Electronic Circuits and Electricity Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering electronic circuit components, circuit types, robotics circuit modules, fundamentals of electricity, and electrical materials.

Electronic Circuit

A complete path made up of electronic components connected together to control the flow of electric current and perform a specific function.

Resistor

An electronic component that limits or resists the flow of electric current in a circuit.

Capacitor

A storage device used to store and release electrical energy by separating two opposing positive and negative charges.

Diode

A component that allows electricity to flow in a single direction while acting against its flow in the opposite direction.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

A semiconductor component that produces light when electric current passes through it.

Transistor

An electronic component that amplifies signals or acts as an electronic switch in a circuit.

Integrated Circuit (IC)

A chip containing many electronic components integrated together to perform complex electronic functions.

Inductor (Coil)

A passive two-terminal component that stores electrical energy in the form of a magnetic field when electric current flows through it.

Cell

A basic building block for a Direct Current (DC) power source, where multiple cells combine to form a battery.

Earth Ground

A reference point in an electrical circuit where voltage can be measured as zero.

Open Circuit

A circuit that has a break or gap in its path, preventing electric current from flowing.

Closed Circuit

A circuit with a complete path through which electric current flows freely.

Series Circuit

A circuit where components are connected in a single path so that the same current flows through all components.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit where components are connected in separate branches, providing multiple paths for electric current.

Analog Circuit

A circuit that processes continuous electrical signals that vary smoothly over time.

Digital Circuit

A circuit that processes information using binary values ($0$ and $1$).

Power Supply Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that provides electrical power to all robot components, composed of batteries, voltage regulators, power switches, capacitors, and fuses.

Sensor Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit in robotics that detects changes in the environment and sends input signals to the controller.

Control Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit acting as a robot's brain that receives information from sensors, processes it, and sends commands to other circuits.

Motor Driver Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that controls the direction and speed of motors in a robot.

Actuator Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that converts electrical signals into mechanical movement using components like DC motors, servo motors, stepper motors, or solenoids.

Communication Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that allows robots to exchange data with other devices via modules like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or RF.

Display Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that displays information such as sensor readings or robot status using devices like LCDs, OLEDs, or seven-segment displays.

Signal Processing Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that filters and conditions signals from sensors before they reach the main controller.

Protection Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that protects electronic components from damage using elements like fuses, diodes, voltage regulators, and reverse-polarity protection.

Feedback Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that monitors a robot's performance using sensors like encoders or gyroscopes and provides data to the controller for corrections.

Robotics Circuit System Integration

The multi-circuit arrangement showing the functional flow between power supply, sensor, control, feedback, motor driver, communication, actuator, and display circuits.

Electricity

The flow of electrical power or charge, functioning as a secondary energy source obtained from primary sources.

Primary Sources

Natural energy resources, such as coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear power, that are converted to generate electricity.

Static Electricity

The buildup of electric charges on the surface of an object, where charges remain at rest until discharged.

Current Electricity

The continuous flow of electric charges (electrons) through a conductor.

Direct Current (DC)

An electric current that flows continuously in only one direction.

Alternating Current (AC)

An electric current that changes direction repeatedly, typically $50$ or $60$ times per second.

Renewable Sources

Energy sources that are naturally replenished and generally produce lower greenhouse gas emissions, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy.

Non-renewable Sources

Energy sources that rely on finite fuels, such as coal, natural gas, oil, and uranium.

Conductors

Materials that allow electric current to flow easily due to high electrical conductivity.

Insulators

Materials that resist the flow of electric current due to very low electrical conductivity.

Semiconductors

Materials that conduct electricity better than insulators but not as well as conductors, having moderate electrical conductivity.

Silicon (Si)

A semiconductor material commonly used in computer chips, solar panels, integrated circuits, and transistors.

Germanium (Ge)

A semiconductor material used in transistors, diodes, and infrared detectors.

Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)

A semiconductor compound used in LEDs, laser diodes, satellite communication, and high-speed electronics.

Silicon Carbide (SiC)

A semiconductor compound used in electric vehicles, power electronics, and high-temperature devices.

Gallium Nitride (GaN)

A semiconductor compound used in fast chargers, LEDs, and 5G communication systems.

Electronic Circuit

A complete path made up of electronic components connected together to control the flow of electric current and perform a specific function, such as lighting an LED, amplifying a signal, or processing information.

Power Source (Battery / Power Supply)

A component that provides electrical energy to an electronic circuit.

Switch

A component that opens or closes a circuit to control current flow by interrupting the conducting path.

Wire (Conductor)

A conductive material that connects circuit components and carries electric current.

Resistor

An electronic component that limits or opposes the flow of electric current in a circuit.

Capacitor

A storage device used to store and release electrical energy by separating two opposing positive and negative charges.

