Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX

PART 17
GLOSSARY



ACTIVE FILTER
A frequency-selective circuit consisting of active devices such as transistors or
op-amps combined with reactive (RC) circuits.

ADMITTANCE (Y)
A measure of the ability of a reactive circuit to permit current; the reciprocal of
impedance with a unit, siemens (S)

ALPHA ()
The ratio of collector current to emitter current in a bipolar junction transistor.

ALTERNATING CURRENT
Current that reverses direction in response to a change in source voltage
polarity.

AMERICAN WIRE GAGE (AWG)
A standardization based on wire diameter.

AMMETER
An electrical instrument used to measure current.

AMPERE
The unit of electrical current.

AMPERE-HOUR RATING
A number given in ampere-hours determined by multiplying the current in amps
(A) times the length of time in hours (h) a battery can deliver that current to a
load.

AMPERE-TURN
The unit of magnetomotive force (mmf).

AMPLIFICATION
The process of producing a larger voltage, current or power using a smaller
input signal as a pattern.

AMPLIFIER
An electronic circuit having the capability of amplification and designed
specifically for that purpose.

AMPLITUDE
The maximum value of a voltage or current.

17-2 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
ANODE
The most positive terminal of a diode or other electronic device.

APPARENT POWER (P
a
)
The product of the voltage times the current, expressed in volt-amperes (VA).
In a purely resistive circuit, it is the same as the true power.

APPARENT POWER RATING
The method of rating transformers in which the power capability is expressed in
volt-amperes (VA).

ATOM
The smallest particle of an element possessing the unique characteristics of
that element.

ATOMIC NUMBER
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

ATOMIC WEIGHT
The number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

ATTENUATION
A gain less than unity.

AUTOTRANSFORMER
A transformer in which the primary and secondary windings are in a single
winding.

AVERAGE VALUE
The average of a sine wave over one half-cycle. It is 0.637 times the peak
value.


BAND-PASS FILTER
A filter that passes a range of frequencies lying between two cutoff frequencies
and rejects frequencies above and below the range.

BAND-STOP FILTER
A filter that rejects a range of frequencies lying between two cutoff frequencies
and passes frequencies above and below the range.

BANDWIDTH (BW)
The characteristic of a certain electronic circuits that specifies the usable range
of frequencies for which signals pass from input to output without significant
reduction in amplitude.

BARRIER POTENTIAL
The inherent voltage across the depletion region of a pn junction.

Glossary 17- 3


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
BASE
One of the semiconducting regions in a bipolar junction transistor.

BASELINE
The normal level of a pulse waveform; the voltage level in the absence of a
pulse.

BATTERY
An energy source that uses a chemical reaction to convert chemical energy into
electrical energy.

BETA ()
The ratio of collector current to base current in a bipolar junction transistor.

BIAS
The application of a dc voltage to a diode or other electronic device to produce
a desired mode of operation.

BLEEDER CURRENT
The current left after the total load current is subtracted from the total current
into the circuit.

BRANCH
One current path in a parallel circuit.


CAPACITANCE
The ability of a capacitor to store electrical charge.

CAPACITIVE REACTANCE
The opposition of a capacitor to sinusoidal current. The unit is the ohm ().

CAPACITIVE SUSCEPTANCE (B
C
)
The ability of a capacitor to permit current; the reciprocal of capacitive
reactance. The unit is the siemens(S).

CAPACITOR
An electrical device consisting of two conductive plates separated by an
insulating material and possessing the property of capacitance.

CATHODE
The more negative terminal of a diode or other electronic devices.

CATHODE-RAY TUBE (CRT)
A vacuum tube device containing an electron gun that emits a narrow focused
beam of electrons onto a phosphor-coated screen.

CENTER TAP (CT)
A connection at the midpoint of the secondary winding of a transformer.
17-4 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
CHARGE
An electrical property of matter that exists because of an excess or a deficiency
of electrons. Charge can be either positive or negative.

CHOKE
The term is used more commonly concerning inductors used to block or choke
off high frequencies.

CIRCUIT
An interconnection of electrical components designed to produce a desired
result. A basic circuit consists of a source, a load, and an interconnecting
current path.

CIRCUIT BREAKER
A resettable protective device used for interrupting excessive current in an
electric circuit.

CIRCUIT GROUND
A method of grounding whereby the metal chassis that houses the assembly or
a large conductive area on a printed circuit board is used as the common or
reference point; also called chassis ground.

