Electronic Components play an important role in understanding the workings of electrical circuits. The application of electronic science is widely growing due to the large variety of electronic components. Most of the success in the electronic field over electricity is due to various characteristics of components, like nonlinear performance, integration, cost, and size of the electronic components.
If you observe any electronic circuit, there are only five varieties of Electronic Components. The circuit may appear complicated because several different components, but each type belongs to any of these five types. Electronic Components are classified into two groups Passive Components and active components. In this article, we will learn about the electronic components and applications of electronic components.
In this article, We will be going Through what is an Electronic Component, we will go through Types of Electronic Components which are classified as Passive and Active elements, and then we will look at their respective Symbols. At last, we will through its Functions, Advantages, and Disadvantages with its Applications.
Table of Content
What is an Electronic Component?
Electronic components are the elements of the circuit which help in its functioning the electrical circuit. Electronic components are the basic building blocks of an electronic circuit any electronic system or any electronic device. They can control the flow of electrons in an electronic system or electronic circuit. Electronic components are very small. So that they are easy to carry them from one place to another place. The cost of electronic components is also low. Electronic components consist of two or more terminals. When a group of electronic components is connected together in an electronic board such as a printed circuit board (PCB), a useful electronic circuit is formed. Each electronic component in a circuit performs a particular task. They can be classified into two types Active and Passive Components.
Types of Electronic Components
An electrical circuit is an interconnection of Electronic Components. Based on their capability to generate energy these elements are classified into active or passive electronic Components.
Electronic Components are classified into two groups:
- Passive Components
- Active components
Electronic Components
Passive Components
Passive components are electronic devices that don’t need an external power source to operate actively. They mainly resist, store, or control the flow of electric current or voltage in a circuit without actively amplifying or generating signals. These Passive components belongs to inactive functions of components, these Passive components do not have capacity to amplify the voltage or to rectify the supply. Without these components assembly of electronic circuit is not possible.
- Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors are called as passive components.
- Other Passive components include transformers, diodes, thermistors, varactors, transducers, and many other common components. These components are available as through-hole and components, and many are available in common packages with standard land patterns.
Resistors
- Resistors control the flow of current by offering resistance. They are used to limit current, divide voltage, and set biasing conditions in electronic circuits.
- Resistors are again classified into fixed type and variable type components.
- A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical device that resists the flow of current. It is probably the simplest element in an electronic circuit. It is also one of the most common components as resistance is an inherent element of nearly all electronic circuits. They are usually color-coded.
- Resistors have plenty of applications, but the three most common ones are managing current flow, dividing voltage, and resistor-capacitor networks.
Capacitors
- Capacitors store and release electrical energy. They are commonly used for decoupling, filtering, and energy storage in electronic circuits.
- Capacitors are again classified into fixed type and variable type components.
- The capacitor continues to hold its charge even if you disconnect it from the source. The moment you connect it to a load, the stored energy will flow from the capacitor to the load.
- Capacitance is the amount of energy stored in a capacitor. The higher the capacitance, the more energy it can store. You can increase the capacitance by moving the plates closer to each other or increasing their size.
Inductors
- Inductors store and release magnetic energy. They are used for applications such as filtering, energy storage, and impedance matching
- An inductor, also known as a reactor, is a passive component of a circuit having two terminals. This device stores energy in its magnetic field, returning it to the circuit whenever required.
- Whenever the current passes through a wire, it creates a magnetic field. However, the unique shape of the inductor leads to the creation of a much stronger magnetic field. This powerful magnetic field, in turn, resists alternating current, but it lets direct current flow through it. This magnetic field also stores energy.
- Inductors are again classified into Air core, Iron core and Ferrite core components.
Active Components
Active components are electronic devices that need an external power source to work. They actively control and manipulate the flow of electric current in a circuit. These components can amplify, switch, or generate electrical signals. These components are capable of performing active functions like amplification, rectification and switching they are called as active components. They are classified into two groups
- The different types of active components include:
- Diode, Transistor, Integrated circuit are called as active components.
- Electron tubes like vacuum tubes like Diodes, triode.
- Semiconductor devices like diodes, LED, Transistor etc.
Diodes
- Diodes allow current to flow in one direction while blocking it in the opposite direction. They are used for rectification, signal modulation, and switching applications.
- Diode blocks electric current when it is Reverse biased.
