Active and Passive Components

An electronic component is any basic discrete device or physical entity in an electronic system used to affect
electrons or their associated fields. Earlier, you have learned four major electronic components that have been the
backbone of the generation of computers introduced to the world. Aside from these four components, there are
still other electronic components that are used in the operation of electrical devices. These electronic components
are classified as either an active component, passive component, or electromechanical.

Classifying Electronic Components

Electronic components can be classified as either active, passive, or electromechanical.
Active Components
 Rely on an external source of energy to operate
 Main task is to modify or control electrical signals in a circuit- that is, these components use
electricity to control electricity
Examples:
 Includes amplifying components such as transistors, triode vacuum tubes (valves), and
tunnel diodes
 Other components under this type are integrated circuits and optoelectronic devices
Passive Components
These components do not need an external power source to function
 These cannot introduce net energy into the circuit; cannot rely on a source power except
for what is available from the AC circuit these are connected to.
 Hence, these components cannot be used to amplify electrical signals but can be used to
increase the voltage or current in the circuit.
Examples:
 Include two-terminal components like resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transformers.
 magnetic devices (inductor, coil, choke, Variable inductor, saturable inductor, transformer,
magnetic amplifier (toroid), ferrite impedances, beads, Motor / Generator, Solenoid,
Loudspeaker, and microphone)
 memristors, transducers, sensors, detectors
 antennas, assemblies, modules, prototyping aids
Electromechanical Components
 These components can carry out electrical operations by using moving parts or by using
electrical connections
Examples:
 piezoelectric devices, crystals, and resonators
 terminals and connectors
 cable assemblies
switches

Wire Gauge
Electrical wires differ in the circular area and the resistance these can offer along the circuit. To calibrate electrical
wires, the concept of a wire gauge is used.
Wire gauge is a measurement of wire diameter. This denotes the amount of electric current a wire can safely carry
as well as its electrical resistance and weight. In general, there are two systems of measurement for wire gauge:
AWG or American Wire Gauge and SWG or British Imperial Standard Wire Gauge.

Wire gauge can be measured using the given measuring devices. The wire gauge is based on the physical dimension
of the wire. Wire gauge ranges from the thinnest wire to the thickest wire. Some commercial wires we buy have
printed wire gauge numbers in their insulation.
Wire Gauge
When you buy electrical wires for your household circuit connections, you specifically decide what wire gauge is to
be used. Electrical wires are calibrated in terms of wire gauge. This is a measure of wire diameter. Specific wire
gauge numbers are assigned to electrical wires of certain diameters and circular areas. Also, each wire gauge
number has specific resistance the wire offers as well as the maximum current that can pass through the wire.
As mentioned earlier, there are two systems of measurement for wire gauge.
1. AWG/ American Wire Gauge
 Also known as the Brown & Sharpe wire gauge
 It is based on a logarithmic stepped standardized wire gauge system
 This is predominantly used in America for the diameters of round, solid, nonferrous,
electrically conducting wire.
 The cross-sectional area of each gauge is an important factor for determining its current-
carrying capacity (ampacity).
 Ampacity or current-carrying capacity is the maximum current that a conductor can carry
continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating.
 AWG tables provide information about the diameter, circular area, resistance, and current-
carrying ampacity of wires. These tables are for single, solid, and round conductors.
 The AWG of a stranded wire is determined by the cross-sectional area of the equivalent solid
conductor.
 This includes No. 0000 AWG (thickest) to No. 40 AWG (thinnest).
 Diameter is measured in mil and the circular area is given in circular mil.
 The higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire, the higher the resistance is, and the lower
the current-carrying ampacity.

