transition continuously during edges, the information model uses discrete states. Multilevel schemes (e.g., PAM-4) still use a finite set of levels, not continuous values.


Step-by-Step Reasoning:

Define logic levels: e.g., for 5 V CMOS, VIL and VIH set LOW/HIGH thresholds.Interpretation: any voltage below VIL is a logic 0; above VIH is logic 1.Transient behavior is analog, but the data abstraction is discrete.


Verification / Alternative check:
Look at datasheet noise margins: as long as signals stay within guaranteed ranges, the receiver decodes a clean 0 or 1 regardless of small analog variation, proving information is not “continuously variable.”


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • True / conditional variants: they confuse physical voltages with the symbolic digital abstraction; even multilevel signaling uses discrete sets.


Common Pitfalls:

  • Equating analog transitions during edges with analog information encoding.
  • Assuming ADC inputs define digital logic; ADCs convert analog to discrete codes.


Final Answer:
False

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