- Diode allows electric current when it is Forward biased.
- Examples include transistors, integrated circuits (ICs), and sensors that require power to perform their functions.
Transistors
- Transistor is an electronic component that amplifies electrical signals.
- They are commonly used in amplifiers, digital logic circuits, and voltage regulators.
- Transistors function as both, switches and amplifiers in most electronic circuits. Designers often use a transistor as a switch because unlike a simple switch, it can turn a small current into a much larger one.
- Transistors are often hooked up with logic gates to build a unique piece of an arrangement called a flip-flop.
- A Transistor can store a zero when it’s off or a one when it’s on, which is the working principle of computers.
Integrated Circuits (ICs)
- An integrated circuit (IC) is a small semiconductor chip on which millions of electronic components such as resistors, capacitors and transistors are fabricated.
- The integrated circuit function is mainly to offer high-level functions and tasks like amplification, complex digital calculations i.e. microprocessors, and signal processing.
- The sole purpose of ICs is to increase the efficiency of the electronic devices, while reducing their size and manufacturing cost.
Working of Electronic Components
Electronic Components play an key role in working of electrical circuits. Every component in electronic components has specific function in electrical circuit. Passive components in electronic components do not require an external power source to operate actively. They mainly resist, store, or control the flow of electric current or voltage in a circuit without actively amplifying or generating signals.
Resistor
- Working of Resistor include, It works on the principle of electrical resistance. It works mainly on resistance of an electrical circuit. Resistance has a property to opposes the flow of electric current.
- Resistor working principle can be explained using Ohm’s Law, which states that the current (I) flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage (V) across it and it is inversely proportional to its resistance (R). Mathematically, Ohm’s Law is represented as follows : V = I * R.
- A resistor is an electronic component that limits the flow of electric current in a circuit. It is used to control the amount of current flowing through a circuit and to create voltage drops.
- A resistor absorbs energy when electrical current flows through it. The energy absorbed by the resistor is usually discharged in the form of heat.
Capacitor
- Capacitor is one of the basic components of the electric circuit, which can store electric charge in the form of electric potential energy. It consists of two conducting surfaces such as a plate or sphere, and some dielectric substance(air, glass, plastic, etc.) between them.
- A capacitor is an electronic component that stores and releases electrical energy. It consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material. It can store charge and release it when needed, acting as a temporary energy storage device.
- Capacitors store the electrical energy and release in the form of electrical field.
Inductors
- Inductance is an electrical circuit attribute that opposes any change in current in the circuit. Electrical circuits have an intrinsic feature called inductance.
- The inductor supplies energy to the circuit to keep current flowing during the “off” switching periods and enables topographies where the output voltage is higher than the input voltage.
- Inductors store the electrical energy and release in the form of magnetic field.
Transformer
- Working of Transformer include ,The fundamental principle of how the transformer functions are mutual induction between the two coils or Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction.
- When a positive voltage is applied to base-emitter junction. it allows the flow of electrons from emitter to the base. The flow of electrons from the emitter to the base creates a path for majority charge carriers to flow from collector to the emitter.
- This controlled flow of holes from the collector to emitter constitutes the output current and it can be amplified based on current flowing into the base.
- Transformers are used to change the voltage in alternating current (AC) circuits by using electromagnetic induction.
Diodes
- Working of diode include, In the N-type region, the majority of charge carriers are electrons and the minority of charge carriers are holes. Whereas, In the P-type region, the majority of charge carriers are holes and the minority of charge carriers are electrons. Because of the concentration difference, the diffusion takes place in majority charge carriers and they recombine with the minority charge carriers which are then collected near the junction and this region is known as the Depletion Region.
- Diodes allow the flow of electric current in one direction only. They consist of a semiconductor material with a P-N junction.
Integrated Circuit
- Integrated circuits are a combination of diodes, microprocessors, and transistors in a minimized form on a wafer made of silicon. Each of these components has a specific function.
- These can perform calculations and multiple tasks when combined with each other Integrated circuits is used to that combine multiple electronic components such as transistors, resistors, capacitors, into a single chip.
- An IC can be used as an amplifier, oscillator, timer, counter, logic gate, computer memory, microcontroller or microprocessor.
Transistors
- The working of a transistor is based on the control of current flow between the emitter and collector by the current flowing into the base.
- When a positive voltage is applied to base-emitter junction. it allows the flow of electrons from emitter to the base.
