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Quizzes > Computers & Technology > Electronics & Gadgets

Which of the Following Is True of Digital Meters? Take the Quiz!

Find out what the audible tone in most digital ohmmeters indicates - start the quiz now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style ohmmeter and oscilloscope icons on teal background with quiz invitation How well do you know digital meters

Use this quiz to check what's true about digital meters - how a digital voltmeter reads, what the audible tone on a digital ohmmeter means, and when to use an oscilloscope. You'll get instant feedback so you can spot weak spots and practice the right skills before your next lab or project.

What does the audible tone in a digital ohmmeter typically indicate?
Continuity (resistance below threshold)
Current overload
Low battery condition
Measured voltage level
Most digital ohmmeters emit a tone when resistance falls below a preset threshold, indicating continuity through a circuit. This audible feedback lets technicians quickly check conductors without watching the display. The tone usually stops once resistance rises above the continuity limit. .
Which display type is most commonly used in handheld digital multimeters?
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Light Emitting Diode (LED) array
Most handheld digital multimeters use LCDs because they are low-power, lightweight, and provide clear numeric readouts. CRTs and VFDs are bulky and power-hungry, while LED arrays are generally reserved for simpler indicators. .
Which of the following is NOT a common function of a basic digital multimeter?
Measuring resistance
Measuring voltage
Measuring core temperature
Measuring current
Basic digital multimeters typically measure voltage, current, and resistance. They do not include sensors for core temperature, which requires specialized probes or thermometers. .
What does auto-ranging in a digital meter do?
Switches between AC and DC measurement
Adjusts probe impedance
Calibrates the display contrast
Automatically selects the correct measurement scale
Auto-ranging automatically selects the most appropriate measurement range so the user doesn't have to set scales manually. It simplifies use and speeds up measurement tasks. It does not adjust probe impedance or display settings. .
What typically appears on a digital multimeter display when the input exceeds its selected range?
The last measured value
A zero reading
The battery icon
An overload indication (often 'OL')
When a measurement exceeds the meter's range, most digital multimeters display 'OL' or ' - - ' to indicate overload. This protects the instrument and signals the user that a higher range is needed. .
Which type of probe is commonly used with oscilloscopes to attenuate signals by a factor of ten?
High-voltage differential probe
Current clamp probe
10× probe
1× probe
A 10× probe attenuates the input signal by ten, extending the oscilloscope's voltage range and reducing loading on the circuit. The 1× probe offers no attenuation, while specialized probes measure other parameters. .
Which coupling mode on an oscilloscope will block the DC component of a signal?
GND coupling
High-Z coupling
AC coupling
DC coupling
AC coupling places a capacitor in series with the input, blocking DC while passing AC signals. DC coupling passes both AC and DC, and GND coupling disconnects the input. .
What is a typical input impedance of a handheld digital multimeter in voltage mode?
10 M?
1 M?
100 k?
100 ?
Handheld digital multimeters typically have an input impedance of 10 M? in voltage mode to minimize loading effects on the circuit under test. Lower impedance can affect accuracy. .
What advantage does a true-RMS digital multimeter have over an average-responding meter when measuring non-sinusoidal waveforms?
Accurately measures the effective heating value
Extends battery life
Automatically filters noise
Increases maximum input voltage
True-RMS meters compute the root-mean-square value of any waveform, giving correct readings for distorted or non-sinusoidal signals. Average-responding meters assume a sine wave and give errors on other shapes. .
What does the crest factor of a waveform represent?
Frequency-to-amplitude ratio
Ratio of DC offset to peak value
Difference between peak and trough
Ratio of peak value to RMS value
Crest factor is defined as the ratio of a waveform's peak (maximum absolute) value to its RMS value. It indicates how peaky a waveform is and affects measurements and equipment stress. .
In an oscilloscope, what does changing the horizontal sweep speed do?
Adjusts vertical sensitivity
Switches between trigger modes
Changes input impedance
Alters the time scale per division
The horizontal sweep speed, or timebase, sets how much time each division on the screen represents. Faster sweep shows more detail in time; slower sweep captures longer events. .
According to the Nyquist theorem, what is the minimum sampling rate to avoid aliasing for a signal with maximum frequency f?
f/2
f
2 × f
4 × f
Nyquist states that to reconstruct a signal without aliasing, the sampling rate must be at least twice the highest frequency component. Sampling below this rate causes overlap of frequency content. .
Why does a digital ohmmeter apply a small test current when measuring resistance?
To calibrate its internal battery
To heat the component
To charge the display backlight
To generate a voltage drop for calculation
A digital ohmmeter sources a known current and measures the resulting voltage drop across the resistor. Using Ohm's law, it calculates resistance. This is fundamental to resistance measurement. .
