PART 17

GLOSSARY

ACTIVE FILTER
A frequency-selective circuit consisting of active devices such as transistors or
op-amps combined with reactive (RC) circuits.
ADMITTANCE (Y)
A measure of the ability of a reactive circuit to permit current; the reciprocal of
impedance with a unit siemens (!)
ALPHA ()
"he ratio of collector current to emitter current in a bipolar #unction transistor.
ALTERNATING CURRENT
Current that reverses direction in response to a change in source voltage
polarity.
AMERICAN WIRE GAGE (AWG)
A standardi$ation based on wire diameter.
AMMETER
An electrical instrument used to measure current.
AMPERE
"he unit of electrical current.
AMPERE-HOUR RATING
A number given in ampere-hours determined by multiplying the current in amps
(A) times the length of time in hours (h) a battery can deliver that current to a
load.
AMPERE-TURN
"he unit of magnetomotive force (mmf).
AMPLIFICATION
"he process of producing a larger voltage current or power using a smaller
input signal as a pattern.
AMPLIFIER
An electronic circuit having the capability of amplification and designed
specifically for that purpose.
AMPLITUDE
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*+-, Glossary
"he ma%imum value of a voltage or current.
ANODE
"he most positive terminal of a diode or other electronic device.
APPARENT POWER (Pa)
"he product of the voltage times the current e%pressed in volt-amperes (&A).
'n a purely resistive circuit it is the same as the true power.
APPARENT POWER RATING
"he method of rating transformers in which the power capability is e%pressed in
volt-amperes (&A).
ATOM
"he smallest particle of an element possessing the unique characteristics of
that element.
ATOMIC NUM-ER
"he number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
ATOMIC WEIGHT
"he number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
ATTENUATION
A gain less than unity.
AUTOTRANSFORMER
A transformer in which the primary and secondary windings are in a single
winding.
AVERAGE VALUE
"he average of a sine wave over one half-cycle. 't is (.)*+ times the pea,
value.
-AND-PASS FILTER
A filter that passes a range of frequencies lying between two cutoff frequencies
and re#ects frequencies above and below the range.
-AND-STOP FILTER
A filter that re#ects a range of frequencies lying between two cutoff frequencies
and passes frequencies above and below the range.
-ANDWIDTH (-W)
"he characteristic of a certain electronic circuits that specifies the usable range
of frequencies for which signals pass from input to output without significant
reduction in amplitude.
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Glossary *+- .
-ARRIER POTENTIAL
"he inherent voltage across the depletion region of a pn #unction.
-ASE
-ne of the semiconducting regions in a bipolar #unction transistor.
-ASELINE
"he normal level of a pulse waveform; the voltage level in the absence of a
pulse.
-ATTERY
An energy source that uses a chemical reaction to convert chemical energy into
electrical energy.
-ETA ()
"he ratio of collector current to base current in a bipolar #unction transistor.
-IAS
"he application of a dc voltage to a diode or other electronic device to produce
a desired mode of operation.
-LEEDER CURRENT
"he current left after the total load current is subtracted from the total current
into the circuit.
-RANCH
-ne current path in a parallel circuit.
CAPACITANCE
"he ability of a capacitor to store electrical charge.
CAPACITIVE REACTANCE
"he opposition of a capacitor to sinusoidal current. "he unit is the ohm ().
CAPACITIVE SUSCEPTANCE (-C)
"he ability of a capacitor to permit current; the reciprocal of capacitive
reactance. "he unit is the siemens(!).
CAPACITOR
An electrical device consisting of two conductive plates separated by an
insulating material and possessing the property of capacitance.
CATHODE
"he more negative terminal of a diode or other electronic devices.
CATHODE-RAY TU-E (CRT)
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*+-/ Glossary
A vacuum tube device containing an electron gun that emits a narrow focused
beam of electrons onto a phosphor-coated screen.
CENTER TAP (CT)
A connection at the midpoint of the secondary winding of a transformer.
CHARGE
An electrical property of matter that e%ists because of an e%cess or a deficiency
of electrons. Charge can be either positive or negative.
