🔍 Key Concepts

• Difference between linear and switching voltage regulators • How duty cycle in a switching circuit controls average output voltage • What kind of output waveforms (DC vs ramp vs multiple taps) typical regulator types produce

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: does a switching regulator continuously vary its control device, or does it turn it fully on and fully off very quickly? • Consider how changing the on/off time ratio (duty cycle) affects the average DC output voltage to the load. • Think about which option describes a behavior specific to switching designs, not something that could also be true of many linear or multi-output supplies.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which choice explicitly involves a switching action rather than smooth (analog) control. • Check which option mentions duty cycle or something equivalent that directly affects average output voltage. • Eliminate any choice that mainly describes the shape of the output (like a ramp) or simply the number of outputs, rather than the control method.