CIRCULAR MILL (CM)
The unit of the cross-sectional area of a wire.

CLAMPER
A circuit that adds a dc level to an ac signal; a dc restorer.

CLASS A
A category of amplifier circuit that conducts for the entire input cycle and
produces an output signal that is a replica of the input signal in terms of its
wave shape.

CLASS B
A category of amplifier circuit that conducts for half of the input cycle.

CLASS C
A category of amplifier that conducts for a very small portion of the input cycle.

CLOSED CIRCUIT
A circuit with a complete current path.

CLOSED LOOP
An op-amp configuration in which the output is connected back to the input.

CLOSED LOOP GAIN (A
cl
)
The overall voltage gain of an op-amp with feedback.


Glossary 17- 5


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
COEFFICIENT OF COUPLING (k)
a constant associated with transformers that is the ratio of secondary magnetic
flux to primary magnetic flux. The ideal value of 1 indicates that all the flux in
the primary winding is coupled into the secondary winding.

COIL
A common term for an inductor.

COLLECTOR
One of the semiconducting regions in a BJT.

COMMON BASE (CB)
A BJT amplifier configuration in which the base is the common (grounded)
terminal.

COMMON-COLLECTOR (CC)
A BJT amplifier configuration in which the collector is the common (grounded)
terminal.

COMMON-EMITTER (CE)
A BJT amplifier configuration in which the emitter is the common (grounded)
terminal.

COMMON-MODE SIGNALS
Signals that appear the same on both inputs of an op-amp.

COMPARATOR
A circuit which compares two input voltages and produces an output in either of
two states indicating the greater or less than relationship of the inputs.

CONDUCTANCE (G)
The ability of a circuit to allow current; the reciprocal of resistance. The unit is
the siemens (S).

CONDUCTOR
A material in which electrical current is established with relative case. An
example is copper.

COULOMB (C)
The unit of electrical charge.

COULOMBS LAW
A physical law that states a force exists between two charged bodies that is
directly proportional to the product of the two charges and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between them.




17-6 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
COVALENT
Related to the bonding of two or more atoms by the interaction of their valence
electrons.

CRYSTAL
The pattern or arrangement of atoms forming a solid material.

CURRENT
The rate of flow of charge (electrons).

CURRENT GAIN
The ratio of output current to input current.

CUTOFF
The nonconducting state of a transistor.

CUTOFF FREQUENCY (
c
)
The frequency at which the output voltage of a filter is 70.7% of the maximum
output voltage.

CYCLE
One repetition of a periodic waveform.

DARLINGTON PAIR
A two-transistor arrangement that produces a multiplication of current gain.

DC COMPONENT
The average value of a pulse waveform.

DECADE
A tenfold change in the value of a quantity. When a quantity becomes ten
times less or ten times greater, it has changed a decade.

DECIBEL (dB)
The unit of logarithmic expression of a ratio, such as power ratio or a voltage
ratio.

DEGREE
The unit of angular measure corresponding to 1/360 of a complete revolution.

DERIVATIVE
The instantaneous rate of change of a function determined mathematically.

DIAD
A semiconductive device that can conduct current in other of two directions
when properly activated.

DIELECTRIC
The insulating material between the plates of a capacitor.
Glossary 17- 7


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT
A measure of the ability of a dielectric material to establish an electric field.

DIELECTRIC STRENGTH
A measure of the ability of a dielectric material to withstand voltage without
breaking down.

DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
An amplifier that produces an output proportional to the difference of two inputs.

DIFFERENTIATOR
A circuit that produces an output that approaches the mathematical derivative
of the input, which is the rate of change.


DIODE
An electronic device that permits current in only one direction.

DISCRETE DEVICE
An individual electrical or electronic component that must be used in
combination with other components to form a complete functional circuit.

DOPING
The process of imparting impurities to an intrinsic semiconductive material in
order to control its conduction characteristics.

DRAIN
One of the three terminals of a field-effect transistor.

DUTY CYCLE
A characteristic of a pulse waveform that indicates the percentage of time that a
pulse is present during a cycle, the ratio of pulse width to period.


EFFECTIVE VALUE
A measure of the heating effect of a sine wave; also known as the rms (root
mean square) value.

EFFICIENCY
The ratio of the output power to the input power, expressed as a ratio.

ELECTRICAL
Related to the use of electrical voltage and current to achieve desired results.

ELECTRICAL ISOLATION
The condition that exists which two coils are magnetically linked but have no
electrical connection between them.

