THE MAGAZINE FOR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Circuit Cellar Online offers articles illustrating creative solutions
and unique applications through complete projects, practical
tutorials, and useful design techniques.

WHAT'S YOUR ENGINEERING QUOTIENT?

Problem 1—What is the "chip" rate (spreading code bit rate) of the Coarse/Acquisition (C/A) signal of a GPS satellite? What about the Precision (P) signal?

ANSWER

Problem 2—The high volumetric efficiency (capacitance ý voltage rating / case size) of tantalum capacitors is great for producing compact products, but this can lead directly to another problem. What is it? (Hint: think ESR)

ANSWER

Problem 3—What happens if you try to operate a power transformer at a frequency too low for its rating; e.g., a 60-Hz unit on 50-Hz power?

ANSWER

Problem 4—What happens if you try to operate a power transformer at a frequency too high for its rating; e.g., a 60-Hz unit on 400-Hz power?

ANSWER

Problem 5—What is the purpose of keeping a formal lab notebook?

ANSWER

Problem 6—What are the rules for keeping a formal lab notebook that can be used as evidence; for example, in patent litigation?

ANSWER

Problem 7—Imagine an infinite 2-D triangular mesh of 1-ohm resistors (6 resistors connected to each node). What is the resistance measured across any one resistor in the mesh?

ANSWER

Problem 8—What does the following C function compute?

 int func (int x)
{
int n;
for (n=1; x>=n; n+=2) x -= n;
return n>>1;
}

ANSWER

02-02