Electricity plays a major role in modern life, yet it is often an area that people have little to no knowledge of. If you are getting started with electronics, you first need to master the basics. It can be confusing at first, but once you understand the basics then it often all falls into place. The basics will involve understanding the major electronic components and the difference between active and passive components. Keep reading for all that you need to know.
Active & Passive
First, it is worth outlining the difference between active and passive components. Active components are those that are used to amplify signals in order to generate electricity while passive components do not generate power but can dissipate, store and/or release it.
Resistors
Resistors are passive components that oppose or limit the current and are one of the most important components on integrated circuits as they are used to control current. They are graded based on power ratings and resistance values.
Diodes
Diodes let a current flow in one direction and have two terminals; anode and cathode. Current will flow when a positive voltage is applied to the anode and negative to the cathode. If it is the other way round, the voltage will not flow.
Capacitors
Behind resistors, capacitors are the second most common used component in circuits. This is simply a device that is capable of storing an electric charge, which makes them a passive component. A capacitor is made from two conductive plates with an insulator in the middle. The amount of capacitance is measured in microfarads.
Transistors
Transistors have three terminals with voltage able to be applied to the base terminal. This can control the current that flows across the other two terminals (collector and emitter). It is mainly used as a switching device and as an amplifier.
Inductors
An inductor is a passive component that stores energy in a magnetic field. Inductors are made up of a coil of wire around a core, such as a magnet. These are also known as AC resistors as it resists the changes in the current. A magnetic field is created when current passes through the inductor.
Integrated Circuits
It is also important to understand what an integrated circuit is when starting electronics as these are so widespread. Integrated circuits are devices that contain all the required components in an electric circuit, including the above. These are used in all kinds of different devices, including phones, computers and watches.
These are the basics when it comes to electronics and components. It can be daunting at first, but electronics are actually very logical and it can be easy to understand once you get your head around the basics and understand how the components work in a circuit.
