Which statement characterizes a rectangular wave?

Which statement characterizes a rectangular wave?

• A. Voltage rise and fall are equal but the high and low durations may differ.
• B. Rising and falling edges are instantaneous.
• C. The waveform is sinusoidal.
• D. The rise is instant while the fall is gradual.

Answer: (A)

Rectangular waves are periodic signals that sit at a high level for part of the cycle and at a low level for the rest, with transitions between the levels forming the edges. The key feature is that the voltage rises and falls in the same amount of time—the rise time equals the fall time. However, how long the signal stays high versus how long it stays low can be different, so the duty cycle need not be 50%. If the high and low durations are equal, you get a square wave; if they’re not, you get a rectangular wave with a different duty cycle. This distinguishes it from a sine wave, which never holds a constant level, and from an idealized situation with instantaneous edges, which would be a perfect square wave.

Rectangular waves are periodic signals that sit at a high level for part of the cycle and at a low level for the rest, with transitions between the levels forming the edges. The key feature is that the voltage rises and falls in the same amount of time—the rise time equals the fall time. However, how long the signal stays high versus how long it stays low can be different, so the duty cycle need not be 50%. If the high and low durations are equal, you get a square wave; if they’re not, you get a rectangular wave with a different duty cycle. This distinguishes it from a sine wave, which never holds a constant level, and from an idealized situation with instantaneous edges, which would be a perfect square wave.