IGCSE Physics: Electronics components

Potential divider

Arrangement of resistors which provides a reduced output voltage.

Rectification

Changing AC current to DC.

Full-wave rectification

Converting AC current to DC current using a bridge circuit.

Relay

Electromagnetic switch; lets a low-current circuit control a high-current circuit (as in a car ignition).

LED

Light-emitting diode; used mostly to show current is present.

Semi-conductor

Material, usually silicon, made to have a certain resistance, which will decrease with heat.

Diode

Only allows current in one direction.

Half-wave rectification

Removing half of an AC wave using one diode.

Smoothing

Removing the peaks from rectified current.

Use of capacitors

Smoothing output voltage, time delay circuits, flash bulbs in cameras & phones.

Capacitor

Stores electric charge.

Reed switch

Switch operated by a magnetic field.

Microchips

Tiny circuits with many components, may be as small as a few millimetres across.

Forward bias

When current flows through a diode in the direction of low resistance.

Reverse bias

When current tries to flow the wrong way in a diode and is blocked by high resistance.