Welcome to our site! EDAboard.com is an international Electronics Discussion Forum focused on EDA software, circuits, schematics, books, theory, papers, asic, pld, 8051, DSP, Network, RF, Analog Design, PCB, Service Manuals... and a whole lot more! To participate you need to register. Registration is free. Click here to register now.
Voltage is the difference between two potentials.
If all the voltages within a circuitry are referenced to a common potential this is called "zero potential" or "ground" or simply "common".
We all know that voltage is the difference of electrical potential between two points. The electrical ground is that point in a circuit which will serve us as reference to measure and work with voltage.
If we had no ground, it would be impossible (or at least very difficult) to determine the exact voltage in every point of a circuit, because we wouldn't have a point to reference with.
What RF-OM meant, i think, is that on large installations, the electrical ground goes litterally to the ground, i mean, to the earth surface. This surface is considered to be equipotential. This means that every point of the earth surface is considered to be at the same potential, which could serve as a common reference point.
so in a circuit how will i make a ground supply?
eg. in a simlpe circuit of transformer the secondary has one gnd so out of three wires one will go to + other to -.then where is the gnd goin to be connected?
The term equipotential surface means that all points of the surface have the same potential, so no electrical currents will flow between these points. This is theoretical term and such a surface is the ideal model.
Actually ground is historical term that the very first electrical engineers used. Today this word has a lot of different meanings. One of them as halls told above is power electrical ground which serves as huge capacitor (or sink) and helps to minimize electrical potentials between electrical points.
Another usage of term ground is to indicate return path. Any electrical circuit must be closed, this is condition to electrical current to flow. We have two paths in circuit: one direct from source to load and one return from load back to source. Usually this path called ground.
This is more complicated at high frequencies or RF. There is practically no such thing as ground in RF and microwave engineering. We need to talk about return path in this case. Often wide ground plane is used to provide return path but actually high frequency electrical current will flow trough narrow area which is least inductance path to return current back to the source. This path will follow to direct path. It means that when transmission line is used e.g. microstrip, return current will flow exactly under the direct trace and follow all the bents. Differential lines do not use ground at all, direct and return paths are equal in this case and therefore good isolation from common mode signals may be achieved.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
