National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Other Disciplines Practice Exam

The Nyquist theorem is a fundamental principle in signal processing that establishes the maximum rate at which a continuous signal can be sampled without introducing aliasing. According to this theorem, to accurately reconstruct a continuous signal from its samples, the sampling frequency must be at least twice the highest frequency present in the signal. This is known as the Nyquist rate. When the sampling rate is below this threshold, the phenomenon of aliasing occurs, leading to distortion and the inability to accurately reconstruct the original signal.

Understanding this principle is critical in various fields, including telecommunications and audio engineering, as it guides the selection of appropriate sampling rates for digital representation of analog signals. This ensures that all the relevant information is captured without loss or distortion, allowing for precise signal analysis and processing.