Some information about the gauge and uses of the wire. This is according to Wire Use-
Rated Ampacity
 No. 18 AWG- Used for low-voltage lighting and lamp cords in 10 A
 No. 16 AWG- Used for light-duty extension cords supporting 13 A
 No. 14 AWG- Used for light fixtures, lamps, lighting circuits with 15 A
 No. 12 AWG- Used in kitchen, bathroom, outdoor receptacles, and 120- V air
conditioners supporting 20 A
 No. 10 AWG- Used in electric clothes dryers, 240-V window air
conditioners, electric water heaters supporting 30 A
 No. 6 AWG- Used for cooking tops and ranges carrying 40-50 A
 No. 4- AWG- Used for electric furnaces and large electric heaters protected at 60
A

2. SWG or British Standard Wire Gauge

 Also known as Imperial Wire Gauge or British Standard Gauge
 Cross-sectional areas of wires are given in square millimeters.
 This should not be confused with AWG which has a similar but not
interchangeable numbering scheme.
 Diameter is measured in thou.
 The wire diameter diminishes with increasing size number.
No. 7/0 is the thickest and No. 50 is the thinnest

The end view of a solid round wire is circular. Wire size is denoted by its thickness which is measured in terms of its
diameter. The AWG system uses inches to indicate the diameter of wires. Thickness is also measured in cross-
sectional area. But cross- sectional area matters most in terms of electron flow.

Resistivity

When we say that copper is a better conductor than aluminum, we are comparing their resistivities. The resistivity
of a conductor greatly affects the resistance it can offer to the circuit. But take note that the resistance of a
conductor is not only dependent on resistivity but as well as the cross-sectional area of the wire and its length.

The Resistance of Conducting Wires

Conducting wires, although by nature allow the flow of electrons, have resistance too. We already know that
resistance is an opposing force to the flow of current. The greater the resistance is, the harder for electrons to flow.
Hence, the lesser the amount of current. Likewise, the best conductor is a material that offers the least amount of
resistance in a circuit.
Based on the previous activity, three factors that affect the resistance of a conducting wire: the area/ cross-sectional
area of the wire, the length of the wire, and a property innate to the wire which we call resistivity.
Resistivity
• a bulk property of a material
• The value does not depend on the size or shape-only the material itself.
• It represents the resistance across two opposite faces of a cubic meter of material.
• It tells how resistive a material is. A higher value means the material is more likely to have higher resistance.
• In mathematical equations, this is represented by the Greek letter ρ (rho).

Computing the Resistance of Conducting Wires

The following connections among the three physical quantities give us the idea of computing the
resistance of a wire.
Physical Quantity Connection In Mathematical form
Resistance and resistivity directly proportional R ρ
Resistance and length directly proportional R L
Resistance and area inversely proportional 1
R 𝐴
for SI unit:
R is measured in ohms (Ω)
ρ is measured in ohm meter (Ωm) A is measured in square meter (m2) L is measured in meter (m)

Types of Wire

Most wire conductors used in electrical circuits are copper wires. Some are aluminum wires and silver wires. The
copper wire may be tinned with a thin coating of solder, which gives it a silvery appearance. Some wires are solid
while others are thin solid wires combined forming a stranded wire. A particular type of wire is specifically made
following its purpose.

