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DEFINITION OF TERMS
Capacitor
An electrical component that can store electrical pressure (voltage) for periods of time.
Color Code A method for marking resistors using colored bands.
Digital Circuit A wide range of circuits in which all inputs and outputs have only two states, such as
high/low.
Diode An electronic device that allows current to flow in only one direction.
Disc Capacitor
A type of capacitor that has low capacitance and is used mostly in high frequency circuits.
Farad, (F) The unit of measure for capacitance.
Feedback To adjust the input to something based on what its output is doing.
Frequency The rate at which something repeats.
Ground A common term for the 0V or “–” side of a battery or generator.
Integrated Circuit A type of circuit in which transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors are all
constructed on a semiconductor base.
Kilo- (K) A prefix used in the metric system. It means a thousand of something.
LED Common abbreviation for light emitting diode.
Leads The wires sticking out of an electronic component, used to connect it to the circuit.
Light Emitting Diode A diode made from gallium arsenide that has a turn-on energy so high that light is
generated when current flows through it.
Meg- (M) A prefix used in the metric system. It means a million of something.
Micro- (μ) A prefix used in the metric system. It means one millionth (0.000001) of something.
Milli- (m) A prefix used in the metric system. It means one thousandth (0.001) of something.
NAND Gate A type of digital circuit which gives a HIGH output if some of its inputs are LOW.
NOR Gate A type of digital circuit which gives a HIGH output if none of its inputs are HIGH.
Ohm, (Ω) The unit of measure for resistance.
OR Gate A type of digital circuit which gives a HIGH output if any of its inputs are HIGH.
Oscillator A circuit that uses feedback to generate an AC output.
Printed Circuit Board A board used for mounting electrical components. Components are connected using
metal traces “printed” on the board instead of wires.
Resistance
The electrical friction between an electric current and the material it is flowing through;
the loss of energy from electrons as they move between atoms of the material.
Resistor
Components used to control the flow of electricity in a circuit. They are made of carbon.
Schematic A drawing of an electrical circuit that uses symbols for all the components.
Semiconductor A material that has more resistance than conductors but less than insulators. It is
used to construct diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits.
Series When electrical components are connected one after the other.
Short Circuit When wires from different parts of a circuit (or different circuits) connect accidentally.
Solder A tin-lead metal that becomes a liquid when heated to above 360 degrees. In addition
to having low resistance like other metals, solder also provides a strong mounting that
can withstand shocks.
Switch A device to connect (“closed” or “on”) or disconnect (“open” or “off”) wires in an
electric circuit.
Voltage A measure of how strong an electric charge across a material is.
Voltage Divider A resistor configuration to create a lower voltage.
Volts (V) The unit of measure for voltage.
(6 pages)
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