What causes quantization error in a digital meter's ADC?
Finite resolution of the converter
Low input impedance
High battery impedance
Incorrect probe attenuation
Quantization error arises because an ADC maps a continuous input voltage to discrete digital levels. The finite number of steps causes a small difference between the actual and digitized value. .
Which mode on a digital multimeter is used to check the voltage drop of a diode?
Diode test mode
Resistance mode
Continuity mode
Capacitance mode
Diode test mode sources a small current through the diode and measures the forward voltage drop. Continuity mode only indicates low resistance and does not show precise voltage. Fluke: Diode Test Function.
Which parameter describes how quickly a digital meter updates its display reading?
Resolution
Bandwidth
Response time (display update rate)
Input impedance
The display update rate, or response time, indicates how often the meter refreshes its reading. Faster rates show rapid changes better, but may introduce display flicker. .
What primarily limits the bandwidth of an oscilloscope's front-end amplifier?
Battery voltage
Display resolution
Probe color coding
Input RC time constant
The front-end amplifier's input resistor and capacitance form an RC filter that determines the upper frequency limit. Higher bandwidth requires lower capacitance and careful circuit design. .
How does synthetic sampling in a digital oscilloscope differ from real-time sampling?
Only uses external memory
Limits acquisition to DC signals
Reconstructs periodic signals from multiple acquisitions
Samples continuously at maximum rate
Synthetic sampling acquires many repetitive waveform segments at lower rates and combines them to reconstruct high-frequency content. It relies on signal periodicity, unlike real-time sampling which digitizes continuously. .
What effect does oversampling have on a digital meter's effective resolution?
Decreases bandwidth
Increases quantization noise
Improves resolution via digital filtering
Reduces input impedance
Oversampling spreads quantization noise over a wider bandwidth and, with digital filtering, lowers noise in the band of interest, effectively increasing resolution. This is common in delta-sigma converters. .
In ADCs, what is vertical resolution?
Probe attenuation factor
Number of bits per sample
Sampling frequency
Maximum voltage range
Vertical resolution refers to the bit depth of the converter, indicating how many discrete levels the analog input can be divided into. Higher bit counts yield finer amplitude resolution. .
How does the input coupling capacitor in a digital oscilloscope affect low-frequency response?
Creates a high-pass filter, blocking very low frequencies
Boosts DC signals
Acts as an anti-aliasing filter
Reduces input impedance at high frequencies
The coupling capacitor and input resistance form a high-pass filter, which attenuates signals below its cutoff frequency, affecting the scope's low-frequency range when AC coupling is selected. .
What is the purpose of an anti-aliasing filter in a digital oscilloscope?
Reduces power consumption
Attenuates frequencies above half the sampling rate
Blocks DC offset
Increases vertical resolution
An anti-aliasing filter removes frequency components above the Nyquist limit (half the sampling rate) to prevent aliasing artifacts in the digitized signal. It preserves waveform integrity. .
How is DC offset error typically specified for a digital multimeter?
In dB relative to full scale
Only in counts per second
Percentage of reading plus fixed offset value
As a single RMS voltage value
Manufacturers specify DC accuracy as a combination of a percent of the reading plus a fixed offset in the same units, accounting for gain and zero errors. This format describes both proportional and absolute errors. .
Which technique is often used to reduce noise in low-current measurements on a digital meter?
Increasing sampling rate only
Guarding and shielding the input
Using a lower bit ADC
Switching to AC coupling
Guarding drives the surrounding guard conductor to the same potential as the input lead, reducing leakage currents, while shielding blocks external electromagnetic noise. Both improve low-current accuracy. .
What feature of a delta-sigma ADC enables high resolution in modern digital multimeters?
Multiplexed sample-and-hold
Oversampling with noise shaping
Direct RF sampling
Flash conversion topology
Delta-sigma ADCs sample the input at a rate much higher than the signal bandwidth (oversampling) and use noise shaping to push quantization noise out of the band of interest. This yields very high resolution after digital filtering. .
In digital oscilloscopes, what is aperture jitter?
Time uncertainty in sample acquisition
Voltage drift in the display
Fluctuations in probe attenuation
Variations in input impedance
Aperture jitter refers to the random variation in the exact instant when the ADC samples the signal. It adds timing uncertainty, which can distort high-frequency measurements. .
What is synthetic acquisition in a digital oscilloscope used for?
Automatically adjusting trigger levels
Storing waveform data in flash memory
Measuring random noise events
Reconstructing high-speed repetitive signals by stitching samples
Synthetic acquisition captures small segments of a repetitive waveform at different times and combines them into a high-resolution display. It is not suited for single-shot events. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Functions of Digital Meters -