17-8 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
A formation of a group of magnetic lines of force surrounding a conductor
created by electrical current in the conductor.

ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
The phenomenon or process by which a voltage is produced in a conductor
when there is relative motion between the conductor and a magnetic or
electromagnetic field.

ELECTRON
The basic particle of electrical charge in matter.
It possesses negative charge.

ELECTRONIC
Related to the movement and control of free electrons in semiconductors or
vacuum devices.

EMITTER
One of the three semiconducting regions in a BJT.

EMITTER-FOLLOWER
A popular term for a common-collector amplifier.

ENERGY
The fundamental ability to do work. The unit is the joule (J).

FALLING EDGE
The negative-going transition of a pulse.

FALL TIME
The time interval required for a pulse to change from 90% to 10 % of its full
amplitude.

FARAD (F)
The unit of capacitance.

FARADAYS LAW
A law stating that the voltage induced across a coil of wire equals the number
of turns in the coil times the rate of change of the magnetic flux.

FEEDBACK
The process of returning a portion of a circuits output signal to the input in such
a way as to create certain specified operating conditions.

FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR (FET)
A type of transistor that uses an induced electric field within its structure to
control current.

Glossary 17- 9


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
FILTER
A type of circuit that passes certain frequencies and rejects all others.

FREE ELECTRON
A valence electron that has broken away from its parent atom and is free to
move from atom to atom within the atomic structure of a material.

FREQUENCY
A measure of the rate of change of a periodic function, the number of cycles
completed in 1 s. The unit of frequency is the hertz.

FREQUENCY RESPONSE
In electrical circuits, the variation in the output voltage (or current) over a
specified range of frequencies.

FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER
A circuit that converts an alternating sine wave into a pulsating dc consisting of
both halves of a sine wave for each input cycle.

FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY
The repetition rate of a waveform.

FUSE
A protective device that burns open when there is excessive current in a circuit.


GAIN
The amount by which an electrical signal is increased or decreased; the ratio of
output to input; the amount of amplification.

GATE
One of the three terminals of an FET.

GENERATOR
An energy source that produces electrical signals.

GERMANIUM
A semiconductive material.

GROUND
In electronic circuits, the common or reference point.







17-10 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
HALF-POWER FREQUENCY
The frequency at which the output of a filter is 70.7% of maximum.

HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER
A circuit that converts an alternating sine wave into a pulsating dc consisting of
one-half of a sine wave for each input cycle.

HARMONICS
The frequencies contained in a composite waveform, which are integer
multiples of the repetition frequency (fundamental).

HENRY (H)
The unit of inductance.

HERTZ (Hz)
The unit of frequency and hence 1Hz equals one cycle per second.

HIGH-PASS FILTER
A certain type of filter whereby higher frequencies are passed and lower
frequencies are rejected.

HOLE
The absence of an electron in the valence band of an atom.

HYSTERESIS
A characteristic of a magnetic material whereby a change in magnetization lags
the application of a magnetic force.


IMPEDANCE (Z)
The total opposition to sinusoidal current expressed in ohms.

IMPEDANCE MATCHING
A technique used to match a load resistance to an internal source resistance in
order to achieve a maximum transfer of power.

INDUCED VOLTAGE
Voltage produced as a result of a changing magnetic field.

INDUCTANCE (L)
The property of an inductor that produces an opposition to any change in
current.

INDUCTIVE REACTANCE (X
L
)
The opposition of an inductor to sinusoidal current. The unit is the ohm.

INDUCTIVE SUSCEPTANCE (B
L
)
The reciprocal of inductive reactance and the unit is siemens
Glossary 17- 11


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
INDUCTOR
An electrical device formed by a wire wound in a coil around a core having the
property of inductance and the capability to store energy in its electromagnetic
field; also known as a coil or a choke.

INSTANTANEOUS VALUE
The voltage or current value of a waveform at a given instant in time.

INSULATOR
A material that does not allow current under normal conditions.

INTEGRATOR
A circuit that produces an output that approaches the mathematical integral of
the input.

INTERFACE
To make the output of one type of circuit compatible with the input of another so
that they can operate properly together.

INTRINSIC SEMICONDUCTOR
A pure semiconductive material with relatively few free electrons.

ION
An atom that has gained or lost a valence electron resulting in a net positive or
negative charge.

IONIZATION
The removal or addition of an electron from or to a neutral atom so that the
resulting atom (called an ion) has a net positive or negative charge.


