What is a Square Wave?
A square-wave is difficult for most people to understand! Technically, it is a waveform that rises quickly from zero to a particular level of loudness where it remains constant for a period of time, then drops fast at the end. In the case of the 520 Hz square-wave, the sound has been described as discordant, and it contains odd integer harmonics of the fundamental 520 Hz frequency. The 520 Hz square-wave signal was found to be more effective at waking people up than a 500 pure tone signal, perhaps because it contains multiple frequencies and also is perceived as discordant.
A square wave is a type of waveform where the signal has only two levels. The signal switches between these levels at regular intervals and the switch is instant. These qualities mean a graph of the wave over time will produce shapes with square corners. The square wave has practical uses in digital circuits and music. Most waveforms follow a distinct pattern known as sine. Such waveforms switch back and forth between two levels gradually, such that a graph of the wave over time is a series of curves. The waves of the sea, light waves and sea waves all follow a sine pattern, as does the level of voltage in an alternating current system. All other waveforms are categorized as non-sinusoidal waveforms. The most well-known of these, including the square wave, triangle wave and sawtooth waveforms also involve a signal which fluctuates between two levels. However, each of these behaves in a different way, characterized by whether the switch in either or both directions is instantaneous or g
A. The electrical output of a welding machine is normally a sine curve that ramps up to max output and then attenuates back to zero in a half-cycle. Some machines with solid state control can change this output so that the wave form becomes “square” instead of a sine wave, i.e. the output instantly goes from zero to max and stays there for the duration of the wave, then instantaneously goes back to zero at the end of the half-cycle. The advantage of a square wave is that it can be a much more stable welding output, and can also be manipulated electronically with advantageous features such as “balanced wave” technology.
