Elenco Basic Electronic Experiments - Manual (Page 69)

DEFINITION OF TERMS
(Most of these are introduced and explained during the experiments.)
AC.................................... Common abbreviation for alternating current.
Alternating Current...... A current that is constantly changing.
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.
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.
Electron.......................... A sub-atomic particle that has an electrical charge.
69