What is Virtual Ground, Definitions, Pros & Cons
Authored By: Ankita Prajapati
Virtual ground is a concept used in electrical engineering to provide a reference point for other voltages in a circuit. It is typically used to create a reference point for a circuit or to create a zero–voltage reference for the circuit.
In electric circuits, it is used to provide a reference point for other voltages in the circuit, so that all other voltage values can be measured relative to this reference.
Virtual ground is created by connecting two points in a circuit that have the same voltage potential, meaning they are at the same voltage level. This connection of two points is known as a virtual ground.
The two points can be connected either at the same location, or at two different locations. For practical purposes, a virtual ground is usually created at a single point in the circuit.
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This point is then used as a reference point for all other voltages in the circuit. This reference point is called a virtual ground potential.
This virtual ground potential is then used to measure the other voltages in the circuit. In general, virtual ground is used to create a zero–voltage reference point in the circuit. This can be used to measure the voltages of other components in the circuit, or to measure the voltages of entire circuits.
For example, a virtual ground can be used to measure the voltage of a battery, or to measure the voltage of a motor.
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Pros
- Virtual ground eliminates the need for a separate ground connection, which can reduce the complexity of the circuit.
- It allows for the accurate measurement of voltages in the circuit.
- It can reduce power consumption in the circuit.
Cons
- It can be difficult to accurately measure the voltage of the virtual ground.
- The accuracy of the measurements is affected by the resistance in the circuit.
- If a virtual ground is used in a circuit that has high noise levels, it can interfere with the measurements.
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Conclusion
Virtual ground is a concept that is used in various applications, such as power electronics, microprocessors, and analog circuits.
It is used to provide a reference point for other voltages in the circuit, which can then be used to measure other voltages in the circuit. This concept can be used to simplify the design of circuits, as well as to reduce power consumption.
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