CHO0E
"he term is used more commonly concerning inductors used to bloc, or cho,e
off high frequencies.
CIRCUIT
An interconnection of electrical components designed to produce a desired
result. A basic circuit consists of a source a load and an interconnecting
current path.
CIRCUIT -REA0ER
A resettable protective device used for interrupting e%cessive current in an
electric circuit.
CIRCUIT GROUND
A method of grounding whereby the metal chassis that houses the assembly or
a large conductive area on a printed circuit board is used as the common or
reference point; also called chassis ground.
CIRCULAR MILL (CM)
"he unit of the cross-sectional area of a wire.
CLAMPER
A circuit that adds a dc level to an ac signal; a dc restorer.
CLASS A
A category of amplifier circuit that conducts for the entire input cycle and
produces an output signal that is a replica of the input signal in terms of its
wave shape.
CLASS -
A category of amplifier circuit that conducts for half of the input cycle.
CLASS C
A category of amplifier that conducts for a very small portion of the input cycle.
CLOSED CIRCUIT
A circuit with a complete current path.
CLOSED LOOP
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Glossary *+- 1
An op-amp configuration in which the output is connected bac, to the input.
CLOSED LOOP GAIN (Ac%)
"he overall voltage gain of an op-amp with feedbac,.
COEFFICIENT OF COUPLING (2)
a constant associated with transformers that is the ratio of secondary magnetic
flu% to primary magnetic flu%. "he ideal value of . indicates that all the flu% in
the primary winding is coupled into the secondary winding.
COIL
A common term for an inductor.
COLLECTOR
-ne of the semiconducting regions in a /0".
COMMON -ASE (C-)
A /0" amplifier configuration in which the base is the common (grounded)
terminal.
COMMON-COLLECTOR (CC)
A /0" amplifier configuration in which the collector is the common (grounded)
terminal.
COMMON-EMITTER (CE)
A /0" amplifier configuration in which the emitter is the common (grounded)
terminal.
COMMON-MODE SIGNALS
!ignals that appear the same on both inputs of an op-amp.
COMPARATOR
A circuit which compares two input voltages and produces an output in either of
two states indicating the greater or less than relationship of the inputs.
CONDUCTANCE (G)
"he ability of a circuit to allow current; the reciprocal of resistance. "he unit is
the siemens (!).
CONDUCTOR
A material in which electrical current is established with relative case. An
e%ample is copper.
COULOM- (C)
"he unit of electrical charge.
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*+-3 Glossary
COULOM-4S LAW
A physical law that states a force e%ists between two charged bodies that is
directly proportional to the product of the two charges and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between them.
COVALENT
Related to the bonding of two or more atoms by the interaction of their valence
electrons.
CRYSTAL
"he pattern or arrangement of atoms forming a solid material.
CURRENT
"he rate of flow of charge (electrons).
CURRENT GAIN
"he ratio of output current to input current.
CUTOFF
"he nonconducting state of a transistor.
CUTOFF FRE5UENCY (c)
"he frequency at which the output voltage of a filter is +(.+1 of the ma%imum
output voltage.
CYCLE
-ne repetition of a periodic waveform.
DARLINGTON PAIR
A two-transistor arrangement that produces a multiplication of current gain.
DC COMPONENT
"he average value of a pulse waveform.
DECADE
A tenfold change in the value of a quantity. 2hen a quantity becomes ten times
less or ten times greater it has changed a decade.
DECI-EL (!-)
"he unit of logarithmic e%pression of a ratio such as power ratio or a voltage
ratio.
DEGREE
"he unit of angular measure corresponding to .3*)( of a complete revolution.
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Glossary *+- +
DERIVATIVE
"he instantaneous rate of change of a function determined mathematically.
DIAD
A semiconductive device that can conduct current in other of two directions
when properly activated.
DIELECTRIC
"he insulating material between the plates of a capacitor.
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT
A measure of the ability of a dielectric material to establish an electric field.
