In the field of electronics, when it comes to amplifiers it is basically referring to the component called, "transistors". The main use or function of these electronic component is simply to control the flow of electric current around the circuit.
Transistors actually have varied designs but you can easily distinguish them based from their three common terminals or legs. These three legs are commonly categorized as the base, collector and emitter.
Now, if we are going to look into a transistor's internal parts, it is actually made out of "silicon" materials. This is the same chemical element that can be found on the sands. Strangely, silicon is a type of material that does not conduct electricity (or non-conductor). In other words, current cannot flow through it. Yet, it is also very surprising to know that silicon is also not an insulator (does not allow current to flow through it).
To explain the mystery behind silicon materials used in transistors components, it is actually all about a process called "doping". This is a process of treating the silicon with impurities where it can behave in a different way.
Scientists have found out that when doping silicon with chemical elements such as arsenic, phosphorus or antimony, this makes the silicon gain some extra or free electrons. If this happens, electrons can naturally pass through it.
N-Type and P-Type
Silicon treated with impurities that allows the flow of electrons through it is classified as an "N-Type" (negative type) silicon. So if there is an N-Type transistor, there is also a "P-Type" (positive type) silicon. What actually makes a P-Type silicon different from the N-Type is the impurities used in the doping process on the silicon. These are chemical elements such as boron, gallium and aluminum. And as a result, the silicon receives less free electrons which causes them to flow into the nearby materials.
To sum it up, N-Type silicon possess "extra free electrons" which makes it increase its conductivity. On the other hand, P-Type silicon only have "less free electrons" which also increase its conductivity but in a manner of opposite way. Take note, "free electrons" are elements on the silicon material that helps carry the electric currents.
As I already stated above, transistor works in a way by controlling the flow of current. In short, it works like a "switch". So as a switch, one part of the transistor only allows tiny amount of electrical current to flow but on the other part of it, it allows bigger amount of electrical current to pass through.
Other than a switch, a transistor also works as an "amplifier". By basic definition, amplifier means "a device that can increase or boost the signal". Thus, transistor can receive small amount of electrical current from its input then in return, it produces bigger amount of electrical current. Due to this reason, some people describe transistors as "current boosters".
Above images are the two common transistor schematic symbols.
To summarize everything up, a transistor is considered as a semiconductor that act as an amplifier or a switch. When it comes to its internal parts or composition, a transistor is made out of treated silicon materials.
Transistors actually have varied designs but you can easily distinguish them based from their three common terminals or legs. These three legs are commonly categorized as the base, collector and emitter.
Now, if we are going to look into a transistor's internal parts, it is actually made out of "silicon" materials. This is the same chemical element that can be found on the sands. Strangely, silicon is a type of material that does not conduct electricity (or non-conductor). In other words, current cannot flow through it. Yet, it is also very surprising to know that silicon is also not an insulator (does not allow current to flow through it).
To explain the mystery behind silicon materials used in transistors components, it is actually all about a process called "doping". This is a process of treating the silicon with impurities where it can behave in a different way.
Scientists have found out that when doping silicon with chemical elements such as arsenic, phosphorus or antimony, this makes the silicon gain some extra or free electrons. If this happens, electrons can naturally pass through it.
N-Type and P-Type
Silicon treated with impurities that allows the flow of electrons through it is classified as an "N-Type" (negative type) silicon. So if there is an N-Type transistor, there is also a "P-Type" (positive type) silicon. What actually makes a P-Type silicon different from the N-Type is the impurities used in the doping process on the silicon. These are chemical elements such as boron, gallium and aluminum. And as a result, the silicon receives less free electrons which causes them to flow into the nearby materials.
To sum it up, N-Type silicon possess "extra free electrons" which makes it increase its conductivity. On the other hand, P-Type silicon only have "less free electrons" which also increase its conductivity but in a manner of opposite way. Take note, "free electrons" are elements on the silicon material that helps carry the electric currents.
How Do Transistor Work?
As I already stated above, transistor works in a way by controlling the flow of current. In short, it works like a "switch". So as a switch, one part of the transistor only allows tiny amount of electrical current to flow but on the other part of it, it allows bigger amount of electrical current to pass through.
Other than a switch, a transistor also works as an "amplifier". By basic definition, amplifier means "a device that can increase or boost the signal". Thus, transistor can receive small amount of electrical current from its input then in return, it produces bigger amount of electrical current. Due to this reason, some people describe transistors as "current boosters".
Above images are the two common transistor schematic symbols.
To summarize everything up, a transistor is considered as a semiconductor that act as an amplifier or a switch. When it comes to its internal parts or composition, a transistor is made out of treated silicon materials.
No comments:
Post a Comment