This article is an introduction to electronics and circuits. It will prepare you to understanding what electronics are as well as, electronic circuits.
Electronics are widely use these days for day-to-day life activities. They are use in Offices, Schools, Markets, Churches, Mosques, Hospitals, Houses, Hotels, Terminals, Airports, and many other places you can mention. The needs for electronics are everyday increasing in various aspects of live. Electronics have become the most primarily useful gadgets these days and has taken over the physical world. You probably have one or more electronics you use in your life.
So, what are these ELECTRONICS?
In a simple way, we can say they are anything that their modes of operations are by flow of electrons through them. Or, they are devices that make use of electrical energy for their operations.
Powering Electronics
You can power an Electronic by either Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC) form of electricity.
Alternating Current
Alternating current also known as “sinusoidal current” is the form of electricity that changes in its waveform. If you are a novice, you can refer this to the source of electricity obtain from the grip line to the mains. The grip line is the commercial electricity been transmitted from its source (plant) to the consumers. Therefore, when you use commercial electrical energy, you are using Alternating current form of electricity. This is because; most of these plants generate alternating current form of electricity. However, some individuals or organizations have their personal alternating current generators apart from the commercial means. Some of these generators include Wind turbine, gasoline/diesel generators, DC to AC power inverter, etc.
In the real sense, alternating current form of electricity is not stable, it comes ON and OFF repeatedly. Though it doesn’t appear to be ON and OFF by vision. The reason is because the frequency in which this switches ON and OFF for a complete cycle is too fast for an eye to see. Some countries use frequency of fifty (50) times in one (1) second which is (50Hz) while others 60 times in 1sec which is (60Hz). You can imagine, in a second (1sec) somebody switches a lamp ON and OFF 50 times or even up to 60 times! Meanwhile, this is an introduction to electronics and circuits, thus not everything is in detail here.
Direct current
Contrary to the alternating current, direct current is a form of electricity that does not change in its waveform. Meaning it is not a fluctuating or sinusoidal form of electricity. Meanwhile, generating Direct current is mostly by using devices such electric cells, solar panel and other DC generators.
Most of the Electronics do not directly use AC for their operations but rather DC form of electricity. The reason is that, most of the electronic components that constitutes electronic use DC. Therefore, these type of electronics have inbuilt rectifiers to change the alternating current into the direct current form for them to function. In this way, they can be powered by AC.
Electronics are build-up using electronic components connected orderly to form electronic networks or circuits. The components are soldered on a circuit board and packaged in a casing house which mostly are metallic, wooden, and plastics.
Types of Electronics
Electronics can be Digital or Analogue.
Digital Electronics usually deals with binary numbers which it could be 1 or 0 to represent information. The digital electronics usually displays output or information directly in numbers.
On the other hand, the Analogue Electronics is base on the continue signal. Example of signals that continuously is audio signal, radio signals, etc. In real life, the world is analogue in nature.
You should put in mind that this article is just an introduction to electronics and circuits. Therefore, article does not provide you with all that you need to know about electronics and circuits.
Example of Electronics
The few among the many examples of electronics include: Television set, Radio, Computer, etc.
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
Electronic Circuits are electrical networks consisting of mainly active components and or passive components. When you connect two or more of electronic components in a specific way, it becomes an “electronic circuit.” Below is and example of simple electronic circuit.
See also; open, closed, and shorted circuits.
Since this article is only an introduction, you can know more about Electronics and Circuits by always visiting this site!