DIELECTRIC STRENGTH
A measure of the ability of a dielectric material to withstand voltage without
brea,ing down.
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
An amplifier that produces an output proportional to the difference of two inputs.
DIFFERENTIATOR
A circuit that produces an output that approaches the mathematical derivative
of the input which is the rate of change.
DIODE
An electronic device that permits current in only one direction.
DISCRETE DEVICE
An individual electrical or electronic component that must be used in
combination with other components to form a complete functional circuit.
DOPING
"he process of imparting impurities to an intrinsic semiconductive material in
order to control its conduction characteristics.
DRAIN
-ne of the three terminals of a field-effect transistor.
DUTY CYCLE
A characteristic of a pulse waveform that indicates the percentage of time that a
pulse is present during a cycle the ratio of pulse width to period.
EFFECTIVE VALUE
A measure of the heating effect of a sine wave; also ,nown as the rms (root
mean square) value.
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*+-6 Glossary
EFFICIENCY
"he ratio of the output power to the input power e%pressed as a ratio.
ELECTRICAL
Related to the use of electrical voltage and current to achieve desired results.
ELECTRICAL ISOLATION
"he condition that e%ists which two coils are magnetically lin,ed but have no
electrical connection between them.
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
A formation of a group of magnetic lines of force surrounding a conductor
created by electrical current in the conductor.
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
"he phenomenon or process by which a voltage is produced in a conductor
when there is relative motion between the conductor and a magnetic or
electromagnetic field.
ELECTRON
"he basic particle of electrical charge in matter.
't possesses negative charge.
ELECTRONIC
Related to the movement and control of free electrons in semiconductors or
vacuum devices.
EMITTER
-ne of the three semiconducting regions in a /0".
EMITTER-FOLLOWER
A popular term for a common-collector amplifier.
ENERGY
"he fundamental ability to do wor,. "he unit is the #oule (0).
FALLING EDGE
"he negative-going transition of a pulse.
FALL TIME
"he time interval required for a pulse to change from 4(1 to .( 1 of its full
amplitude.
FARAD (F)
"he unit of capacitance.
FARADAY4S LAW
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Glossary *+- 7
A law stating that the voltage induced across a coil of wire equals the number of
turns in the coil times the rate of change of the magnetic flu%.
FEED-AC0
"he process of returning a portion of a circuit5s output signal to the input in such
a way as to create certain specified operating conditions.
FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR (FET)
A type of transistor that uses an induced electric field within its structure to
control current.
FILTER
A type of circuit that passes certain frequencies and re#ects all others.
FREE ELECTRON
A valence electron that has bro,en away from its parent atom and is free to
move from atom to atom within the atomic structure of a material.
FRE5UENCY
A measure of the rate of change of a periodic function the number of cycles
completed in . s. "he unit of frequency is the hert$.
FRE5UENCY RESPONSE
'n electrical circuits the variation in the output voltage (or current) over a
specified range of frequencies.
FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER
A circuit that converts an alternating sine wave into a pulsating dc consisting of
both halves of a sine wave for each input cycle.
FUNDAMENTAL FRE5UENCY
"he repetition rate of a waveform.
FUSE
A protective device that burns open when there is e%cessive current in a circuit.
GAIN
"he amount by which an electrical signal is increased or decreased; the ratio of
output to input; the amount of amplification.
GATE
-ne of the three terminals of an 67".
GENERATOR
An energy source that produces electrical signals.
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*+-*8
Glossary
GERMANIUM
A semiconductive material.
GROUND
'n electronic circuits the common or reference point.
HALF-POWER FRE5UENCY
"he frequency at which the output of a filter is +(.+1 of ma%imum.
HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER
A circuit that converts an alternating sine wave into a pulsating dc consisting of
one-half of a sine wave for each input cycle.
HARMONICS
"he frequencies contained in a composite waveform which are integer
multiples of the repetition frequency (fundamental).
HENRY (H)
"he unit of inductance.
HERT9 (H:)
"he unit of frequency and hence .8$ equals one cycle per second.
