1. What is Nyquist Frequency?

Definition: The Nyquist frequency is the highest frequency that can be accurately represented in a digital system with a given sampling rate.

Purpose: It's fundamental in digital signal processing to prevent aliasing and ensure accurate signal reconstruction.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( f_{Nyquist} \) — Nyquist frequency (Hertz, Hz)
• \( f_s \) — Sampling frequency (Hertz, Hz)

Explanation: The sampling frequency is divided by 2 to determine the maximum frequency that can be represented without aliasing.

3. Importance of Nyquist Frequency

Details: Proper understanding of Nyquist frequency is crucial for designing digital signal processing systems, audio equipment, and communication systems to prevent signal distortion.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the sampling frequency in Hertz (Hz). The value must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens if a signal exceeds the Nyquist frequency?
A: Signals above the Nyquist frequency will be aliased (appear as lower frequencies), causing distortion in the sampled signal.

Q2: How is this related to the sampling theorem?
A: The Nyquist-Shannon theorem states that a signal must be sampled at least twice its highest frequency component to be perfectly reconstructed.

Q3: What's the practical significance in audio applications?
A: For CD-quality audio (44.1 kHz sampling), the Nyquist frequency is 22.05 kHz, just above human hearing range (20 kHz).

Q4: How does this affect anti-aliasing filters?
A: Anti-aliasing filters must attenuate frequencies above the Nyquist frequency before sampling occurs.

Q5: What about in RF applications?
A: In undersampling applications, higher Nyquist zones can be used to sample RF signals with lower sampling rates.