Gate behavior identification: which logic gate produces an output of 0 (logic low) whenever at least one of its inputs is 1 (logic high), and only outputs 1 when all inputs are 0?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: NOR gate

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Recognizing gate truth tables quickly is crucial when analyzing or simplifying digital circuits. The NOR gate is the logical complement of OR: it outputs 1 only when all inputs are 0 and outputs 0 if any input is 1. This distinctive behavior makes NOR a universal gate (alone it can realize any Boolean function).



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Positive logic: high = 1, low = 0.
  • We seek a gate whose output is forced low if any input is high.
  • Multiple-input variants behave consistently with their 2-input counterparts.


Concept / Approach:
By definition, NOR = NOT(OR). The OR function goes high when any input is high; complementing that yields an output that goes low whenever any input is high, and remains high only when all inputs are low.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Recall OR truth: any 1 at inputs → OR = 1.Apply inversion: NOR = NOT(OR).Therefore, any 1 at inputs → NOR = 0; all 0s → NOR = 1.Select “NOR gate.”


Verification / Alternative check:
Truth table check for two inputs: inputs (0,0)→1; (0,1)→0; (1,0)→0; (1,1)→0 for NOR, matching the statement.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
AND: outputs 1 only when all inputs are 1, not described behavior.OR: outputs 1 if any input is 1, opposite behavior.EX-OR: outputs 1 when inputs differ, not described behavior.None: incorrect; NOR fits exactly.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing NOR with NAND; remembering that NOR is the complement of OR, while NAND is the complement of AND.



Final Answer:
NOR gate

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