HIGH-PASS FILTER
A certain type of filter whereby higher frequencies are passed and lower
frequencies are re#ected.
HOLE
"he absence of an electron in the valence band of an atom.
HYSTERESIS
A characteristic of a magnetic material whereby a change in magneti$ation lags
the application of a magnetic force.
IMPEDANCE (9)
"he total opposition to sinusoidal current e%pressed in ohms.
IMPEDANCE MATCHING
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Glossary *+- **
A technique used to match a load resistance to an internal source resistance in
order to achieve a ma%imum transfer of power.
INDUCED VOLTAGE
&oltage produced as a result of a changing magnetic field.
INDUCTANCE (L)
"he property of an inductor that produces an opposition to any change in
current.
INDUCTIVE REACTANCE ()L)
"he opposition of an inductor to sinusoidal current. "he unit is the ohm.
INDUCTIVE SUSCEPTANCE (-L)
"he reciprocal of inductive reactance and the unit is siemens
INDUCTOR
An electrical device formed by a wire wound in a coil around a core having the
property of inductance and the capability to store energy in its electromagnetic
field; also ,nown as a coil or a cho,e.
INSTANTANEOUS VALUE
"he voltage or current value of a waveform at a given instant in time.
INSULATOR
A material that does not allow current under normal conditions.
INTEGRATOR
A circuit that produces an output that approaches the mathematical integral of
the input.
INTERFACE
"o ma,e the output of one type of circuit compatible with the input of another so
that they can operate properly together.
INTRINSIC SEMICONDUCTOR
A pure semiconductive material with relatively few free electrons.
ION
An atom that has gained or lost a valence electron resulting in a net positive or
negative charge.
IONI9ATION
"he removal or addition of an electron from or to a neutral atom so that the
resulting atom (called an ion) has a net positive or negative charge.
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*+-*,
Glossary
;OULE (;)
"he unit of energy.
;UNCTION
A point at which two or more components are connected.
;UNCTION FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR (;FET)
A type of 67" that operates with a reverse-biased #unction to control current in
a channel.
0ILOWATT-HOUR (2W<)
A common unit of energy used mainly by utility companies.
0IRCHHOFF4S CURRENT LAW
A law stating that the total current into a #unction equals the total current out of
the #unction.
0IRCHHOFF4S VOLTAGE LAW
A law stating that (.) the sum of the voltage drops around a closed loop equals
the source voltage or (9) the sum of all the voltages (drops and sources)
around a closed loop is $ero.
LAG
:escribes a condition of the phase or time relationship of waveforms in which
one waveform is behind the other in phase or time.
LEAD
:escribes a condition of the phase or time relationship of waveforms in which
one waveform is ahead of the other in phase or time; also a wire or cable
connection to a device or instrument.
LEADING EDGE
"he fist step or transition of a pulse.
LEN94S LAW
A physical law that states when the current through a coil changes an induced
voltage is created in a direction to oppose the change in current. "he current
cannot change instantaneously.
LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE (LED)
A type of diode that emits light when there is forward current.
LIMITER
A circuit that removes part of a waveform above or below a specified level; a
clipper.
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Glossary *+- *.
LINEAR
Characteri$ed by a straight-line relationship.
LINE REGULATION
"he percent change in output voltage for a given change in line (input) voltage.
LOAD
An element (resistor or other components) connected across the output
terminals of a circuit that draws current from the circuit.
LOAD REGULATION
"he percent change in output voltage for a given change in load current.
LOW-PASS FILTER
A certain type of filter in which lower frequencies are passed and higher
frequencies are re#ected.
MAGNETIC COUPLING
"he magnetic connection between two coils as a result of the changing
magnetic flu% lines of one coil cutting through the second coil.
MAGNETIC FLU)
"he lines of force between the north and south poles of a permanent magnet or
an electromagnet.
MAGNETIC FLU) DENSITY
"he number of lines of force per unit area perpendicular to a magnetic field.
MAGNETI9ING FORCE
"he amount of mmf per unit length of magnetic material.
MAGNETOMOTIVE FORCE
"he force that produces a magnetic field.
