Resistors, capacitors, transistors, and diodes
These four electronic components are the building blocks on which virtually every electronic circuit in
the computer is built. Each plays a distinctly different and valuable role in a circuit, as I explain in the
following:
l A resistor acts like a funnel to slow down the flow of current in a circuit.
l A capacitor is like a storage bin to hold a charge. The PC has a few large capacitors that can
literally kill you if you make contact with them, such as the capacitors in the monitor and in the
power supply.
l A diode is a one-way valve that allows the current to flow in only one direction.
l A transistor is a semiconductor that stores one binary value.
l Transistors, resistors, capacitors, and diodes produce logic gates. Logic gates create circuits, and
circuits make up electronic systems.
These four electronic components are the building blocks on which virtually every electronic circuit in
the computer is built. Each plays a distinctly different and valuable role in a circuit, as I explain in the
following:
l A resistor acts like a funnel to slow down the flow of current in a circuit.
l A capacitor is like a storage bin to hold a charge. The PC has a few large capacitors that can
literally kill you if you make contact with them, such as the capacitors in the monitor and in the
power supply.
l A diode is a one-way valve that allows the current to flow in only one direction.
l A transistor is a semiconductor that stores one binary value.
l Transistors, resistors, capacitors, and diodes produce logic gates. Logic gates create circuits, and
circuits make up electronic systems.
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