Sampling rate
Number of samples per unit time in analog-to-digital conversion. Sampling rate determines maximum frequency representable. Nyquist theorem: sampling rate must exceed twice maximum frequency.
Formula
Nyquist rate = 2 × maximum frequency
Real World
Spotify streams music sampled at 44,100 Hz because human hearing tops out around 20,000 Hz — so 44,100 satisfies the Nyquist theorem with a small margin.
Exam Focus
State the Nyquist theorem by name and explain aliasing as the consequence of undersampling — both are common mark-scheme requirements.
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