Basic Electronics Vocabulary

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering foundational terms, electrical parameters, circuit types, and electronic components from the basic electronics lecture.

Electronics

A branch of physics that deals with the emission, behavior, and effects of electrons (as in electron tubes and transistors) and with electronic devices.

Basic Electronics

The study of electric circuits, components, and how electricity flows through them.

Resistor

A current-limiting component with no polarity whose colored bands determine its resistance value within a range.

Capacitor

A device used to store electric charge, consisting of two conducting plates separated by an insulator called a dielectric.

Diode

A component with polarity that allows current to flow in one direction only and maintains a constant voltage of $0.7\,\text{V}$.

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

A component with polarity that keeps the passage of current to one direction only, using internal chemicals that react to an applied voltage to produce color at a constant voltage of $2\,\text{V}$.

Switch

A component with no polarity that can open or close an electrical connection, manually activated by a method such as a button press.

Law of Conservation of Charge

States that charge can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transferred from one body to another, meaning the algebraic sum of all electric charges in any closed system is constant.

Electricity

The presence and flow of electric charge, usually carried by electrons through a conductor, serving as energy in motion that requires a complete circuit to flow.

Static Electricity

The buildup of electric charge on the surface of materials.

Current Electricity

The steady flow of electric charge through a wire or circuit, which powers appliances and lights.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that moves to create electricity.

Electric Current ($I$)

The rate of charge movement through a cross section of a conductor, given by $I = \frac{Q}{t}$ and measured in amperes ($\text{A}$), where $1\,\text{A} = 1\,\text{C/s}$.

Voltage ($V$)

The force or potential difference between two points in a circuit, defined as the work done per unit of charge ($V = \frac{W}{q}$) and measured in volts ($\text{V}$).

Conductor

A material that allows electricity to flow easily, such as copper or metal.

Insulator

A material that blocks electricity, such as rubber or plastic.

Alternating Current (AC)

Electric current where the direction of flow throughout the circuit is constantly reversing.

Direct Current (DC)

Electric current that flows in one direction between power and ground.

Resistance ($R$)

The property of a conductor that limits current flow, which is proportional to length, inversely proportional to cross-sectional area, and measured in ohms ($\Omega$) where $1\,\Omega = 1\,\text{V/A}$.

Circuit

A complete and closed path through which electric current can flow between power and ground.

Simple Circuit

An arrangement of basic electrical components—consisting of a power source, switch, load, and connectors—that permits electrons to flow.

Fuse

A component consisting of a metal wire or ribbon that melts at a specific current level to cut off current.

Circuit Breaker

A device that mechanically interrupts the circuit when a large amount of current is present.

Series Circuit

An electrical circuit where components are connected end-to-end in a single path, allowing the same current to flow through all components.

Parallel Circuit

An electrical circuit where components are connected across common points or junctions to create multiple paths, providing each component with the same voltage as the power source.

Ohm's Law

States that the current ($I$) through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage ($V$) across those points, expressed as $V = I \times R$ or $R = \frac{V}{I}$.

Power Equation

Expresses electrical power ($P$) as work done per unit time, produced by charge flow passing through a potential difference, defined as $P = I \times V$ in watts ($\text{W}$).

Voltage Source

A device with polarity that supplies a constant voltage and a relative amount of current based on Ohm's Law.

Potentiometer

A resistor with variable resistance values adjusted by turning a knob, possessing no polarity.

Transistor (BJT)

A bipolar junction transistor (such as PNP or NPN) used for switching or amplification.

Capacitance ($C$)

The quantity of charge stored in a capacitor per unit voltage, expressed as $C = \frac{q}{V}$ and measured in farads ($\text{F}$) or $\text{C/V}$.

Integrated Circuit

An entire specialized circuit miniaturized onto one small chip containing components like transistors, resistors, and diodes, with legs connecting to points within the circuit.

Breadboard

A special board covered with a grid of holes split into electrically continuous rows used for prototyping electronics.