JOULE (J)
The unit of energy.

JUNCTION
A point at which two or more components are connected.

JUNCTION FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR (JFET)
A type of FET that operates with a reverse-biased junction to control current in
a channel.

KILOWATT-HOUR (kWh)
A common unit of energy used mainly by utility companies.

KIRCHHOFFS CURRENT LAW
A law stating that the total current into a junction equals the total current out of
the junction.

17-12 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
KIRCHHOFFS VOLTAGE LAW
A law stating that (1) the sum of the voltage drops around a closed loop equals
the source voltage or (2) the sum of all the voltages (drops and sources)
around a closed loop is zero.


LAG
Describes a condition of the phase or time relationship of waveforms in which
one waveform is behind the other in phase or time.

LEAD
Describes a condition of the phase or time relationship of waveforms in which
one waveform is ahead of the other in phase or time; also, a wire or cable
connection to a device or instrument.

LEADING EDGE
The fist step or transition of a pulse.

LENZS LAW
A physical law that states when the current through a coil changes, an induced
voltage is created in a direction to oppose the change in current. The current
cannot change instantaneously.

LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE (LED)
A type of diode that emits light when there is forward current.

LIMITER
A circuit that removes part of a waveform above or below a specified level; a
clipper.

LINEAR
Characterized by a straight-line relationship.

LINE REGULATION
The percent change in output voltage for a given change in line (input) voltage.

LOAD
An element (resistor or other components) connected across the output
terminals of a circuit that draws current from the circuit.

LOAD REGULATION
The percent change in output voltage for a given change in load current.

LOW-PASS FILTER
A certain type of filter in which lower frequencies are passed and higher
frequencies are rejected.


Glossary 17- 13


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
MAGNETIC COUPLING
The magnetic connection between two coils as a result of the changing
magnetic flux lines of one coil cutting through the second coil.

MAGNETIC FLUX
The lines of force between the north and south poles of a permanent magnet or
an electromagnet.

MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY
The number of lines of force per unit area perpendicular to a magnetic field.

MAGNETIZING FORCE
The amount of mmf per unit length of magnetic material.

MAGNETOMOTIVE FORCE
The force that produces a magnetic field.

MAGNITUDE
The value of a quantity, such as the number of volts of voltage or the number of
amperes of current.

MAXIMUM POWER TRANSFER THEOREM
A theorem that states the maximum power is transferred from a source to a
load when the load resistance equals the internal source resistance.

MOSFET
Metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor.

MULTIMETER
An instrument that measures voltage, current and resistance.

MUTUAL INDUCTANCE (L
M
)
The inductance beteen two separate coils, such as transformers.


NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
The return of a portion of the output signal to the input such that it is out of
phase with the input signal.

NEUTRON
An atomic particle having no electrical charge.


OHM ()
The unit of resistance.

OHMMETER
An instrument for measuring resistance.
17-14 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center

OHMS LAW
A law stating that current is directly proportional to voltage and inversely
proportional to resistance.

OPEN CIRCUIT
A circuit in which there is not a complete current path.

OPEN-LOOP GAIN (A
ol
)
The internal voltage gain of an op-amp without feedback.

OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER
A special type of amplifier exhibiting very high open-loop gain, very high input
impedance, very low output impedance, and good rejection of common-mode
signals.

OSCILLATOR
An electronic circuit consisting of an amplifier and a phase-shift network
connected in a positive feedback loop that produces a time-varying output
signal using positive feedback.

OSCILLOSCOPE
A measurement instrument that displays signal waveforms on a screen.


PARALLEL
The relationship in electric circuits in which two or more current paths are
connected between the same two points.

PARALLEL RESONANCE
In a parallel RLC circuit, the condition where the impedance is maximum and
the reactance are equal.

PEAK INVERSE VOLTAGE (PIV)
The maximum value of reverse voltage which occurs at the peak of the input
cycle when the diode is reversed-biased.

PEAK VALUE
The voltage or current value of a waveform at its maximum positive or negative
points.

PEAK-TO-PEAK VALUE
The voltage or current value of a waveform measured from its minimum to its
maximum points.

PERIOD (T)
The time interval of one complete cycle of a given sine wave or any periodic
waveform.
Glossary 17- 15


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
PERIODIC
Characterized by a repetition at fixed time intervals.

PERMEABILITY
The measure of ease with which a magnetic field can be established in a
material.

PHASE
The relative displacement of a time-varying waveform in terms of its occurrence
with respect to a reference.

