What is the term for the ratio of maximum voltage to minimum voltage on a line?

The term that describes the ratio of maximum voltage to minimum voltage on a line is known as Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR). VSWR is a critical parameter in the field of electronics and telecommunications, particularly in understanding how well a transmission line is matched to its load.

When there is a mismatch between the transmission line and the load, reflections occur, leading to standing waves. These standing waves create points along the line where the voltage is at its maximum and others where it is at its minimum. The VSWR effectively quantifies this relationship by providing a numerical value that reflects how much power is being reflected versus how much is being transmitted.

A VSWR of 1:1 indicates perfect matching, where all the power is transmitted to the load, while higher values indicate progressively worse mismatches. Understanding VSWR is essential for optimizing the performance of RF systems and for minimizing power loss in transmission lines.

The other options relate to different concepts within electrical engineering. SWR, for example, refers to standing wave ratio and is typically used interchangeably with VSWR, but VSWR is the more specific term used in this context. The transmission coefficient and power ratio apply to different metrics and do not directly relate to the voltage relationship on a line.