Electronic Components and Functions

Question 1

Electricity

Answer 1

A fundamental form of energy observable in positive and negative forms that occurs naturally (as in lightning) or is produced (as in a generator) and that is expressed in terms of the movement and interaction of electrons.

Question 2

Positive and Negative Electricity

Answer 2

There are two types of electric charge; positive and negative (commonly carried by protons and electrons respectively). … In ordinary matter, negative charge is carried by electrons, and positive charge is carried by the protons in the nuclei of atoms.

Question 3

Resistors

Answer 3

A resistor is one of the components you will come across in an integrated circuit. The device resists the flow of current. Resistors are graded based on their power ratings (amount of power they can handle without exploding) and resistance values (capacity to resist current). The measurement is done in units know as ohms. The electronic symbol of the unit is Ω.

Question 4

Capacitors

Answer 4

These components can store electric charge temporarily. The components come in different varieties, the most common being electrolytic and ceramic disks. The capacity of a component is usually measured in microfarads (µF).

Question 5

Diodes

Answer 5

Diodes allow electric current to flow in a single direction only. Each diode has two terminals known as the anode and cathode. When the anode is charged with positive voltage and the cathode with a negative one, electric current can flow. Reversing these voltages will prevent the current from flowing.

Question 6

Transistors

Answer 6

These components are easy to identify through their three terminals. For the components to work, voltage has to be applied to one of them; the base terminal. The base can then control current flow in the two other terminals (the emitter and collector).

Question 7

Inductors

Answer 7

These are passive components that store energy in form of a magnetic field. An inductor simply consists of a coil of wire wound around some kind of core. The core could be a magnet or air. When current passes through the inductor, a magnetic field is created around it. The magnetic field is stronger if a magnet is used as the core.

Question 8

Integrated Circuits

Answer 8

An integrated circuit refers to a special device that has all the components required in an electronic circuit. The component has diodes, transistors, and other devices, all of which are etched on a tiny piece of silicon. The components are used in many electronic devices, including watches and computers.

Question 9

Microcontrollers

Answer 9

Microcontrollers are small computers used to control a multitude of devices, such as power tools, remote controls, medical equipment and office machines.

Question 10

Transformers

Answer 10

Built with two coils of wire, transformers are commonly used to step up or step down power.

Question 11

Batteries

Answer 11

Batteries convert chemical energy to electrical energy. The two different cells of a battery are anode (+) and cathode (-).

Question 12

Fuses

Answer 12

Fuses help preserve components from overloading with excessive current. A fuse consists of connection body, support, contacts, and metal-fuse material such as zinc or copper.

Question 13

Relays

Answer 13

These electromechanical switches shut power on or off. A relay includes an electromagnet, an armature, a series of electrical contacts and a spring.

Question 14

Switches

Answer 14

Switches interrupt current. The four types of switches are; single pole single throw (SPST), single pole double throw (SPDT), double pole single throw (DPST), and double pole double throw (DPDT).

Question 15

Motors

Answer 15

Motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Key components include a rotor, stator, bearings, conduit box, enclosure, and eye bolt.

Question 16

Circuit Breakers

Answer 16

As a protective device, a circuit breaker can be controlled with a remote switch. It is designed to protect the circuit from overloading or a short circuit.

Question 17

Electromechanical

Answer 17

Is a devices are ones which have both electrical and mechanical processes.

Question 18

Current

Answer 18

An electric current is the rate of flow of electric charge past a point or region. An electric current is said to exist when there is a net flow of electric charge through a region. In electric circuits this charge is often carried by electrons moving through a wire.

Question 19

AC

Answer 19

Alternating current (AC) is an electric current which periodically reverses direction, in contrast to direct current (DC) which flows only in one direction.

Question 20

DC

Answer 20

Direct current (DC) is an electric current that is uni-directional, so the flow of charge is always in the same direction. As opposed to alternating current, the direction and amperage of direct currents do not change. It is used in many household electronics and in all devices that use batteries.

Question 21

Ohm

Answer 21

The ohm is defined as an electrical resistance between two points of a conductor when a constant potential difference of one volt, applied to these points, produces in the conductor a current of one ampere, the conductor not being the seat of any electromotive force.

Question 22

Ohm’s law

Answer 22

Ohm’s law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points.

Question 23

Voltage

Answer 23

Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit’s power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop, enabling them to do work such as illuminating a light. In brief, voltage = pressure, and it is measured in volts (V).

Question 24

Hertz

Answer 24

The hertz is defined as one cycle per second. … Expressed in base SI units it is 1/second (1/s). In English, “hertz” is also used as the plural form. As an SI unit, Hz can be prefixed; commonly used multiples are kHz (kilohertz, 103 Hz), MHz (megahertz, 106 Hz), GHz (gigahertz, 109 Hz) and THz (terahertz, 1012 Hz).

Question 25

Resistance

Answer 25

Resistance is the opposition that a substance offers to the flow of electric current. … When an electric current of one ampere passes through a component across which a potential difference (voltage) of one volt exists, then the resistance of that component is one ohm.

Question 26

Electromagnet

Answer 26

An electromagnet is a magnet that runs on electricity. Unlike a permanent magnet, the strength of an electromagnet can easily be changed by changing the amount of electric current that flows through it. … The magnetic field can be strengthened even more by wrapping the wire around a core.

Question 27

Copper

Answer 27

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from Latin; cuprum). It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orange color.

Question 28

Fiber optics

Answer 28

fiber optics means sending light beams down thin strands of plastic or glass by making them bounce repeatedly off the walls.

Question 29

Electric Circuit

Answer 29

An electric circuit is like a pathway made of wires that electrons can flow through. A battery or other power source gives the force (voltage) that makes the electrons move. When the electrons get to a device like a light bulb, your computer, or a refrigerator, they give it the power to make it work.

