Passive Components Overview
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Most electrical circuits use predominantly passive components. What are the most common types and their properties?
This page gives a basic overview of the most common elements. Passive components are circuit elements that do not need an external power supply to operate. The most used types are:
Capacitor
These can store electrical energy in their electric field. This field exists between a pair of plates (conductors) with a dielectric (insulating layer) in between. Main applications include filters, power supplies and electronic circuits.
Resistor
Resistors restrict the flow of electric current in a circuit. Their main application is the control of current.
Diode
Diodes are components with that conduct only in one direction. Ideally they have zero resistance in the forward direction and infinite resistance in the other direction. They can be forward or reverse biased. Usually they make use of a P-N junction from a silicon semiconductor.
Inductor
Inductors build up a magnetic field that can store electrical energy. They often have a helical shape to increase the magnetic field, and are also referred to as coil.
http://www.rfdh.com/ez/system/db/lib_jnl/upload/3576/1137213240/%5BMWJ0511%5D_Passive_Components_-_A_Brief_History.pdf
This page gives a basic overview of the most common elements. Passive components are circuit elements that do not need an external power supply to operate. The most used types are:
- capacitors
- resistors
- inductors
- diodes
Capacitor
These can store electrical energy in their electric field. This field exists between a pair of plates (conductors) with a dielectric (insulating layer) in between. Main applications include filters, power supplies and electronic circuits.
Resistor
Resistors restrict the flow of electric current in a circuit. Their main application is the control of current.
Diode
Diodes are components with that conduct only in one direction. Ideally they have zero resistance in the forward direction and infinite resistance in the other direction. They can be forward or reverse biased. Usually they make use of a P-N junction from a silicon semiconductor.
Inductor
Inductors build up a magnetic field that can store electrical energy. They often have a helical shape to increase the magnetic field, and are also referred to as coil.
http://www.rfdh.com/ez/system/db/lib_jnl/upload/3576/1137213240/%5BMWJ0511%5D_Passive_Components_-_A_Brief_History.pdf