    Learn to recognize the main features and capabilities of digital voltmeters and ohmmeters, ensuring you understand how each tool measures electrical properties.

  2. Interpret Audible Tones in Digital Ohmmeters -

    Discover what the beeps and tones in most digital ohmmeters indicate and how they help you quickly assess circuit continuity and resistance levels.

  3. Differentiate Digital Meters from Oscilloscopes -

    Compare the purposes and advantages of digital meters versus oscilloscopes to determine which instrument is best suited for various electronics measurement tasks.

  4. Apply Proper Measurement Techniques with Digital Meters -

    Practice best practices for setting up and using digital meters safely and accurately in real-world electronics projects and diagnostics.

  5. Analyze Electronics Measurement Quiz Results -

    Use quiz feedback to pinpoint your strengths and areas for improvement in measuring voltage, resistance, and signal waveforms.

  6. Evaluate the Role of Oscilloscopes in Electronics -

    Understand how oscilloscopes visualize electrical signals and why they're essential for advanced troubleshooting and waveform analysis.

Cheat Sheet

  1. ADC Resolution & Digit Counts -

    When asking which of the following is true of digital meters, remember that resolution is defined by digit count and counts. A 3½-digit meter shows up to 1999 counts, while a 4½-digit unit handles 19999 counts. Higher counts translate directly into finer voltage or resistance resolution, so look for a meter with more digits for precise readings.

  2. Audible Tone & Continuity Testing -

    Curious what does the audible tone in most digital ohmmeters indicate? In practice, the beep means the resistance under test has fallen below the meter's continuity threshold, typically around 30 Ω to 50 Ω. Mnemonic tip: "Beep = near zero," so a steady tone confirms a low-impedance path.

  3. Digital Voltmeter Functions -

    Key digital voltmeter functions include auto-ranging, high input impedance (usually 10 MΩ), and AC/DC coupling selection to minimize circuit loading. Auto-ranging simplifies the electronics measurement quiz by adjusting scales automatically, so you can focus on readings instead of manual range changes. Tip: a stable input impedance protects sensitive circuits during high-precision voltmeter work.

  4. Use of Oscilloscopes in Electronics -

    Oscilloscopes excel at time-domain visualization, showing signal amplitude versus time to reveal transients, noise, and waveform shape. Always match the scope's bandwidth to at least five times your signal's highest frequency to avoid amplitude roll-off. Remember the rise-time formula tᵣ ≈ 0.35/BW when calibrating for fast-edge measurements.

  5. Accuracy Specs & Calibration -

    Digital meters specify accuracy as a percentage of reading plus a number of least significant digits - for example, ±(0.05% + 2 digits) at 23 °C. Regular calibration against traceable standards ensures your meter stays within these specs over time, boosting confidence in every measurement. A quick electronics measurement quiz can help reinforce proper calibration intervals and error budgeting strategies.

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