Elenco Electronic Playground 50-in-1 Experiments - Manual (Page 3)

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DEFINITION OF TERMS
(Most of these will be introduced and explained during the experiments).
AC Common abbreviation for
alternating current.
Alternating Current A current that is constantly
changing.
AM Amplitude modulation. The
amplitude of the radio signal is
varied depending on the
information being sent.
Amp Shortened name for ampere.
Ampere (A) The unit of measure for electric
current. Commonly shortened
to amp.
Amplitude Strength or level of something.
Analogy A similarity in some ways.
AND Gate A type of digital circuit which
gives a HIGH output only if all
of its inputs are HIGH.
Antenna Inductors used for sending or
receiving radio signals.
Astable Multivibrator A type of transistor
configuration in which only one
transistor is on at a time.
Atom The smallest particle of a
chemical element, made up of
electrons, protons, etc.
Audio Electrical energy representing
voice or music.
Base The controlling input of an NPN
bipolar junction transistor.
Battery A device which uses a
chemical reaction to create an
electric charge across a
material.
Bias The state of the DC voltages
across a diode or transistor.
Bipolar Junction
Transistor (BJT) A widely used type of transistor.
Bistable Switch A type of transistor
configuration, also known as
the flip-flop.
BJT Common abbreviation for
Bipolar Junction Transistor.
Capacitance The ability to store electric
charge.
Capacitor An electrical component that
can store electrical pressure
(voltage) for periods of time.
Carbon A chemical element used to
make resistors.
Clockwise In the direction in which the
hands of a clock rotate.
Coil When something is wound in a
spiral. In electronics this
describes inductors, which are
coiled wires.
Collector The controlled input of an NPN
bipolar junction transistor.
Color Code A method for marking resistors
using colored bands.
Conductor A material that has low
electrical resistance.
Counter-Clockwise Opposite the direction in which
the hands of a clock rotate.
Current A measure of how fast
electrons are flowing in a wire
or how fast water is flowing in a
pipe.
Darlington A transistor configuration which
has high current gain and input
resistance.
DC Common abbreviation for direct
current.
Decode To recover a message.
Detector A device or circuit which finds
something.
Diaphragm A flexible wall.
Differential Pair A type of transistor
configuration.
Digital Circuit A wide range of circuits in
which all inputs and outputs
have only two states, such as
high/low.
Diode An electronic device that allows
current to flow in only one
direction.
Direct Current A current that is constant and
not changing.
Disc Capacitor A type of capacitor that has low
capacitance and is used mostly
in high frequency circuits.
Electric Field The region of electric attraction
or repulsion around a constant
voltage. This is usually
associated with the dielectric in
a capacitor.
Electricity A flow of electrons between
atoms due to an electrical
charge across the material.
Electrolytic Capacitor A type of capacitor that has
high capacitance and is used
mostly in low frequency
circuits. It has polarity
markings.