- The flow of electrons from the emitter to the base creates a path for majority charge carriers to flow from collector to the emitter.
- This controlled flow of holes from the collector to emitter constitutes the output current and it can be amplified based on current flowing into the base.
- Transistors act as amplifiers or switches, work by controlling the flow of current between two terminals based on the third terminal’s input voltage.
Circuit Symbols of Electronic Component
Electronic Components CIRCUIT SYMBOLS
Function of Electronic Components
Functions of each electrical component are described below:
- Resistors
- Electric Switches
- Capacitors
- Magnetic or Inductive Components
- Diodes
- Transistors
- Integrated Circuits or ICs
- Resistors : Function of Resistor is to limit and control the flow of current in circuit. resistors are mainly used to resist current. Resistor functions based on Ohm’s law. According to Ohm’s law, voltage applied across a resistor’s terminal has a direct proportion to the electrical current that flows via it. Resistors have variable or fixed resistances. Resistor functions when there is a need to control current flow at a desired level.
- Electric Switches : Electric Switch is a device that is used to break or complete an electric circuit. It helps in opening and closing the electrical circuit. When the electric switch is in “ON” position the circuit is complete and allows the current to pass through. When the electric switch is in “OFF” position it breaks the circuit and does not allow the current to flow in the circuit. Components that may be made to either conduct (closed) or not (open).
- Capacitors : The basic function of the capacitor is to store energy. Its common usage includes energy storage, voltage spike protection, and signal filtering. It is a electronic component that store electrical charge in an electrical field.
- Magnetic or Inductive Components : These electrical component functions according to the Inductance law by Faraday. According to this law, a current passes into its coil and from its left to right. In this case, the coil produces a magnetic field. These are Electrical components that use magnetism. An inductor resists changes in a current.
- Diodes : Diodes are widely used in modern-day circuits to secure circuits from over-voltage and they are also used to change AC current to DC current. Diodes are electronic components that conduct electricity in only one direction.
- Transistors : The function of transistors is ,in electric circuits or electrical systems it usually functions as an amplifier or a switching device. A transistor can build complex electrical systems. It is a semiconductor device capable of amplification.
- Integrated Circuits or ICs : Function of an integrated circuit is ,it can act as a microprocessor, oscillator, and timer. This component is the foundation of several devices like computers, cell phones, and more. For example IA microelectronic computer circuit incorporated into a chip or semiconductor; a whole system rather than a single components.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Components
Each electronic component has its own Advantages and Disadvantages:
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Electronic Component |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Resistor |
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Capacitor |
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Inductor |
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Transformer |
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Transistor |
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Integrated Circuit (IC) |
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Diode |
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Applications of Electronic Components
- Electronic components are used for Industrial automation and motion control.
- Electronic components are used for Machine learning, motor drive control.
- Electronic components are used for Mechatronics and robotics.
- Electronic components are used for Power converting technologies, Photo voltaic systems.
- Electronic components are used for Renewable energy applications, Power electronics, and Biomechanics.
- Electronic components are used in Aerospace & Defense and Medical Devices like Advanced devices are being implemented for recording the data.
Conclusion
We have learnt about the electronic components ,and we have seen the classification of electronic components, These resistance, inductance, and capacitance are called passive circuit electronic components and they do not transfer electrical energy. On the other hand, there are active electronic components like voltage and current sources which transfer electrical energy to the circuits. we have also learnt the applications of electronic components in our daily life.
FAQs on Electronic Components
1. What are power electronic applications that we use in our daily life ?
Power electronic applications that we use in our daily life, such as a fan regulator, air-conditioning, induction cooking, light dimmer, emergency lights, vacuum cleaners, personal computers, etc.
2. Define electronic components and List out the different types of electronic components?
Electronic components are the basic building blocks of electronic system or electronic circuit, and Electronic components are mainly classified into two types:
- Passive components
- Active components
3. Describe the characteristics of passive components?
The characteristics of passive components are:
- Passive components cannot increase the power of an electrical signal.
- Passive components temporarily store the electrical energy in the form of electric field or magnetic field.
- Passive components do not depend on the external source of voltage to perform a specific task.
4. Describe are the characteristics of active components?
The characteristics of active components:
- Active components control the electric current flowing through them.
- Active components depend on the external voltage or current to work.
- Active components amplify the power of an electrical signal.