Beatrice Lang
Electrical circuits are closed-loop pathways that allow electrons to flow through them. The components of an electrical circuit include a battery, connecting wire, switch, and any electric load. The battery is the source of electric energy, with a positive and negative terminal. The connecting wire is made of a conducting material that allows the electric current to flow through it. The switch can break the circuit by diverting the current, and the electric load converts electrical energy into other forms of energy. Other components include resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, LEDs, transistors, crystals, and oscillators. These components are placed on a printed circuit board, which acts as a skeletal structure to hold them together and provide pathways for information flow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Passive, Active |
| Functionality | Pass current in proportion to voltage, oppose current, store or release electrical energy, convert electrical energy |
| Examples | Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Transformers, Transducers, Transistors, Diodes, Switches, Integrated Circuits |
| Mounting Techniques | SMT (Surface Mount Technology), Through-Hole |
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What You'll Learn
- Resistors: Control flow of current, divide voltage, and adjust signal levels
- Capacitors: Store electrical energy and block DC voltage
- Inductors: Store energy in a magnetic field, used for filtering noise
- Diodes: Semiconductor components that allow current flow in one direction
- Transistors: Amplify or switch electronic signals, made of doped semiconductor materials
Resistors: Control flow of current, divide voltage, and adjust signal levels
Resistors are one of the most common electrical components used in electronic circuits. They are a type of passive device, incapable of controlling current through another electrical signal. They introduce resistance to the flow of electric current in a circuit, thereby limiting the current. The magnitude of this opposition to the flow of current is called the resistance of the resistor. Resistors are available in carbon film, metal film, wire-wound, and surface-mount formats, each suited to different use cases.
Resistors can be used to divide voltage. For example, if a circuit runs on a 12V battery but the microcontroller only needs a 6V supply, placing two resistors of equal resistance value in series will halve the voltage of the circuit. This is because the total resistance is always less than the smallest individual resistor. Using appropriate resistors, voltage can be lowered to any level.
Resistors are also used in combination with capacitors to build integrated circuits (ICs) that contain resistor-capacitor arrays in a single chip. These are known as RC filters or RC networks. They are often used to suppress electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI) in various instruments, including the input/output ports of computers and laptops, Local Area Networks (LANs), and Wide Area Networks (WANs).
Resistors can also be used to adjust signal levels. Thermistors, for instance, are thermally sensitive resistors that exhibit a large, predictable, and precise change in electrical resistance when subjected to a corresponding change in body temperature.
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Capacitors: Store electrical energy and block DC voltage
Capacitors are a fundamental electrical component that can store electrical energy. They are passive devices with two terminals that consist of two plates separated by a dielectric material such as ceramic or electrolytic material. The amount of electrical energy a capacitor can store is called capacitance. When voltage is applied, a capacitor stores electrical charge.
Capacitors are available in various types, including ceramic, tantalum, electrolytic, and film. The choice of capacitor depends on capacitance, voltage ratings, and environmental suitability. For example, polarized capacitors can only be given positive voltage in one direction and must be placed on a circuit board in a specific direction. On the other hand, non-polarized capacitors, such as ceramic capacitors, do not have polarity constraints and can be placed in any direction.
Capacitors are essential in power supply smoothing, timing circuits, and signal filtering. They are also used in combination with resistors to build integrated circuits (ICs) that contain resistor-capacitor arrays in a single chip. These ICs are often used to suppress electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI).
Additionally, capacitors can block the flow of direct current (DC) voltage while allowing alternating current (AC) voltage to pass through. This property makes capacitors useful in various applications, including blocking DC voltages while passing AC signals.
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Inductors: Store energy in a magnetic field, used for filtering noise
Inductors, also known as coils or chokes, are passive electrical components with two terminals. They are used to store energy in a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through them.
The structure of an inductor consists of an insulated wire wound into a coil around a core made of air, iron, powdered iron, or ferrite material. This coil is formed in a spiral shape. Inductors typically have little to no resistance or capacitance.
Inductors are commonly used for filtering noise, energy storage in power supplies, and in motor control circuits. They are also employed in transformers and RFI filters. When used in conjunction with capacitors, inductors can help suppress electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio-frequency interference (RFI).
Inductors are available in standardized packages, and designers can choose from various types, including air-core, iron-core, and toroidal formats, depending on the specific application and current capacity requirements.
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Diodes: Semiconductor components that allow current flow in one direction
Diodes are semiconductor devices that allow the flow of electric current in a single direction. They are typically made of silicon, but can also be made of germanium. Diodes are two-terminal devices with a positive end called the anode and a negative end called the cathode. Current can flow from the anode to the cathode but not in the reverse direction. This unidirectional current flow is why diodes were historically called "valves".
The diode symbol is an iconic one in the world of electronics. It consists of a triangle connected to a horizontal line. The triangle shows the direction of current flow, and the horizontal line represents the separation between the anode and cathode. This simple symbol is key to electronic functionality as it shows that diodes allow current to flow in one direction while blocking current flow in the opposite direction.
Diodes are used to control the flow and direction of current and enable countless applications in modern electronics. They are commonly used in electronic circuits to control current and create rectification effects. For example, rectifier diodes convert alternating current (AC) into pulsating direct current (DC). Direct current flows in one consistent direction, making it easier to control. Zener diodes are another type of diode designed to protect electrical systems from overvoltage. They conduct current in reverse when the cathode reaches a predetermined threshold voltage.
Diodes have various configurations, such as metal case, stud mount, plastic case with a band, and glass case. They are rated according to their type, voltage, and current capacity. Proper diode function can be tested with a digital multimeter (DMM) in diode test mode or resistance mode.
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Transistors: Amplify or switch electronic signals, made of doped semiconductor materials
Transistors are electronic components that can amplify or switch electronic signals. They are made of doped semiconductor materials, such as silicon and germanium.
In semiconductor production, doping is the intentional introduction of impurities, known as dopants, into an intrinsic (undoped) semiconductor. This process modifies the electrical, optical, and structural properties of the semiconductor. Small numbers of dopant atoms can significantly impact a semiconductor's ability to conduct electricity. For example, adding arsenic to a group of silicon atoms results in a doped material with improved conductivity due to the presence of free electrons.
The concentration of dopants used in the semiconductor affects its electrical properties, particularly the material's charge carrier concentration. A semiconductor with a high concentration of dopants is referred to as a degenerate semiconductor and exhibits conductivity levels comparable to metals.
Transistors are created using doped semiconductors. By combining N-type and P-type semiconductors, transistors can control the flow of current, allowing it to pass in only one direction under specific voltage conditions. This functionality enables transistors to amplify or switch electronic signals.
In an electrical circuit, transistors play a crucial role in controlling and modulating the flow of electricity, contributing to signal amplification and regulation. They are active circuit elements that can supply power to a circuit from an external source, such as batteries or generators. Transistors are essential components in modern electronics, with tens of millions of them present on a single chip.
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Frequently asked questions
The basic components of an electrical circuit are a battery, connecting wire, switch, and any electric load.
Passive components either store or dissipate energy. Resistors, capacitors, and inductors are passive devices. Active components can supply power to a circuit from an external source, such as batteries and generators.
Resistors are used to introduce resistance to the flow of electric current in a circuit to limit the current. They are used in circuit diagrams to model and predict how the circuit will behave based on the resistance encountered.
