Introduction of some Electronics Parts.

An electronic circuit board

An electronic circuit board can contains millions of transistors and many other tiny electronic parts. But what are these parts and what do they do? Take a close look at what goes inside electronics and learn the function of each component.

Transistors

Transistors. Transistors come in several different types and amplify electric current. They can also turn electricity on or off. The electronic component on the next page has the opposite function.

Resistors

Resistors. Resistors control the flow of electrical current, and are commonly used to control volume in electronic devices like TVs. Watch out -- if the next component is handled improperly, the power inside it could kill you.

Electrolytic Capacitor

Electrolytic Capacitors. Capacitors are like batteries, but they dump their entire charge in a tiny fraction of a second, where a battery would take minutes. They are commonly used for anything that requires a flash, such as a camera. They can also be used to even out voltage or block DC current. See other types of capacitors next.

Other Capacitors

Other Capacitors. While the electrolytic capacitor on the previous page is the most popular, other common capacitor types include ceramic, plastic film types and tantalum. They are often less expensive than electrolytic capacitors and better for electronics that don't require intensity. Protect your circuit with the next part.

Diodes

Diodes. Diodes allow electricity to flow in one direction and are usually used as a form of protection. Above, the diodes are red with resistors on the left. Take a look at an LED next.

Light-emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Light-emitting Diodes (LEDs). Basically, LEDs are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. Some uses of LEDs include forming the numbers on digital clocks, transmitting information from remote controls, lighting up watches and telling you when your appliances are turned on. Collected together, they can illuminate a traffic light. Learn what inductors do next.

An inductor

Inductors. An inductor is about as simple as an electronic component can get -- it is simply a coil of wire. It is used in traffic light sensors. If you team up an inductor with a capacitor you create an oscillator. Learn about everyday devices that use oscillators next.

Oscillators

Oscillators. Oscillators move energy back and forth between two forms to create repetitive, predictable signals, much like the pendulum in a grandfather clock. A quartz watch like the one above uses a quartz oscillator to keep track of what time it is. An AM radio transmitter uses an oscillator to create the carrier wave for the station and there are also oscillators in computers, metal detectors and stun guns. Next, see the component that made computing possible.

Semiconductor Chips/Integrated Circuits (IC)

Semiconductor Chips/Integrated Circuits. An integrated circuit, also called a chip, may contain millions of transistors and other components surrounded by a plastic or ceramic case. It connects to a circuit board via the metal pins seen above. Chips are often used in cars, computers, calculators and more. Next, learn about microcontrollers.

Microcontrollers

Microcontrollers. Most modern electronic devices -- TVs, VCRs, microwaves and so on -- contain an embedded microcontroller. It's basically a dedicated computer. Next, see a microprocessor, which is a key component in computers.

Microprocessors

Microprocessors. A microprocessor -- also known as a CPU or central processing unit -- is a complete computation engine that is fabricated on a single chip. Pictured above is the back side of the Core i7 chip with Nehalem microarchitecture. You can also fire up your electronics engine with the next component.

Electric Motors

Electric Motors. An electromagnet is the basis of an electric motor. In your house, almost every mechanical movement that you see around you is caused by an AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) electric motor. See a brushless motor next.

Brushless Electric Motors

Brushless Electric Motors. In a brushless DC motor (BLDC), you put the permanent magnets on the rotor and you move the electromagnets to the stator. Then you use a computer (connected to high-power transistors) to charge up the electromagnets as the shaft turns. You'll likely need the next part to even get your motor started.

Relay

Relays. A relay is a simple electromechanical switch made up of an electromagnet and a set of contacts. Relays are quite common in home appliances where there is an electronic control turning on something like a motor or a light. See what device is used to get electricity to your gadgets next.

Power-cube Transformers

Power-cube Transformers. The purpose of a transformer is to convert one AC voltage to another AC voltage. A typical home probably has five to 10 of these little transformers plugged into the wall at any given time, and they are used with printers, speakers, cell phone chargers, electric drills and more. How many electronic parts can you identify now? See the next page to test your knowledge.

What are the three components pictured here? See the next page for the answer.

Chip on top with a transistor and LED below. Pictured above is another LED surrounded by resistors and diodes.

Batteries

Batteries. Batteries have enabled us to build portable, cordless devices. But where does their power come from? Batteries deliver electrical current when a conductive circuit connects an anode to a cathode, unleashing the flow of chemical energy from the electrolyte in between. Above, a rechargeable battery is seen in the cargo area of a Ford Escape Hybrid SUV.

Fuel Cells

Fuel Cells. Like a battery, a fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell requires a constant influx of chemical fuel. In most cases, this fuel is simply hydrogen and oxygen, which the cell combines to create water, giving off useful electricity as a byproduct.

Terminals

Terminals. Electrical systems have to interface with external components in order to receive power or add new functions. We connect components together via terminals. A terminal could be the plug that goes into the wall, the exposed end of a copper wire, or conductive clips like the ones people use to jump-start car batteries. Next, see a once-important electronic part that has been mostly retired.

Vacuum Tubes

Vacuum Tubes. Before solid-state technologies like transistors and semiconductors, vacuum tubes handled a lot of the switching and amplification in electronics. Transistors were a big improvement in portability over vacuum tubes, but a lot of hi-fi audio fans and other niche aficionados still favor vacuum tubes over solid-state technology for home stereo and musical instrument amplifiers.

Switches

Switches. Switches might seem simple, but they are absolutely crucial to designing useful electrical systems and devices. Typically, a switch is a component that can be manipulated either to close or open a circuit. For example, flipping on a light switch closes the circuit between the power source and the bulb, allowing current to flow freely and illuminate the room. Circuit breakers, shown above, are another kind of switch -- they're designed to automatically open a circuit that is in danger of overload.

Transducers

Transducers. Transducers are the interpreters in the world of electronics. They take electricity and translate it into another form of energy, or they take another form of energy and translate it into electricity. The pickups on this electric bass guitar are transducers. They detect the vibration in the magnetic field of the guitar's metal strings, and then they translate that vibration into an electrical signal for the amplifier. Check out another type of transducer on the next page.

Antennas

Antennas. Antennas are transducers designed to detect wireless radio signals and interpret them into electrical information. Antennas allow us to broadcast radio and television signals, as well as to use cordless telephones and wireless computer networks.