Transistor

A transistor is a miniature semiconductor that regulates or controls current or voltage flow

in addition amplifying and generating these electrical signals and acting as a switch/gate
for them.

Emitter- Supplies charge carriers to the collector

Collector- Receive charge carries from the emitter
Base- Control the charge carriers from the emitter to the collector

Two Type of Transistor:

Type of Pnp Transistor npn Transistor

Transistor

Transistor
Symbol

Transistor
Circuit

What Why
Bulb L1 does not light up  Circuit is incomplete
 Base current, I b is zero
Bulb L2 does not light up  Transistor is not turn up
 Collector current, I c is
zero
Is Switch close?

What Why
Bulb L1 is dim  Rb has high resistance
 Base current, I b is very small
Bulb L2 light up brightly  Collector current, I c is large

QUESTION
How to turn on the collector circuit?

Have a small base current, I b to produce a minimum base Voltage, V BE

Why can transistor act as a switch?

The base current , I b can control the collector current, I c .

Why transistor will not become too hot and burn?

The resistance at the base circuit, Rb is large to limit the base current, I b.

WE NEE TO KNOW THAT:

Small increase in Base current, I b big change in Collector current, I c

HENCE, Transistor can act as amplifier.

LIGHT INDEPENDENT RESISTOR

 The LDR resistance value is high when the light intensity is low and vice versa
 Used in automatic street light

LDR symbol

In the dark Under bright condition

LDR resistance very high LDR resistance very low

Voltage across LDR increase Voltage across LDR decrease

Voltage exceeds the minimum voltage across B Voltage less than minimum voltage across B
and E and E

Base current, I b flow No Base current, I b flow

Transistor turn on Transistor turn off

High Collector current, I c flow No High Collector current, I c flow

Bulb turn up Bulb turn off

THERMISTOR

 A resistor that changes with its surrounding temperature

 Used in an temperature control system

Thermistor symbol

Surrounding Temperature Increase Surrounding Temperature Decrease

Resistance becomes low Resistance becomes high

Voltage across thermistor decrease Voltage across thermistor increase

The voltage across resistor R , V R The voltage across resistor R , V R

will increase will decrease

Voltage, V R exceeds the minimum voltage Voltage less than minimum voltage across B
across B and E and E

Base current, I b flow No Base current, I b flow

Transistor turn on Transistor turn off

High Collector current, I c flow No High Collector current, I c flow

Bulb turn up Bulb turn off