ARRL Technician Practice Exam 2025 - Free Technician License Practice Questions and Study Guide

To understand what component 4 symbolizes in an electrical schematic as an antenna, it is important to recognize how antennas are represented. In many schematics, antennas are depicted as a series of lines that diverge from a central point, resembling a vertical and/or horizontal configuration. This visual representation aligns with how antennas function to radiate and receive electromagnetic waves.

Antennae are crucial components in radio communication systems, serving as interfaces between the radio waves in the air and the electrical signal in the circuit. They convert electrical signals into radio waves for transmission and vice versa for reception.

The other options—battery, capacitor, and variable inductor—each have distinct characteristics and symbols in electrical schematics. A battery is typically illustrated as a pair of parallel lines indicating its positive and negative terminals. A capacitor is usually shown as two parallel lines or plates, and a variable inductor is often represented with coils and an adjustable element indicated by a separate line or connection.

By understanding the unique characteristics and standard symbols of these components, you can accurately identify them in schematics, thereby recognizing component 4 correctly as an antenna in this case.