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INTRODUCTION:

A transistor is a small electronic device that can cause changes in a large electrical
output signal by small changes in a small input signal. That is, a weak input signal
can be amplified (made stronger) by a transistor. For example, very weak radio
signals in the air can be picked up by a wire antenna and processed by transistor
amplifiers until they are strong enough to be heard by the human ear.
A transistor consists of three layers of silicon or germanium semiconductor
material. Impurities are added to each layer to create a specific electrical positive
or negative charged behavior. "P" is for a positive charged layer and "N" is for a
negative charged layer.

Transistors are either NPN or PNP in the configuration of the layers. There is no
particular difference here except the polarity of voltages that need to be applied to
make the transistor operate. The weak input signal is applied to the center layer
called the base and usually referenced to ground which is also connected to the
bottom layer called the emitter. The larger output signal is take from the collector
also referenced to ground and the emitter. Additional resistors and capacitors are
required along with at least one DC power source to complete the transistor
amplifier.

TYPES:
There are two basic and main type of transistors.
1. Bi-Polar Junction Transistors (BJT)
2. Field Effect Transistors (FET)
BI-POLAR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS
(BJT):
The Bipolar Transistor basic construction consists of two PN-junctions producing
three connecting terminals with each terminal being given a name to identify it
from the other two. These three terminals are known and labelled as the Emitter,
Base and the Collector respectively. Bipolar Transistors are current regulating
devices that control the amount of current flowing through them in proportion to
the amount of biasing voltage applied to their base terminal acting like a current-
controlled switch. The principle of operation of the two transistor types PNP and
NPN, is exactly the same the only difference being in their biasing and the polarity
of the power supply for each type

FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR (FET):


A field-effect transistor (FET) is a three terminal (namely drain, source
and gate) semiconductor device in which current conduction is by only
one type of majority carriers (electrons in case of an N-channel FET or
holes in a P-channel FET). It is also sometimes called the uni-polar
transistor. Unlike a biploar transistor a FET requires virtually no input
(bias signal) current and gives an extremely high input resistance -most
important advantage over a BJT. Either BJT or FET devices can be used
to operate in amplifier circuits or other similar electronic circuits, with
different bias considerations.
USES:
There are many uses of transistors and some are likely top secret.

• Amplifiers use transistors to amplify sound. Microphones, guitars,


keyboards and electronic drums use the transistors to send out
electronic sound.
• Switches turn on and off with the use of transistors. Switches can
be found on amplifiers, airplanes, automobiles, houses, lamps and
radios.
• Many tiny transistors work within a computer to calculate and
transmit binary codes to other transistors. The transistors work as a
group called an integrated circuit.
• Tiny transistors help people with hearing loss hear. The tiny
transistors amplify sound at an adjustable level to the hearing aid
owner.
• Transistors helped bring personal radios to many people in the
1960s and helped improve communication.
• The improvements and new uses for transistors helped the cause of
space exploration. With its use in computers, communications and
switches, the transistor made it possible to launch humankind to the
moon, and set into the planet's orbit large telescopes to help with
the study of the universe.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

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