Diode

A component that allows electricity to flow in a single direction while acting against its flow in the opposite direction.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

A semiconductor diode that produces light when electric current passes through it.

Transistor

An electronic component that acts as an electronic switch or amplifier for signals in a circuit.

Integrated Circuit (IC)

A chip containing many electronic components connected together in a single package to perform complex electronic tasks.

Cell

A basic building block for a DC power source, where multiple cells are combined to form a battery.

Inductor (Coil)

A passive two-terminal component that stores electrical energy in the form of a magnetic field when electric current flows through it.

Earth Ground

A reference point in an electrical circuit where voltage can be measured as zero.

Open Circuit

A circuit with a break or gap in the path, resulting in no current flow and causing connected devices to not operate.

Closed Circuit

A circuit with a complete path that allows current to flow freely, enabling attached devices to operate normally.

Series Circuit

A circuit layout where components are connected in a single path, causing the same current to flow through all components, and causing the entire circuit to stop working if one component fails.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit layout where components are connected in separate branches, providing multiple paths for current so that if one branch fails, the others continue to work.

Analog Circuit

A circuit that processes continuously varying electrical signals, commonly used in audio and communication devices.

Digital Circuit

A circuit that processes information using binary values ($0$ and $1$), forming the basis of modern digital devices.

Types of Electronic Circuits

The classification of circuits into open, closed, series, parallel, analog, and digital types based on path completeness, connection structure, and signal format.

Power Supply Circuit (Robotics)

A circuit that provides electrical power to all robot components, comprising batteries, voltage regulators, power switches, capacitors, and fuses.

Sensor Circuit

A circuit that detects changes in the environment using sensors (such as ultrasonic or IR sensors) and sends signals to the controller.

Control Circuit

A circuit that acts as the robot's brain by receiving information from sensors, processing data, and sending commands to other circuits.

Motor Driver Circuit

A circuit that controls the direction and speed of motors using motor driver ICs (such as L298N), MOSFETs or transistors, and diodes.

Actuator Circuit

A circuit that converts electrical signals into mechanical movement using components like DC motors, servo motors, stepper motors, or solenoids.

Communication Circuit

A circuit that allows robots to exchange data with other devices using modules like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or RF.

Display Circuit

A circuit that displays information such as sensor readings or robot status via devices like LCDs, OLED displays, seven-segment displays, or LEDs.

Signal Processing Circuit

A circuit that filters and conditions signals from sensors before they reach the controller using Op-Amps, resistors, capacitors, and filters.

Protection Circuit

A circuit designed to protect electronic components from damage using fuses, diodes, voltage regulators, current limiters, and reverse-polarity protection.

Feedback Circuit

A circuit that monitors a robot's performance using devices like rotary encoders, gyroscopes, accelerometers, or Hall-effect sensors and sends feedback to the controller for corrections.

Robotics Circuit Integration

The system architecture showing how power supply, sensor, control, feedback, motor driver, communication, actuator, and display circuits operate together in a robot.

Electricity

The flow of electrical power or charge; a secondary energy source obtained from converting primary energy sources like coal, natural gas, oil, or nuclear power.

Static Electricity

The buildup of electric charges on the surface of an object, where charges remain at rest until discharged and are typically produced by friction.

Current Electricity

The continuous flow of electric charges (electrons) through a conductor, requiring a power source and a closed circuit.

Direct Current (DC)

Electric current that flows in only one direction, sourced from devices such as batteries, solar cells, and power banks.

Alternating Current (AC)

Electric current that changes direction repeatedly (typically $50$ or $60$ times per second), supplied by power plants and distributed via the electrical grid.

Renewable Energy Sources

Energy resources that are naturally replenished and generally have lower greenhouse gas emissions, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, and tidal/wave energy.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Finite energy resources that rely on limited fuels, such as coal, natural gas, petroleum oil, and nuclear energy.

Conductors

Materials with high electrical conductivity that allow electric current to flow easily, such as copper, aluminum, silver, gold, iron, steel, graphite, and brass.

Insulators

Materials with very low electrical conductivity that resist the flow of electric current, such as rubber, plastic, glass, ceramic, dry wood, air, paper, and dry cloth.

Semiconductors

Materials with moderate electrical conductivity that conduct electricity better than insulators but not as well as conductors, essential in devices like computers, smartphones, and solar cells.

Silicon (Si)

A semiconductor element used in computer chips, solar panels, integrated circuits, and transistors.

Germanium (Ge)

A semiconductor element used in transistors, diodes, and infrared detectors.

Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)

A semiconductor compound used in LEDs, laser diodes, satellite communication, and high-speed electronics.

Silicon Carbide (SiC)

A semiconductor compound used in electric vehicles, power electronics, and high-temperature devices.

Gallium Nitride (GaN)

A semiconductor compound used in fast chargers, LEDs, and 5G communication systems.