ELECTRONICS

Consists of a specially treated semiconductor crystal Has 3 terminal instead of 2 Emitter (E), base (B) and collector (C) Can link 2 separate circuits current through one circuit controls current through other. 2 types n-p-n transistors and p-n-p transistors

Understanding Transistors

Consists of a specially treated semiconductor crystal Has 3 terminal instead of 2 Emitter (E), base (B) and collector (C) Can link 2 separate circuits current through one circuit controls current through other. 2 types n-p-n transistors and p-n-p transistors

The n-p-n Transistors

Consists a layer of p-type semiconductor sandwiches between 2 layers of n-type semiconductors. n-type layers emitter and collector p-type layer base Current flows from C to E

The p-n-p Transistors

Consists of a layer of n-type semiconductor sandwiched between 2 layers of ptype semiconductors. P-type layers emitter and collector N-type layer base Current flows from E to C

Functions & Junctions in a Transistor

Terminal
Emitter (E) Collector (C) Base (B)

Function
Supply charge carriers to C Receive charge carriers from E Control the flow of charge carriers from E to C

A transistor has 2 p-n junctions Acts as a diode.

The Flow of Current in a Transistor

Emitter-base junction forward biased Base-collector junction reverse biased 2 parts to a transistor circuit base circuit & collector circuit

Base current, IB current flows in a base circuit

Collector current, IC current flows in a collector circuit

Consider an n-p-n transistor in a circuit

Switched on base-emitter junction is forward biased Depletion layer narrows its resistance lowers Cause majority charge carriers (e) in n-semiconductor to flow from E to B. Number of holes in depletion layer also decreased
Few electrons combine with holes, some remaining electrons flow back into the base

circuit and the rest into the collector circuit.

Base-collector is reverse biased Electrons cannot flow from collector terminal to the base terminal. Instead, electrons are attracted across the base-collector junction due to a higher potential difference at collector terminal. Flow of current to collector collector current, IC

Bulb X and Y connected to a circuit with n-p-n transistor. Variable resistor, RB in the base circuit to control the amount of base current, IB