PHASOR
A representation of a sine wave in terms of both magnitude and phase angle.

PHOTOCONDUCTIVE CELL
A type of variable resistor that is light-sensitive.

PHOTODIODE
A diode whose reverse resistance changes with incident light.

PINCH-OFF VOLTAGE
The value of the drain-to-source voltage of an FET at which the drain current
becomes constant when the gate-to-source voltage is zero.

PN JUNCTION
The boundary between n-type and p-type semiconductive materials.

POLE
In practical terms, a single RC circuit in a filter or amplifier that causes the
response to change at a 20 dB per decade rate above or below a certain
frequency.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK
The return of a portion of the output signal to the input such that it is in phase
with the input signal.

POTENTIOMETER
A three-terminal variable resistor.

POWER
The rate of energy usage.

POWER FACTOR
The relationship between volt-amperes and true power or watts. Volt-amperes
multiplied by the power factor equals true power.




17-16 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
POWER GAIN
The ratio of output power to input power; the product of voltage gain and
current gain.

POWER RATING
The maximum amount of power that a resistor can dissipate without being
damaged by excessive heat buildup.

POWER SUPPLY
An electronic instrument that produces voltage, current and power from the ac
power line or batteries in a form suitable for use in powering electronic
equipment.

PRIMARY WINDING
The input winding of a transformer; also called primary.

PROTON
A positively charged atomic particle.

PULSE
A type of waveform that consists of two equal and opposite steps in voltage or
current separated by a time interval.

PULSE RESPONSE
The reaction of a circuit to a given input.

PUSH-PULL
A type of class B amplifier in which one output transistor conducts for one half-
cycle and the other conducts for the other half-cycle.


Q-POINT
The dc operating (bias) point of an amplifier.

QUALITY FACTOR (Q)
The ratio of reactive power to true power in a coil or a resonant circuit.


RAMP
A type of waveform characterized by a linear increase or decrease in voltage or
current.

REACTIVE POWER
The rate at which energy is stored and alternately returned to the source by a
capacitor or inductor. The unit is the VAR.

RECOMBINATION
The process of a free electron falling into a hole in the valence band of an
atom.
Glossary 17- 17


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
RECTIFIER
An electronic circuit that converts ac into pulsating dc; one part of a power
supply.

REFLECTED LOAD
The load as it appears to the source in the primary of a transformer.

REFLECTED RESISTANCE
The resistance in the secondary circuit reflected into the primary circuit.

REGULATOR
An electronic circuit that maintains an essentially constant output voltage with a
changing input voltage or load.

RELAY
An electromagnetically controlled mechanical device in which electrical
contacts are open or closed by a magnetizing current.

RELUCTANCE
The opposition to the establishment of a magnetic field in a material.

RESISTANCE
Opposition to current and its unit is ohm.

RESISTOR
An electrical component designed specifically to provide resistance.

RESOLUTION
The smallest increment of a quantity that a meter can measure.

RESONANT FREQUENCY
The frequency at which a resonant condition occurs in a series or parallel RLC
circuit.

RETENTIVITY
The ability of a material, once magnetized, to maintain a magnetized state
without the presence of a magnetizing force.

REVERSE BREAKDOWN
The condition of a diode in which excessive reverse-bias voltage causes a
rapid buildup of reverse current.

RHEOSTAT
A two terminal variable resistor.

RIPPLE VOLTAGE
The small variation in the dc voltage on the output of a filtered rectifier caused
by the slight charging and discharging action of the filter capacitor.
17-18 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
RISE TIME
The time interval required for a pulse to change from 10% to 90% of its
amplitude.

RISING EDGE
The positive-going transition of a pulse.

ROLL-OFF
The decrease in the response of a filter below or above a critical frequency.

ROOT MEAN SQUARE (rms)
The value of a sine wave that indicates its heating effect, also known as the
effective value. It is equal to 0.707 times the peak value.

SATURATION
The state of a BJT in which the collector current has reached a maximum and
is independent of the base current.

SAWTOOTH WAVEFORM
A type of electrical waveform composed of ramps; a special case of a triangular
waveform in which one ramp is much shorter than the other.

SCHEMATIC
A symbolized diagram of an electrical or electronic circuit.

SECONDARY WINDING
The output winding of a transformer; also called secondary.

SELECTIVITY
A measure of how effectively a filter passes certain frequencies and rejects
others. The narrower the bandwidth, the greater the selectivity.

