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Why is the Smith Chart one of the scariest charts in electrical engineering?
We printed the largest one in the world to explain how it works and why it's so terrifying (to engineers at least).
I started this video knowing nothing about this chart. Ended the video knowing nothing about this chart.
One of my mechanical engineering professors called the fundamentals of electrical engr class we had to take "Black Magic for Non-Believes"
"using the most advanced software avaliable" Showing MS paint circle tool.
For those who want to know what the chart is actually used for: The smith chart is basically used for calculating various parameters of electrical data transmission cable. You can calculate capacitance or inductance or stub length which is needed to resolve the cable to a given impedance at that frequency. The even shorter answer is it's used to calculate components that reduce losses on a data line. Uhh some of my wording might be incorrect since it's been a few months since I did the module, but the general idea is there.
The Smith chart was a relief for me, compared to doing the calculations manually
wow, comedy legend Zach Star himself was willing and able to appear in this video
It gave me a chart attack
Zach Star Himself mentioned
"This chart is witchcraft" *proceeds to not explain at all*
I finished a BS in EE. I have a vague memory of seeing this chart and not understanding it. The professor was 80+ years old, so he was really chill, but I lost knowledge in that exchange.
The Smith Chart is one of those looks-hard-but-actually-isn’t things.
zach star jump scare
BSEE and former Navy RADAR ET here.. I LOVED that chart! It's why we call FM Radio and RADAR F'ing Magic!
I began studying electricity in the early 1960s. Back then radio and audio was all there was, and I quickly became aware of Smith Charts, but had no idea what they were for. In my last semester of Electrical Engineering, I had a course on Transmission and Propagation where we were introduced to Smith Charts. I finally felt like an electrical engineer.
Engineers when they see physics:
Legendary Zach Star out-of-character cameo
in this short, we learn absolutely nothing.
"But you merely adopted the incomprehensible charts ; I was born in it, molded by it." - Chemical Engineer
“There have been some great YouTube videos explaining how to use it” This is not of those videos
The psychrometrics chart in HVAC design is equally unnerving at first glance, but it's much easier to understand once you've got some reps with it.