;A<='">:7
"he value of a quantity such as the number of volts of voltage or the number of
amperes of current.
MA)IMUM POWER TRANSFER THEOREM
A theorem that states the ma%imum power is transferred from a source to a
load when the load resistance equals the internal source resistance.
MOSFET
;etal o%ide semiconductor field-effect transistor.
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*+-*/
Glossary
MULTIMETER
An instrument that measures voltage current and resistance.
MUTUAL INDUCTANCE (LM)
"he inductance beteen two separate coils such as transformers.
NEGATIVE FEED-AC0
"he return of a portion of the output signal to the input such that it is out of
phase with the input signal.
NEUTRON
An atomic particle having no electrical charge.
OHM ()
"he unit of resistance.
OHMMETER
An instrument for measuring resistance.
OHM4S LAW
A law stating that current is directly proportional to voltage and inversely
proportional to resistance.
OPEN CIRCUIT
A circuit in which there is not a complete current path.
OPEN-LOOP GAIN (Ao%)
"he internal voltage gain of an op-amp without feedbac,.
OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER
A special type of amplifier e%hibiting very high open-loop gain very high input
impedance very low output impedance and good re#ection of common-mode
signals.
OSCILLATOR
An electronic circuit consisting of an amplifier and a phase-shift networ,
connected in a positive feedbac, loop that produces a time-varying output
signal using positive feedbac,.
OSCILLOSCOPE
A measurement instrument that displays signal waveforms on a screen.
PARALLEL
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Glossary *+- *1
"he relationship in electric circuits in which two or more current paths are
connected between the same two points.
PARALLEL RESONANCE
'n a parallel R?C circuit the condition where the impedance is ma%imum and
the reactance are equal.
PEA0 INVERSE VOLTAGE (PIV)
"he ma%imum value of reverse voltage which occurs at the pea, of the input
cycle when the diode is reversed-biased.
PEA0 VALUE
"he voltage or current value of a waveform at its ma%imum positive or negative
points.
PEA0-TO-PEA0 VALUE
"he voltage or current value of a waveform measured from its minimum to its
ma%imum points.
PERIOD (T)
"he time interval of one complete cycle of a given sine wave or any periodic
waveform.
PERIODIC
Characteri$ed by a repetition at fi%ed time intervals.
PERMEA-ILITY
"he measure of ease with which a magnetic field can be established in a
material.
PHASE
"he relative displacement of a time-varying waveform in terms of its occurrence
with respect to a reference.
PHASOR
A representation of a sine wave in terms of both magnitude and phase angle.
PHOTOCONDUCTIVE CELL
A type of variable resistor that is light-sensitive.
PHOTODIODE
A diode whose reverse resistance changes with incident light.
PINCH-OFF VOLTAGE
"he value of the drain-to-source voltage of an 67" at which the drain current
becomes constant when the gate-to-source voltage is $ero.
PN ;UNCTION
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*+-*3
Glossary
"he boundary between n-type and p-type semiconductive materials.
POLE
'n practical terms a single RC circuit in a filter or amplifier that causes the
response to change at a 9( d/ per decade rate above or below a certain
frequency.
POSITIVE FEED-AC0
"he return of a portion of the output signal to the input such that it is in phase
with the input signal.
POTENTIOMETER
A three-terminal variable resistor.
POWER
"he rate of energy usage.
POWER FACTOR
"he relationship between volt-amperes and true power or watts. &olt-amperes
multiplied by the power factor equals true power.
POWER GAIN
"he ratio of output power to input power; the product of voltage gain and
current gain.
POWER RATING
"he ma%imum amount of power that a resistor can dissipate without being
damaged by e%cessive heat buildup.
POWER SUPPLY
An electronic instrument that produces voltage current and power from the ac
power line or batteries in a form suitable for use in powering electronic
equipment.
PRIMARY WINDING
"he input winding of a transformer; also called primary.
PROTON
A positively charged atomic particle.
PULSE
A type of waveform that consists of two equal and opposite steps in voltage or
current separated by a time interval.
