Chapter

24 electronics
Electronics are an essential
part of our society as most
common appliances such as
computers, alarm-systems
and televisions have
electronic components.
Electronic components use a
combination of logic gates to
function.
Chapter 24: Electronics
 Alternating current
varies in direction and
magnitude continuously
with time.

The process by which an alternating current is converted

to direct current is called rectification.
The component that is used to rectify an alternating
current is a semiconductor diode.

Chapter 24: Electronics

 Half-wave Rectification
Using an a.c. supply:
When the voltage is positive, current flows through the diode and there is a
potential difference across the resistor.
When the voltage is negative, current flow is in the opposite direction. The
diode does not allow current to flow through and hence, there is no potential
difference across the resistor.
In half-wave Rectification, only one direction of the alternating current is
rectified.

Chapter 24: Electronics

 Direct Current vs. Half-wave Rectified
Current

Direct current is The rectified alternating

unidirectional and current is unidirectional
constant in magnitude but the magnitude is not
throughout. constant.

Chapter 24: Electronics

Chapter 24: Electronics
 Logic gates are electronic switches.
They process information to give an output.

Logic gates

There are 2 types of inputs and outputs:

Logic 1 for high voltage (closed switch)

Logic 0 for low voltage (open switch)

1 and 0 are not numbers but logic symbols denoting

HIGH and LOW.
The various types of logic gates are as follows:
NOT, AND, NAND, OR and NOR.
Each logic gate has a unique function.

Chapter 24: Electronics

 NOT Gate

• It has only one input

• The function of a NOT gate is to reverse the input it
receives.
Equivalent circuit:

When the switch is open (i.e. “0”), current flows through the
bulb and causes it to light up (i.e. “1”).
When the switch is closed (i.e. “1”), the current bypasses the
bulb and it does not light up (i.e. “0”).
Chapter 24: Electronics
 AND gate

• It has two inputs

• It give an output of HIGH only when both inputs are HIGH.

Equivalent circuit:

A current will flow through the component only when both

switches are closed.
As long as one of the
input is LOW, the output will be LOW.
Chapter 24: Electronics
 OR gate
• It has two inputs
• It functions to give an output of HIGH as long as one of
the inputs is HIGH
Equivalent circuit:

If any one switch or both are closed, a current will flow through
the circuit and cause the bulb to light up.
Only if both inputs are LOW, then the
output will be LOW
Chapter 24: Electronics
 NAND gate
• It has two inputs
• It functions to give a HIGH output as long as one of the
input is LOW, and to give a LOW output when both inputs
are HIGH.
Equivalent circuit:

As long as both switches are not closed, current will flow through
the component.

Opposite of AND gate

Chapter 24: Electronics
 NOR gate
• It has two inputs
• It functions to give a HIGH output only when both inputs
are LOW
Equivalent circuit:

Current will flow through the component only if both switches

are open.

Opposite of OR gate
Chapter 24: Electronics
 Electronic Circuits
Electronic circuits consist of one or more logic gates that
give various outputs or signals depending on what the
input is.

Example:

To complete the truth table, have an intermediate output Q

for the NOT gate input Y.
Then process X and Q as the AND gate input to give the
output Z.

Chapter 24: Electronics