Electronics

Resistors, LEDs, transistors in circuits

Electronic Components

Electronics use specialised components to control electrical signals. Resistors limit current flow. LEDs emit light. Transistors act as switches or amplifiers. Capacitors store charge. These components are combined on circuit boards to create useful devices like radios, phones and computers.

Example

Key Components

• Resistor: limits current (coloured bands show value in Ohms) • LED: Light Emitting Diode — emits light when current flows (one direction only) • Transistor: electronic switch or amplifier (controls large current with small signal) • Capacitor: stores electrical charge temporarily • Diode: allows current in one direction only Simple circuit: Battery → Switch → Resistor → LED → Battery (Resistor protects the LED from too much current)

Note

Remember

LEDs have a positive (longer leg = anode) and negative (shorter = cathode) side — connect them correctly or they won't work! Always use a resistor with an LED to prevent burning it out. Breadboards let you build circuits temporarily for testing without soldering.

Key Vocabulary

ResistorA component that limits the flow of electric current

LEDLight Emitting Diode — a component that produces light

TransistorA component that switches or amplifies electrical signals

Circuit boardA board that holds and connects electronic components

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Resistor

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