Black Box

This article is about black box systems.

A black box is a component that is viewed primarily in terms of its input, output and transfer characteristics without any knowledge of its internal workings.

We first encounter the use of the black box in Physics when we encounter the Operational Amplifiers, and how to use them. The internal workings of the Op-Amp can be ignored, and replaced with the black box. Why do we do this?

Well, the uses of the Op-Amp, to a complete greenhorn, is intimidating enough without knowing the internal circuitry of the Op-Amp.

An Op-Amp can:

• Do mathematical calculations
• Compare Voltages
• Convert an analog signal to a digital signal [Analogue-Digital Converter]
• Function as a NOT gate 
• be a buffer amplifier
• participate in an oscillator
• function as a Voltage Integrator

Now, if you were to study the topics mentioned above, coupled with the internal workings of the black box as shown below:

741 op-amp (8 pins)

...you can see why the black box comes into play now.

Read more here:
Wikipedia's entry on black boxes


The black box even has a theory of its own! Named the Black box theory, or theories, they show a system with a black box in it. For example, Sir Newton produced his black box theory of science as explaining only how things happen but not why things happen.
 Thus, the birth of the Laws of Motion.

Black box theories are brought up in multiple fields of philosophy and science by a number of philosophers and scientists. Even our consciousness is defined in terms of the black box theory, with scientists nowhere near in deciphering the internal systems of the thought process.



The black box theory of consciousness