GE-184 – Electronic Definitions
1. Resistor – A component in an electrical circuit that puts a set or rated resistance against the current in the circuit. (1)
2. Current – The amount of electrical charge flowing through a circuit measured in amperes. (4)
3. Voltage – The amount of force or pressure behind the current in a circuit measured in volts. (4)
4. Electric Charge – Negatively charged electrons surrounding and positively charged proton electrons cause an electric charge. The forces between them is defined in Coulomb’s Law. (4)
5. Capacitor – A component in an electrical circuit that stores potential energy in a circuit and changes the polarity of the power on the opposite side as the source. (1)
6. Switch – A component in an electrical circuit that opens, closes, or changes to allow current to flow when it’s closed and current to stop when it’s opened. (2)
7. Inductor – A component in an electrical circuit that stores potential energy in its magnetic field caused by an energized wire. The magnetic field opposes changes in current flow when the voltage through the coil is changed. (2)
8. Transformer – A component in an electrical circuit that can increase voltage to higher amount (step-up transformer) or lower the voltage (step-down transformer) coming out the other side. (2)
9. Direct Current – A DC voltage is a current of electricity that can only flow in one direction. (5)
10. Alternating Current – An AC voltage can change direction, polarity and even continually changes in magnitude. (5)
11. Inductive Reactance – How much opposition an inductor can put on against current. (2)
12. Capacitive Reactance – The natural resistance caused by the change in polarity from an energized capacitor. (1)
13. Impedance – The total resistance and reactance of a circuit to AC current flow, measured in ohms. (2)
14. Conductor – Any material, such as copper wire, that allows for large amounts of current to flow through it. (1)
15. Insulator – Any material that stops or inhibits current flow, such as rubber or plastic. (1)
16. Semiconductor – Components in an electrical circuit like diodes and resistors that are more conductive than and insulator, but are more resistive to current than materials that are classified as conductors. (3)
17. Power – Energy used that produces work and/or heat usually expressed in watts. (4)
18. pn-junction – When two types usually referred to as n-types and p-types of material are joined together. This current can go easily in one direction, but not the other, basically working like a diode. (4)
19. Depletion Layer – The point at which and n-type and p-type material meet in a pn-junction. (4)
20. Transistor – Like a mechanical switch in a circuit a transistor can be made to conduct or to not conduct electrical current. (2)
21. Operational Amplifier – A multi-stage amplifier on a circuit board as an integrated circuit, multi-stage amplifier. It’s much smaller than an amplifier made with normal components and best for applications with small space requirements. (2)
22. Differential Amplifier – A type of electronic amplifier that multiplies the difference between two inputs by a constant factor. (7)
23. Thevenin’s Theorem – States that any linear circuit containing several voltages and resistances can be replaced by just a Single Voltage in series with a Single Resistor". In other words, it is possible to simplify any "Linear" circuit, no matter how complex, to an equivalent circuit with just a single voltage source in series with a resistance connected to a load. (3)
24. Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law – In 1845, German physicist Gustav Kirchoff came up with mathematical formulas for AC and DC circuits. He states the sum of all voltages in a loop equals zero. (2)
25. Kirchhoff’s Current Law - In 1845, German physicist Gustav Kirchoff came up with mathematical formulas for AC and DC circuits. The sum of all currents at any junction equals zero. (2)
1. “Strategies For Problem Solving Workbook.” Saltzer, Brian. K; 3rd edition. Pearson Custom Publishing. 2004
2. “All New Electronics Self-Teaching Guide.” Kybett, Harry. Boysen, Earl. 3rd edition. Indianapolis, Ind. Wiley Publishing, 2008. NetLibrary collection
3. “Electronic Tutorials.” On-line resource. 9 Feb. 2011 http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/dccircuits/dcp_7.html
4. “Hyperphysics.” Nave, C.R. Georgia State University Department of Physics and Astronomy. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solids/pnjun.html
5. “GE-184 - Problem Solving.” Class lecture. Professor Adam Manzella. ITT-Tech. 8 Feb 2011
6. “Easy Outline of Basic Electricity.” Gussow, Milton. McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing. February 2002. pg. 13 and 69
7. “All About Electronics.” Website. Kuphaldt, Tony. 1996 http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_8/9.html. 