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A - 1.1
Identify basic electronic components and describe their functions.

resistors limit current

- It is used to reduce current and limit the flow of electrons
through a circuit
- Resistors are usually made out of conductive film wrapped around/covered by an insulator
- Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω)
- Electrical resistance is usually constant and fixed
- A resistor can only consume power but cannot generate any
- This means that it is passive
- Can be used to reduce the amount of current that passes through components like LEDs that
can break easily with too much current
- Ohm’s law is used to decide the resistor size

capacitors store charge, pass high frequencies, and block DC

- Primary used to store energy (almost battery-like)
- Stops DC energy from flowing
- They are made with two conductive plates sandwiching an insulator
- In circuits they are used to store energy, prevent voltage spikes, etc.
- Capacitance is measured in farads (F)
- Cannot generate power and is therefore a passive component
- The equation to determine the charge of a capacitor is Q=CV
- Q → charge, C → capacitance, V → voltage
A
- The equation to determine the capacitance of a capacitor is C=ε r
4π d
- ε r→ relative permittivity (determined by material between capacitors),
A → plate overlap area, d → distance between plates

diodes restrict current in one direction

- Used to prevent current from flowing in an unintended direction
- Diodes should only allow current that flows from the anode to the
cathode (theoretically)
- However, diodes allow a bit of current in the reverse direction and breakdown when
the reverse current is too great, allowing almost all current to pass through
- An LED is an example of a diode used in everyday life
- They have a large variety of applications
 - Eg. preventing voltage spikes, converting AC to DC
LEDs indicate current flow
- LED = (Light Emitting Diode)
- Light up when current flows through them in the right direction,
brightness based on current
- LEDs can get burnt out if the current is too high, resistors needed
in circuit to limit current
- They can be used to show and test current flow and for displays
- There are many different types of LEDs available
- RGB LEDs have the 3 colors needed to make any
combination of colors
- Some LEDs have built in resistors to help reduce the
number of parts in a circuit

transistors act as amplifiers or switches

- Two types of transistor, simpler one is the BJT (bi-
polar junction)
- Made through layering semiconductors
- There are two types of transistors, NPN and PNP
- N is an N-type (netgative) which means it has
extra electrons
- P is P-type (positive) which means it has “holes” and less electrons
- To remember which is which → NPN = Not Pointing iN
- Two main functions - can amplify and/or block/allow current depending on the input to B ↑
A - 1.3, 1.4
Briefly describe the functions and advances of these devices in this chart
Device Function
Mainboard - Also known as the motherboard
- Joins components of computer
- Eg. USB ports, video cards,
the CPU, etc.
- Also has fans and heat sinks to
prevent overheating & damage
- Has various expansion slots
CPU - “Brain of the computer”
- CPU → Central
Processing Unit
- Used to perform tasks required by
computer’s hardware/software
- Now often integrated into
microprocessors
Hard Drive - Main data storage hardware
- Has two types, hard disk drive
(HDD) and solid state drive (SDD)
- HDD uses disks and magnetic
memory to store data
- SDD uses flash memory and
contains an independent
microprocessor
- HDD less durable physically, less
expensive, usually more storage
- SDD can lose data without
maintenance. faster
Mouse - The mouse allows the user to
interact with items onscreen
- Many types, including wired vs.
wireless and etc.
- Before mice invented user inputs
were entirely command-based
- Before mouse usage computers
could have no graphics
Advancements
- First motherboard was created by
IBM in 1981
- In late 1980’s, motherboards
evolved to include devices like the
mouse and floppy disk drives
- Changes often with technological
advancements, many small
improvements over time
- Similar to the mainboard. CPU
evolves often and quickly
- Intel 4004 was the first CPU
invented in 1971
- Older CPUs are often still used for
devices that require less
processing power
- Hard drives were previously
extremely large and expensive
(eg. RAMAC)
- IBM created removable storage
devices in early 1960’s
- In 1970's computers became more
common and less specialized for
universities, scientists, etc.
- In 1980’s better storage devices
quickly evolved
- SSDs created and popularized in
mid 2000’s
- Earliest version of mouse
invented by Douglas Engelbart in
1964, made of wooden shell, 2
metal wheels, and circuit board
- Ball mouse invented in 1972 by Bill
English and measured all
directions and speed
- In 1980 optical mouse invented,

Sound - Allows the computer to produce
Card sound
- Sends information to the audio
device
- Is an expansion card but included
most of the time in motherboard
Printer - Printer prints selected items onto
paper so the information can
physically be taken
- Many types of printers
- Inkjet printers
- Laser/LED printers
- Snapshot printers
- Fax printers are often used in
work settings
Scanner - Scans pictures that can then be
stored or printed
- Many printers have scanners with
them to make reprinting easier
- Scanners work in that a lamp
illuminates the document and
mirrors it several times onto a lens
and filter
widely commercialized by 1998
- Previously computers had less
sound variation, sounds were
bleeps that helped create some
basic notifications and alerts
- First successful sound card
marketed in 1989
- First sound card was extreme
large and volume controls were
included on the sound card
- First known printing press in
China in 868 CE
- Not automated
- Johanne Gutenberg printed
mostly decoratively in 1400-1468
- Teletypesetter demonstrated first
in 1928
- 1976 - IBM 3800 Printing System
(high speed laser printer)
- First inkjet printer also in 1976 and
consumerized in 1988
- Pantetelegraph could be
considered early type of scanner
- Often used for signature
verification
- Photoradiogram invented in 1924
- First image successfully scanned
to a computer was in 1957
- 3D scans are being developed and
could be extremely useful in the
future
Links Used (in order)
1. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/resistors/all
2. https://www.dummies.com/programming/electronics/diy-projects/electronics-projects-how-
to-limit-current-with-a-resistor/
3. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/capacitors/all
4. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/diodes/all
5. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/light-emitting-diodes-leds
6. https://www.lifewire.com/motherboards-system-boards-and-mainboards-2618154
7. https://www.streetdirectory.com/etoday/a-small-history-of-motherboards-wofufl.html
8. https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-cpu-2618150
9. http://www.cpushack.com/life-cycle-of-cpu.html
10. https://ehorus.com/hdd-or-sdd/
11. https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-hard-disk-drive-2618152
12. https://www.backblaze.com/blog/history-hard-drives/
13. https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/613/the-history-of-the-computer-mouse/
14. https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-sound-card-2618160
15. https://www.midiator.com/sound-cards/evolution-of-pc-sound-cards/
16. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-computer-printers-4071175
17. https://www.pcworld.com/article/192471/printer_buying_guide.html
18. https://computer.howstuffworks.com/scanner.htm
19. https://securityboulevard.com/2020/01/a-brief-history-of-scanning/