Quiz for Applications of Imaginary Numbers
June 27th, 2008Here are some questions for extra credit. Answers to these are sprinkled throughout our tutorial. Perfect for the curious student who asks in class about the utility of imaginary numbers. You are more than welcome to cut and paste these and use them however you wish. Two versions provided so you can mix and match to construct unique tests.
1. Imaginary numbers provide only an intermediate and conceptual mathematical result but have no physical significance in engineering and physics applications. Circle True or False.
2. A complex number is most often used in real world applications to quantify what kind of physical variable:
b. two dimensional
c. provides a theoretical base, but cannot describe physical variables
d. three dimensional
e. only variables describing particles smaller than an atom
3. In a vibration system with an oscillating input motion and an oscillating output motion, the imaginary part of a complex output can best be described as:
b. the part of the output that is negative
c. the component of the output that is negative but has a positive slope (increasing)
d. the component of the output that is quarter cycle ahead of the input
e. the component of the output that is in phase (peaks and valleys align) with the input
4. In a vibration system with an oscillating input motion and an oscillating output motion, the real part of a complex output can best be described as:
b. the part of the output that is positive
c. the component of the output that is positive but has a negative slope (decreasing)
d. the component of the output that is quarter cycle ahead of the input
e. the component of the output that is in phase (peaks and valleys align) with the input
And another variation on the test above:
1. Imaginary numbers are far more than a mathematical abstraction; they often represent physical characteristics in engineering and physics applications. Circle True or False.
2. A complex number is most often used in real world applications to quantify what kind of physical variable:
b. provides a theoretical base, but cannot describe physical variables
c. three dimensional
d. only variables describing particles smaller than an atom
e. two dimensional
3. In a vibration system with an oscillating input motion and an oscillating output motion, the imaginary part of a complex output can best be described as:
b. the part of the output that is negative
c. the component of the output that is quarter cycle ahead of the input
d. the component of the output that is in phase (peaks and valleys align) with the input
e. the component of the output that is negative but has a positive slope (increasing)
4. In a vibration system with an oscillating input motion and an oscillating output motion, the real part of a complex output can best be described as:
b. the component of the output that is positive but has a negative slope (decreasing)
c. the component of the output that is quarter cycle ahead of the input
d. the component of the output that is in phase (peaks and valleys align) with the input
e. the part of the output that is unmeasureable
September 28th, 2010 at 4:40 am
hi it is important for me ok
February 14th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
If you have a circuit with R, L, C denoting Resistance, Inductance and Capacitance, where generally R is independent of frequency, C impedance decreases with increased frequency and L impedance increases with increased frequency. Then i which can become + which is comprehensible or root(-1) which remains incomprehensible and can be thought of as vectors which add or subtract as do vectors. Imaginary numbers are widely used in Electrical theory and what else?