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Glossary *+- *+
PULSE RESPONSE
"he reaction of a circuit to a given input.
PUSH-PULL
A type of class / amplifier in which one output transistor conducts for one half-
cycle and the other conducts for the other half-cycle.
5-POINT
"he dc operating (bias) point of an amplifier.
5UALITY FACTOR (5)
"he ratio of reactive power to true power in a coil or a resonant circuit.
RAMP
A type of waveform characteri$ed by a linear increase or decrease in voltage or
current.
REACTIVE POWER
"he rate at which energy is stored and alternately returned to the source by a
capacitor or inductor. "he unit is the &AR.
RECOM-INATION
"he process of a free electron falling into a hole in the valence band of an
atom.
RECTIFIER
An electronic circuit that converts ac into pulsating dc; one part of a power
supply.
REFLECTED LOAD
"he load as it appears to the source in the primary of a transformer.
REFLECTED RESISTANCE
"he resistance in the secondary circuit reflected into the primary circuit.
REGULATOR
An electronic circuit that maintains an essentially constant output voltage with a
changing input voltage or load.
RELAY
An electromagnetically controlled mechanical device in which electrical
contacts are open or closed by a magneti$ing current.
RELUCTANCE
"he opposition to the establishment of a magnetic field in a material.
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*+-*6
Glossary
RESISTANCE
-pposition to current and its unit is ohm.
RESISTOR
An electrical component designed specifically to provide resistance.
RESOLUTION
"he smallest increment of a quantity that a meter can measure.
RESONANT FRE5UENCY
"he frequency at which a resonant condition occurs in a series or parallel R?C
circuit.
RETENTIVITY
"he ability of a material once magneti$ed to maintain a magneti$ed state
without the presence of a magneti$ing force.
REVERSE -REA0DOWN
"he condition of a diode in which e%cessive reverse-bias voltage causes a rapid
buildup of reverse current.
RHEOSTAT
A two terminal variable resistor.
RIPPLE VOLTAGE
"he small variation in the dc voltage on the output of a filtered rectifier caused
by the slight charging and discharging action of the filter capacitor.
RISE TIME
"he time interval required for a pulse to change from .(1 to 4(1 of its
amplitude.
RISING EDGE
"he positive-going transition of a pulse.
ROLL-OFF
"he decrease in the response of a filter below or above a critical frequency.
ROOT MEAN S5UARE (r=>)
"he value of a sine wave that indicates its heating effect also ,nown as the
effective value. 't is equal to (.+(+ times the pea, value.
SATURATION
"he state of a /0" in which the collector current has reached a ma%imum and is
independent of the base current.
SAWTOOTH WAVEFORM
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Glossary *+- *7
A type of electrical waveform composed of ramps; a special case of a triangular
waveform in which one ramp is much shorter than the other.
SCHEMATIC
A symboli$ed diagram of an electrical or electronic circuit.
SECONDARY WINDING
"he output winding of a transformer; also called secondary.

SELECTIVITY
A measure of how effectively a filter passes certain frequencies and re#ects
others. "he narrower the bandwidth the greater the selectivity.
SEMICONDUCTOR
A material that has a conductance value between that of a conductor and that
of an insulator. !ilicon and germanium are e%amples.
SENSITIVITY FACTOR
"he ohms-per-volt rating of a voltmeter.
SERIES
'n an electrical circuit a relationship of components in which the components
are connected such as they provide a single current path between two points.
SERIES RESONANCE
'n a series R?C circuit the condition where the impedance is minimum and the
reactances are equal.
SHELL
An energy band in which electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom.
SHORT CIRCUIT
A $ero or abnormally low resistance between two points; usually an inadvertent
condition.
SILICON
a !7;'C-=:>C"'&7 ;A"7R'A? >!7: '= :'-:7! A=: "RA=!'!"-R!.
S"%"con-contro%%e! rect"?"er (SCR)
A device that can be triggered on to conduct current in one direction.
