10/5 Manga guide to electricity Part 4

1. What is an example of a semiconductor device?

     An LED

2. Why is silicon used in the manufacture of semiconductors? 

     Low material cost and wide temperature range.

3. Discuss the difference using an example of the difference between and N-type and P-type semiconductor.

     p type is a doped semi conductor containing excess holes while n type is a doped semiconductor          containing excess free electrons.  P means it is Positive for holes. N means Negative for electrons,

   
4. In your own words describe what a diode does and the role of N and P type semiconductors.

      A diode is a type of electronic component that allows electricity to flow through in only one               direction. When the diode is forward bias and connected to the P side, it has a higher electrical             potential than N.

5. What is rectification?

     The conversion of alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC)

6. What causes color in an LED? Give and example of what causes a particular color.

     An LED emits light when it is activated at the P-N junction. The LED releases energy in the form      of photons. The color of the light corresponds with the energy of the photon and is determined by        the energy band gap of the semiconductor.

7. What is the relationship between base current and collector current in a transistor?
     

     In a base current, the current flows from the base to the emitter. In a collector current, as the base        current flows, the current from the collector flows to the emitter as well.    

8. What are the advantages of a transistor over a switch?

     

     With a transistor there is no contact, it can be manipulated easier, there is more control and a faster      response time.

Manga Guide to Electricity part 4

1. Diodes and Transistors are examples of semi-conductor devices.

2. Silicon tends to be cheaper than other materials. It also has a wide temperature range and has a high purity of 99.99%

3. N-type semiconductors have negative electron properties. P-type semiconductors have positive properties, they are missing an electron.

4. Diodes consist of p and n type semiconductors. This allows electrical current flow in one direction with a wall in-between them.

5. This allows current to flow in one direction.

6. The raw materials in the semiconductor creates the color, by changing the raw material you can change the color.

7. Base current is when current flows from the base to the emitter. Collector current is when current goes from the collector to the emitter. The collector current thus gets bigger than the base current.

8. A transistor does not get worn out easy, its also doesn't fail, and can be more precise when controlling it.