SEMICONDUCTOR
A material that has a conductance value between that of a conductor and that
of an insulator. Silicon and germanium are examples.

SENSITIVITY FACTOR
The ohms-per-volt rating of a voltmeter.

SERIES
In an electrical circuit, a relationship of components in which the components
are connected such as they provide a single current path between two points.

SERIES RESONANCE
In a series RLC circuit, the condition where the impedance is minimum and the
reactances are equal.

SHELL
An energy band in which electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom.
Glossary 17- 19


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
SHORT CIRCUIT
A zero or abnormally low resistance between two points; usually an inadvertent
condition.

SILICON
a SEMICONDUCTIVE MATERIAL USED IN DIODES AND TRANSISTORS.

Silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR)
A device that can be triggered on to conduct current in one direction.

SOLENOID
An electromagnetically controlled device in which the mechanical movement of
a shaft or plunger is activated by a magnetizing current.

SOURCE
Any device that produces energy, one of the three terminals of FET.

STEADY STATE
The equilibrium condition of a circuit that occurs after an initial transient time.

STEP-DOWN TRANSFORMER
A transformer in which the secondary voltage is less than the primary voltage.

STEP-UP VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER
A transformer in which the secondary voltage is greater than the primary
voltage.

STOPBAND
The range of frequencies between the upper and lower cutoff points.

SUPERPOSITION
Amethod for analyzing circuits with two or more sources by examining the
effects of each source by itself and then combining the effects.

SWITCH
An electrical or electronic device for opening and closing a current path.


TANK CIRCUIT
A parallel resonant circuit.

TAPERED
Nonlinear, such as tapered potentiometer.

TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT
A constant specifying the amount of change in the value of a quantity for a
given change in temperature.

17-20 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
TERMINAL
An external contact point on an electronic device.

TERMINAL EQUIVALENCY
A condition that occurs when two circuits produce the same load voltage and
load current where the same value of load resistance is connected to either
circuit.

TESLA
The unit of flux density.

THERMISTOR
A type of variable resistor that is temperature-sensitive.

THEVENINS THEOREM
A circuit theorem that provides for reducing any resistive circuit to a single
equivalent voltage source in series with an equivalent resistance.

THYRISTOR
A class of four-layer semiconductive devices.

TRAILING EDGE
The second step or transition of a pulse.

TRANSFORMER
A device formed by two or more windings and are magnetically coupled to each
other and providing a transfer of power electromagnetically from one winding to
another.

TRANSIENT
A temporary passing conductor in a circuit; a sudden or temporary change in
circuit conditions.

TRANSISTOR
A semiconductive device used for amplification and switching applications in
electronic circuits.

TRIANGULAR WAVE
A type of electrical waveform that consists of two ramps.

TRIGGER
The activating mechanism of some electronic devices or instruments.

TRIMMER
Small variable capacitor.

TURNS RATIO
The ratio of turns in the secondary winding to turns in the primary winding.

Glossary 17- 21


Macro Integrated Training and Review Center ElcrniX
UNIJUNCTION TRANSISTOR (UJT)
A type of transistor consisting of an emitter and two bases.

UNITY GAIN
A gain of 1.

VALENCE
Related to the outer shell or orbit of an atom.

VALENCE ELCTRON
An electron that is present in the outermost shell of an atom.

VARACTOR
A diode that is used as a voltage-variable capacitor.

VOLT
The unit of voltage or electromotive force.

VOLTAGE
The amount of energy available to move a certain number of electrons from
one point to another in an electric circuit.

VOLTAGE DROP
The potential difference in voltage between two points when there is a drop in
energy level due to resistance.

VOLTAGE GAIN
The ratio of output voltage to input voltage.

VOLTAGE REGULATION
The process of maintaining an essentially constant output voltage over
variations in input voltage or load.

VOLTAGE-AMPERE REACTIVE (VAR)
The unit of reactive power.

VOLTMETER
An instrument used to measure voltage.

WATT (W)
The unit of power.

WATTS LAW
A law that states the relationship of power to current, voltage, and resistance.

WAVEFORM
The pattern of variations of a voltage or current showing how the quantity
changes with time.

17-22 Glossary


ElcrniX Macro Integrated Training and Review Center
WEBER
The unit of magnetic flux.

WINDING
The loops or turns of wire in an inductor.

WIPER
The sliding contact in a potentiometer.

ZENER DIODE
A type of diode that operates in reverse breakdown (called zener breakdown) to
provide voltage regulation.