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BASIC Electronics Parts

Transistors amplify electric current and can turn electricity on or off. Resistors control the flow of electrical current and are commonly used to control volume. Capacitors are like batteries but dump their entire charge quickly and are used for things like cameras and evening out voltage. Diodes allow electricity to flow in one direction for protection. LEDs are tiny light bulbs used as lights and indicators. Integrated circuits/chips contain millions of components and connect devices. Microcontrollers are dedicated computers that control devices. Microprocessors are computation engines that run computers. Transformers convert voltages for devices to function. The document provides an overview of basic electronic components.

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282 views9 pages

BASIC Electronics Parts

Transistors amplify electric current and can turn electricity on or off. Resistors control the flow of electrical current and are commonly used to control volume. Capacitors are like batteries but dump their entire charge quickly and are used for things like cameras and evening out voltage. Diodes allow electricity to flow in one direction for protection. LEDs are tiny light bulbs used as lights and indicators. Integrated circuits/chips contain millions of components and connect devices. Microcontrollers are dedicated computers that control devices. Microprocessors are computation engines that run computers. Transformers convert voltages for devices to function. The document provides an overview of basic electronic components.

Uploaded by

Chakravarty
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BASIC ELECTRONICS COMPONENTS

An electronic circuit board can contain millions of transistors and many other tiny
electronic parts. But what are these parts and what do they do? Take a close look at
what goes inside electronics and learn the function of each component.

Transistors

Transistors come in several different types and amplify electric current. They can also
turn electricity on or off. The electronic component on the next page has the opposite
function.
Resistors

Resistors control the flow of electrical current, and are commonly used to control
volume in electronic devices like TVs. If you aren't careful, the power in the next
component might kill you if you handle it improperly.

Electrolytic Capacitors

Capacitors are like batteries, but they dump their entire charge in a tiny fraction of a
second, where a battery would take minutes. They are commonly used for anything
that requires a flash, such as a camera. They can also be used to even out voltage or
block DC current. See other types of capacitors next
Other Capacitors

While the electrolytic capacitor on the previous page is the most popular, other
common capacitor types include ceramic, plastic film types and tantalum. They are
often less expensive than electrolytic capacitors and better for electronics that don't
require intensity. Protect your circuit with the next part.

Diodes

Diodes allow electricity to flow in one direction and are usually used as a form of
protection. Above, the diodes are red with resistors on the left. Take a look at a LED
next.
Light-emitting Diode (LED)

Basically, LEDs are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. Some
uses of LEDs include forming the numbers on digital clocks, transmiting information
from remote controls, lighting up watches and telling you when your appliances are
turned on. Collected together, they can illuminate a traffic light. Learn what inductors
do next.

Inductors

An inductor is about as simple as an electronic component can get -- it is simply a coil


of wire. It is used in traffic light sensors and if you team up an inductor with a
capacitor you create an oscillator. Learn everyday things that use oscillators next.
Oscillator

Oscillators move energy back and forth between two forms. A quartz watch uses a
quartz oscillator to keep track of what time it is. An AM radio transmitter uses an
oscillator to create the carrier wave for the station and there are also oscillators in
computers, metal detectors and stun guns. Next, see the component that made
computing possible.

Semiconductor Chip/Integrated Circuit

An integrated circuit, also called a chip, may contain millions of transistors and other
components surrounded by a plastic or ceramic case. It connects to a circuit board via
the metal pins seen above. Chips are often used in cars, computers, calculators and
more. Next, learn about microcontrollers.
Microcontrollers

Most modern electronic devices -- TVs, VCRs, microwaves and so on -- contain an


embedded microcontroller It's basically a dedicated computer. Next, see a
microprocessor, which is a key component in computers.

Microprocessors

A microprocessor -- also known as a CPU or central processing unit -- is a complete


computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. Pictured above is the back side
of the Core i7 chip with Nehalem micro architecture. You can also fire up your
electronics engine with the next component.
Electric Motor

An electromagnet is the basis of an electric motor. In your house, almost every


mechanical movement that you see around you is caused by an AC (alternating
current) or DC (direct current) electric motor. See a brushless motor next.

Brushless Electric Motor

In a brushless DC motor (BLDC), you put the permanent magnets on the rotor and
you move the electromagnets to the stator. Then you use a computer (connected to
high-power transistors) to charge up the electromagnets as the shaft turns. You'll
likely need the next part to even get your motor started.
Relays

A relay is a simple electromechanical switch made up of an electromagnet and a set of


contacts. Relays are quite common in home appliances where there is an electronic
control turning on something like a motor or a light. See what device is used to get
electricity to your gadgets next.

Power-cube Transformer

The purpose of a transformer is to convert one AC voltage to another AC voltage. A


typical home probably has five to 10 of these little transformers plugged into the wall
at any given time, and they are used with printers, speakers, cell phone chargers,
electric drills and more. How many electronic parts can you identify now? See the
next page to test your knowledge.

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TEST YOURSELF.

-What are the three components pictured here? See the next page for the answer.

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