18WuD2x

480 nominal value • nonharmonic oscillations
This can differ significantly from the actual value.
For example, the nominal value of a capacitor
might be 100 pF; but if the tolerance is ±10 percent,
the actual capacitance might be any value
between 90 pF and 110 pF.
nominal voltage 1. The rated (“nameplate”) value
of required voltage or of voltage output. Also see
NOMINAL VALUE. 2. In a cell or battery, the MID-
POINT VOLTAGE.
nomogram See ALIGNMENT CHART.
nomograph See ALIGNMENT CHART.
nomography The geometric representation of a
mathematical function or relation by means of
alignment charts.
nonaccountable time The period during which a
computer system is unavailable to the user (because
of a power outage, for example).
nonarithmetic shift See LOGICAL SHIFT.
nonblinking meter A digital meter that does not
alternate, or oscillate, between two different values
when the measured parameter is between
two discrete values. Instead, the display is
rounded off to the nearest value, and the display
remains at that value continuously.
nonblocking system In a telephone communications
network, a system that ensures a circuit
will be completed when necessary. That is, at no
time is it impossible for a connection to be made.
Under conditions of extremely heavy usage, the
quality of communications might be degraded,
but the connection will not be cut off.
nonbridging contact In a switch or relay, a movable
contact that leaves one stationary contact
before contacting another.
nonchargeable battery A primary battery (i.e., one
that cannot ordinarily be recharged). An example
is a battery of common zinc-carbon or alkaline
cells.
noncoherent Pertaining to electromagnetic radiation
in which the wave disturbances are not all
precisely aligned in frequency and phase.
nonconductor See DIELECTRIC.
noncontact temperature measurement The use
of infrared or optical electronic equipment to
measure the temperature of bodies without
touching them.
noncorrosive flux A solder flux that does not corrode
the metals to which solder is applied.
noncrystalline Pertaining to materials that possess
none of the characteristics of crystals. Compare
CRYSTALLINE MATERIAL.
nondestructive read In digital computer and
counter operation, the process of reading data
without erasing it as a result. The name is also
applied to the readout device.
nondestructive test Abbreviation, NDT. A test
that does little or no irreversible harm to the test
sample. Compare DESTRUCTIVE TEST.
nondeviated absorption Absorption that slows
waves by a negligible amount; also, normal skywave
absorption.
nondirectional antenna An antenna that displays
equally intense radiation or equally sensitive reception
in all directions within a specified plane.
An example is a vertical dipole antenna, which is
nondirectional in the horizontal plane.
nondirectional microphone A microphone that
responds equally well to sound from any direction;
an omnidirectional microphone.
nondissipative load A purely reactive load. In
such a load, the only power consumed is that
which is dissipated in the inherent resistance
(losses) of the load.
nondissipative stub A stub that exhibits only slight
losses; it consumes no power, except that dissipated
in small, inherent losses. Also see STUB.
nonelectrical Not electrical in nature. The term is
commonly used to designate the mechanical
parts of electromechanical systems, such as
robots and servomechanisms.
nonelectrolyte A substance that does not ionize in
water solution. Compare ELECTROLYTE.
nonelectronic meter A meter that uses no electronic
devices (such as transistors, liquid crystals,
light-emitting diodes, or integrated circuits).
Also called conventional meter.
nonequivalence operation See EXCLUSIVE-OR
OPERATION.
nonerasable storage In digital-computer and
data-processing operations, storage media that
cannot be erased under ordinary circumstances.
A common example is CD-ROM (compact-disk
read-only memory).
nonferrous metal A metal or alloy that does not
contain iron, and is not related to iron in the
sense that it is not attracted to magnets.
nonflammable Pertaining to a material that is resistant
to burning.
nonharmonic frequency A frequency that has no
integral numerical relationship to another frequency
of interest. Compare HARMONIC FRE-
QUENCY.
nonharmonic oscillations Parasitic oscillations
that do not occur at the fundamental frequency
nor at any harmonic frequency of an oscillator or
amplifier in which they appear.
Relative attenuation (dB)
0
20
40
60
Fundamental
signal
Nonharmonic
oscillations
Harmonics
0 2 4 6 8 10
Relative frequency
nonharmonic oscillations