Question 30

Digital communication

Answer 30

Digital communication means communication through 1 and 0 (as in electric currents being on or off). For example the number 22 becomes 10110. Words are translated into binary by giving each letter a number in a defined format (e.g. ASCII code). The word “hat” becomes 01101000 01100001 01110100.

Question 31

Signal

Answer 31

A signal is an electric current or electromagnetic field used to convey data from one place to another. … More complex signals consist of an alternating-current (AC) or electromagnetic carrier that contains one or more data streams.

Question 32

Digital Signal

Answer 32

A digital signal is a signal that is being used to represent data as a sequence of discrete values; at any given time it can only take on one of a finite number of values. This contrasts with an analog signal, which represents continuous values; at any given time it represents a real number within a continuous range of values.

Question 33

Analog Signal

Answer 33

An analog signal is any continuous signal for which the time-varying feature (variable) of the signal is a representation of some other time varying quantity, i.e., analogous to another time varying signal.

Question 34

Digital sensor

Answer 34

A digital sensor is an electronic or electrochemical sensor, where data is digitally converted and transmitted. Sensors are often used for analytical measurements, e.g. the measurement of chemical and physical properties of liquids.

Question 35

Analog Sensor

Answer 35

Analogue Sensors produce a continuous output signal or voltage which is generally proportional to the quantity being measured. Physical quantities such as Temperature, Speed, Pressure, Displacement, Strain etc are all analogue quantities as they tend to be continuous in nature.

Question 36

Actuator

Answer 36

An actuator is a component of a machine that is responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system, for example by opening a valve. In simple terms, it is a “mover”. An actuator requires a control signal and a source of energy.

Question 37

Parallel connection

Answer 37

A parallel circuit is a closed circuit in which the current divides into two or more paths before recombining to complete the circuit. Each load connected in a separate path receives the full circuit voltage, and the total circuit current is equal to the sum of the individual branch currents.

Question 38

Serial Connection

Answer 38

Serial communication is the process of sending data one bit at a time, sequentially, over a communication channel or computer bus.

Question 39

Breadboard

Answer 39

Breadboards are an essential tool for prototyping and building temporary circuits. These boards contain holes for inserting wire and components. Because of their temporary nature, they allow you to create circuits without soldering. The holes in a breadboard are connected in rows both horizontally and vertically as shown below.

Question 40

Digital Multimeter

Answer 40

A multimeter is a device that’s used to measure electric current (amps), voltage (volts) and resistance (ohms). It’s a great for troubleshooting circuits and is capable of measuring both AC and DC voltage. Check out this post for more info on how to use a multimeter.

Question 41

Battery Holders

Answer 41

A battery holder is a plastic case that holds batteries from 9V to AA. Some holders are enclosed and may have an on/off switch built in.

Question 42

Test Leads (Alligator Clips)

Answer 42

Test leads are great for connecting components together to test a circuit without the need for soldering.

Question 43

Wire Cutter

Answer 43

Wire cutters are essential for stripping stranded and solid copper wire.

Question 44

Precision Screwdriver Set

Answer 44

Precision screwdrivers are also known as jeweler’s screwdrivers and usually come as a set. The advantage of these over normal screwdrivers is the precision tips of each driver. These are very handy when working with electronics that contain tiny screws.

Question 45

Helping 3rd Hand

Answer 45

When working with electronics, it seems you never have enough hands to hold everything. This is where the helping hand (3rd hand) comes in. Great for holding circuit boards or wire when soldering or tinning.

Question 46

Heat Gun

Answer 46

A heat gun is used to shrink plastic tubing known as heat shrink to help protect exposed wire. Heat shrink has been called the duct tape of electronics and comes in handy in a wide variety of applications.

Question 47

Jumper Wire

Answer 47

These wires are used with breadboard and development boards and are generally 22-28 AWG solid core wire. Jumper wires can have male or female ends depending on how they need to be used.

Question 48

Soldering Iron

Answer 48

When it times to create a permanent circuit, you’ll want to solder the parts together. To do this, a soldering iron is the tool you would use. Of course a soldering iron isn’t any good unless you have soldered to go with it. You can choose leaded or lead-free solder in a few diameters.

Question 49

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

Answer 49

A light-emitting diode is like a standard diode in the fact that electrical current only flows in one direction. The main difference is an LED will emit light when electricity flows through it. Inside an LED there is an anode and cathode. Current always flows from the anode (+) to the cathode (-) and never in the opposite direction. The longer leg of the LED is the positive (anode) side.

Question 50

What Is a Circuit

Answer 50

An electronic circuit is a circular path of conductors by which electric current can flow. A closed circuit is like a circle because it starts and ends at the same point forming a complete loop. Furthermore, a closed circuit allows electricity to flow from the (+) power to the (-) ground uninterrupted. In contrast, if there is any break in the flow of electricity, this is known as an open circuit. As shown below, a switch in a circuit can cause it to be open or closed depending on it’s position.

All circuits need to have three basic elements. These elements are a voltage source, conductive path and a load. The voltage source, such as a battery, is needed in order to cause the current to flow through the circuit. In addition, there needs to be a conductive path that provides a route for the electricity to flow. Finally, a proper circuit needs a load that consumes the power. The load in the above circuit is the light bulb.

Question 51

Schematic Diagram

Answer 51

When working with circuits, you will often find something called a schematic diagram. These diagrams use symbols to illustrate what electronic components are used and where they’re placed in the circuit. These symbols are graphic representations of the actual electronic components. Below is an example of a schematic that depicts an LED circuit that is controlled by a switch. It contains symbols for an LED, resistor, battery and a switch. By following a schematic diagram, you are able to know which components to use and where to put them. These schematics are extremely helpful for beginners when first learning circuits.