What happens during 'clipping' in waveform signals?

During clipping in waveform signals, the phenomenon occurs when the amplitude of a signal exceeds a certain threshold, leading to a portion of the waveform being "cut off" or flattened. This typically happens in amplifiers when the output signal demands exceed the maximum output capabilities of the amplifier. Instead of the waveform maintaining its original shape, portions above or below a specified level are truncated or clipped, resulting in a distorted signal.

This distortion can lead to significant changes in the signal's characteristics, often introducing harmonics that were not present in the original signal. Clipping usually occurs in systems where there is a limit on the voltage output, and when the input exceeds this limit, the tops of the waveform peaks are clipped off, effectively flattening those areas of the signal.

Understanding this process is vital in electronics because it can affect the fidelity of audio signals, lead to unwanted distortion in communication systems, and contribute to overheating issues in amplifiers due to increased power dissipation in clipped signals.