SOLENOID
An electromagnetically controlled device in which the mechanical movement of
a shaft or plunger is activated by a magneti$ing current.
SOURCE
Any device that produces energy one of the three terminals of 67".
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*+-,8
Glossary
STEADY STATE
"he equilibrium condition of a circuit that occurs after an initial transient time.
STEP-DOWN TRANSFORMER
A transformer in which the secondary voltage is less than the primary voltage.
STEP-UP VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER
A transformer in which the secondary voltage is greater than the primary
voltage.
STOP-AND
"he range of frequencies between the upper and lower cutoff points.
SUPERPOSITION
Amethod for analy$ing circuits with two or more sources by e%amining the
effects of each source by itself and then combining the effects.
SWITCH
An electrical or electronic device for opening and closing a current path.
TAN0 CIRCUIT
A parallel resonant circuit.
TAPERED
=onlinear such as tapered potentiometer.
TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT
A constant specifying the amount of change in the value of a quantity for a
given change in temperature.
TERMINAL
An e%ternal contact point on an electronic device.
TERMINAL E5UIVALENCY
A condition that occurs when two circuits produce the same load voltage and
load current where the same value of load resistance is connected to either
circuit.
TESLA
"he unit of flu% density.
THERMISTOR
A type of variable resistor that is temperature-sensitive.
THEVENIN4S THEOREM
E%&c'r(n") Macro Interate! Tra"n"n an! Re#"e$ Center
Glossary *+- ,*
A circuit theorem that provides for reducing any resistive circuit to a single
equivalent voltage source in series with an equivalent resistance.
THYRISTOR
A class of four-layer semiconductive devices.
TRAILING EDGE
"he second step or transition of a pulse.
TRANSFORMER
A device formed by two or more windings and are magnetically coupled to each
other and providing a transfer of power electromagnetically from one winding to
another.
TRANSIENT
A temporary passing conductor in a circuit; a sudden or temporary change in
circuit conditions.
TRANSISTOR
A semiconductive device used for amplification and switching applications in
electronic circuits.
TRIANGULAR WAVE
A type of electrical waveform that consists of two ramps.
TRIGGER
"he activating mechanism of some electronic devices or instruments.
TRIMMER
!mall variable capacitor.
TURNS RATIO
"he ratio of turns in the secondary winding to turns in the primary winding.
UNI;UNCTION TRANSISTOR (U;T)
A type of transistor consisting of an emitter and two bases.
UNITY GAIN
A gain of ..
VALENCE
Related to the outer shell or orbit of an atom.
VALENCE ELCTRON
An electron that is present in the outermost shell of an atom.
VARACTOR
Macro Interate! Tra"n"n an! Re#"e$ Center E%&c'r(n")
*+-,,
Glossary
A diode that is used as a voltage-variable capacitor.
VOLT
"he unit of voltage or electromotive force.
VOLTAGE
"he amount of energy available to move a certain number of electrons from
one point to another in an electric circuit.
VOLTAGE DROP
"he potential difference in voltage between two points when there is a drop in
energy level due to resistance.
VOLTAGE GAIN
"he ratio of output voltage to input voltage.
VOLTAGE REGULATION
"he process of maintaining an essentially constant output voltage over
variations in input voltage or load.
VOLTAGE-AMPERE REACTIVE (VAR)
"he unit of reactive power.
VOLTMETER
An instrument used to measure voltage.
WATT (W)
"he unit of power.
WATT4S LAW
A law that states the relationship of power to current voltage and resistance.
WAVEFORM
"he pattern of variations of a voltage or current showing how the quantity
changes with time.
WE-ER
"he unit of magnetic flu%.
WINDING
"he loops or turns of wire in an inductor.
WIPER
"he sliding contact in a potentiometer.
9ENER DIODE
E%&c'r(n") Macro Interate! Tra"n"n an! Re#"e$ Center
Glossary *+- ,.
A type of diode that operates in reverse brea,down (called $ener brea,down) to
provide voltage regulation.
Macro Interate! Tra"n"n an! Re#"e$ Center E%&c'r(n")