Warm Wires
Have you experienced plugging in an appliance to a socket and noticed the wire became warm? You are
experiencing firsthand a potential fire hazard in the making. Wires’ temperature increases abnormally when an
appliance draws more energy than the cord can handle (ampacity did not match the usage). Manufacturers
probably used materials in the cord which were not appropriate to save money on their product. If you keep on
using the appliance, the cord can continually heat up and eventually melt. This will expose the underlying wire and
may cause a fire hazard.
Types of Wires
1. Solid Wire
 Also called solid-core or single-strand wire
 It consists of a piece of metal wire.
 This is used for wiring breadboards and in cases where there is little need for flexibility in the
wire.
 This type of wire provides mechanical ruggedness and lesser surface area exposed to
corrosiveness.
2. Stranded Wire
 It is formed from several small wires bundled or wrapped together to form a single conductor.
 Because of its structure, it is more flexible and can be used in situations where higher
resistance to metal fatigued is required.
 This form of wire is used in connections between circuit boards in multi- printed-circuit-board
 devices, line cords for appliances, musical instrument cables, computer mouse cables,
welding electrode cables, control cables connecting moving machine parts, mining machine
cables, trailing machine cables, and others where probable bending and twisting of wires are
unavoidable.
 The more individual wire strands used, the more flexible, kink-resistant, break-resistant, and
stronger the wire becomes.
 The cross-sectional area of a stranded wire is the total cross-sectional area of each strand.
However, for wire gauge numbers, the diameter is greater because of the gaps or spaces
between each strand.
 The lowest number of strands usually seen is 7 (1 in the middle and 6 surrounding it in close
contact) followed by the next level which is 19 strands (1, 6, 12).
3. Braided Wire
 Consists of a small number of strands of wire braided together.
 Do not break easily when flexed
 Often used as an electromagnetic shield in noise-reduction cables
4. Magnet Wire
 Also known as enameled wire
 A solid wire which is usually made of copper insulated with a very thin coating rather than
thicker plastic insulation for easier tightly coiling
 Are made into tight coils used in inductors, transformers, motors,
electromagnets, and speakers
5. Litz Wire
 A type of stranded wire used in electronics to carry AC at radio frequencies
 Comprised of many thin wire strands, individually insulated and twisted together
 Used for radio transmitters and receivers operating at low frequencies, induction
heating equipment, and switching power supplies
6. Tinsel Wire
 Far more resistant to metal fatigue than solid wire or other kinds of stranded wire; thus,
commonly used for applications that require high mechanical flexibility but low current-
carrying capacities
  Made up of several strands of thin metal foil wrapped around flexible nylon or
textile core
 Usually used in cords of telephones, headphones, and small electrical appliances

Cables
Sometimes, a wire is referred to as a cable. But these are a lot different. A
cable is a group or bundle of multiple wires inside a common sheathing.
 Electrical power cables are used for the transmission and distribution of electrical
power. It is used for the transmission of high voltages in places where overhead
lines are impractical to use.
 Communication cables are electrical cables used to send information signals.
Types of Cables
1. Ribbon Electric Cable- Consists of multiple insulated wires running parallel with
one another and is used for transmission of multiple data simultaneously. This is generally
used for the interconnection of networking devices.
2. Shielded Cable- Consists of 1 or 2 insulated wires which are covered by a woven
braided shield or aluminum Mylar foil for better signal transmission. It is used to remove
irregularities in the frequency of power and external interference in radio.
3. Twisted Pair Cable- Has two or more insulated copper wires which are twisted with
each other and are color-coded. It is used in telephone cables.
4. Coaxial Cable- Consists of solid copper or steel conductor plated with copper which
is enclosed in the metallic braid and metallic tape and is entirely covered with an insulated
protective outer jacket. It is used for computer networking and audio-
video networking.
5. Fiber Optics Cable- It transports optical data signals from an attached light source to
the receiving device.
Summary
1. Electronic components are classified into three types: active component,
passive component, and electromechanical component.
2. Active Components require external energy. These components modify or
control electrical signals in a circuit.
3. Passive components do not need an external power source to function.
4. Electromechanical components have moving parts for electrical operations.
5. Electrical conductors are characterized in terms of wire gauge which is dependent
on the cross-sectional area of the wire. A lower wire gauge number means that the
wire is thicker, has a greater cross-sectional area and ampacity or current-carrying
capacity but lower resistance.
6. Three factors affect the resistance of an electrical conductor: resistivity, cross-
sectional area, and the length of wire.
7. Resistivity and the length of the wire are directly proportional to the resistance of
the wire.
8. The area of the wire is inversely proportional to its resistance.
9. There are many types of wire namely stranded, solid, braided, magnet, Litz, and
tinsel wire. A cable is a bundle of wires or transmission and communication
purposes.