What is a transistor?
A small electronic component (a three terminal device) that controls the flow of electric current.
What two main jobs can a transistor do in an electronic circuit?
Act as a switch and as an amplifier.
Before transistors were invented, what device was commonly used to amplify and switch signals?
Vacuum tubes
In what year was the transistor invented?
1978
1995
1921
1947
Which company’s laboratory invented the first transistor?
Bell laboratories
Philips
Ford
Sony
Why was the invention of the transistor considered a revolution for electronics?
Because transistors are smaller, cheaper, faster, more reliable, and use less power than vacuum tubes.
Name one advantage of transistors compared to vacuum tubes.
They are smaller, use less energy, produce less heat, or last longer.
What material are most transistors made from?
Phosphorus
Borus
Silicon
Tungsten
What does the word “semiconductor” mean?
A material that conducts electricity sometimes, not as well as metals but better than insulators.
What are the three main parts (terminals) of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT)?
Emitter, Base, Collector.
What are the two main types of transistors used today?
BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor) and MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor).
What is the basic difference between a BJT and a MOSFET?
A BJT is current-controlled, while a MOSFET is voltage-controlled.
What does a transistor do when it works as a switch?
It turns current on or off.
How does a transistor amplify a signal?
A small input signal controls a larger current, making the signal stronger.
Why are billions of transistors able to fit inside a modern microchip?
Because transistors are extremely small and made using advanced manufacturing techniques.
Give one everyday device that would not work without transistors.
smartphones, computers, TVs, radios, calculators, cars.
