18WuD2x

2 abhenry • absolute error
and is the inductance across which a current
that changes at the rate of 1 abampere per second
induces a potential of 1 abvolt.
ABL Abbreviation of Automated Biology Laboratory
(NASA).
abmho The obsolete unit of conductance and of
conductivity in the cgs electromagnetic system.
Replaced with ABSIEMENS.
abnormal dissipation Power dissipation higher or
lower than the customary level, usually an overload.
abnormal oscillation 1. Oscillation where none is
desired or expected, as in an amplifier. 2. Oscillation
at two or more frequencies simultaneously
when single-frequency operation is expected.
3. Oscillation at an incorrect frequency. 4. Parasitic
oscillation.
abnormal propagation 1. The chance shifting of
the normal path of a radio wave, as by displacements
in the ionosphere, so that reception is degraded.
2. Unintentional radiation of energy from
some point other than the transmitting antenna.
3. Propagation over a path or in a direction not
expected.
abnormal reflections Sharp, intense reflections at
frequencies higher than the critical frequency of
the ionosphere’s ionized layer.
abnormal termination The shutdown of a running
computer program or other process. Caused by
the detection of an error by the associated hardware
that indicates that some ongoing series of
actions cannot be executed correctly.
abnormal triggering The false triggering or switching
of a circuit or device, such as a flip-flop, by
some undesirable source instead of the true trigger
signal. Electrical noise pulses often cause abnormal
triggering.
abohm The unit of resistance and of resistivity in
the cgs electromagnetic system. One abohm
equals 10 –9 ohms and is the resistance across
which a steady current of 1 abampere produces a
potential difference of 1 abvolt.
abort To deliberately terminate an operation, experiment,
process, or project before it has run its
normal course.
AB power pack 1. A portable dry-cell or wet-cell
array containing both A and B batteries in one
package. 2. An ac-operated unit in one package
for supplying A and B voltages to equipment normally
operated from batteries.
abrasion machine An instrument for determining
the abrasive resistance of a wire or cable.
abrasion resistance A measure of the ability of a
wire or wire covering to resist mechanical damage.
ABS A basic programming abbreviation for the absolute
value (of a number, variable, or expression).
abscissa 1. The independent variable in a function.
2. The axis (usually horizontal) on the graph of a
function that indicates the independent variable.
absence-of-ground searching selector A rotary
switch that searches for an ungrounded contact
in a dial telephone system.
absiemens The unit of conductance or conductivity
in the cgs electromagnetic system. One
absiemens equals 10 9 siemens and is the
conductance through which a potential of 1 abvolt
forces a current of 1 abampere.
absolute 1. A temperature scale in which zero represents
the complete absence of heat. Units of measure
are same as units on Celsius and Fahrenheit
scales. See ABSOLUTE SCALE. 2. Independent of
any arbitrarily assigned units of measure or value.
absolute accuracy The full-scale accuracy of a meter
with respect to a primary (absolute) standard.
absolute address In a digital computer program,
the location of a word in memory, as opposed to
location of the word in the program.
absolute code A computer code in which the exact
address is given for storing or locating the reference
operand.
absolute coding In computer practice, coding that
uses absolute addresses.
absolute constant A mathematical constant that
has the same value wherever it is used.
absolute delay The time elapsing between the
transmission of two synchronized signals from
the same station or from different stations, as in
radio, radar, or loran. By extension, the time interval
between two such signals from any source,
as from a generator.
absolute digital position transducer A digital position
transducer whose output signal indicates
absolute position. (See ENCODER.)
absolute efficiency The ratio X x /X s , where X x is
the output of a given device, and X s is the output
of an ideal device of the same kind under the
same operating conditions.
absolute encoder system A system that permits
the encoding of any function (linear, nonlinear,
continuous, step, and so on) and supplies a nonambiguous
output.
absolute error The difference indicated by the approximate
value of a quantity minus the actual