Electronics

/kəˈpæsɪtər/

noun … “Component that stores and releases electrical energy.”

Capacitor is a passive electronic component that stores energy in an electric field between two conductive plates separated by a dielectric material. Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for energy storage, filtering, signal coupling, timing, and voltage regulation. They can respond rapidly to changes in voltage, making them essential for stabilizing power supplies and shaping signals.

Key characteristics of Capacitor include:

/rɪˈzɪstər/

noun … “Component that limits current flow.”

Resistor is a passive electronic component that restricts the flow of electric current in a circuit, converting electrical energy into heat. Resistors are fundamental in controlling voltage, setting current levels, dividing voltages, and protecting sensitive components. They are typically made from materials with precise resistance values, such as carbon film, metal film, or wire-wound elements.

Key characteristics of Resistor include:

/ˌeɪ ˈsiː/

noun … “Electric current that periodically reverses direction.”

AC, short for Alternating Current, is a type of electrical current in which the flow of electric charge reverses direction periodically, typically in a sinusoidal waveform. AC is the standard form of electricity delivered by power grids because it can be easily transformed to different voltages for efficient long-distance transmission.

/ˌdiː ˈsiː/

noun … “Electric current that flows in one direction.”

DC, short for Direct Current, is a type of electrical current in which electric charge flows consistently in a single direction. Unlike alternating current, where the direction of flow periodically reverses, DC maintains constant polarity, making it especially suitable for electronic circuits, digital systems, and energy storage.

/ˈmɒs ˌfɛt/

noun — "the switch that drives modern electronics."

MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) is a voltage-controlled transistor widely used in digital and analog circuits, including microprocessors, memory devices, power electronics, and RF amplifiers. MOSFETs are a subtype of field-effect transistors (FET) that use an insulated gate to control current flow between the source and drain, offering high input impedance, fast switching, and scalable performance.

/ˈdʒiː ˌɛf ˈiː ˈtiː/

noun — "the voltage-controlled transistor for analog circuits."

JFET (Junction Field-Effect Transistor) is a type of field-effect transistor (FET) that uses a reverse-biased p-n junction to control current flow through a semiconductor channel. Unlike bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), JFETs are voltage-controlled devices, offering high input impedance, low noise, and simple operation, making them ideal for amplifiers, switches, and analog signal processing.

/ˈsiː ˌɛm ˈoʊ ˌɛs/

noun — "the backbone of modern digital circuits."

CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) is a semiconductor technology widely used for constructing integrated circuits, including microprocessors, memory chips, and analog devices. CMOS circuits utilize complementary pairs of p-type and n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (FET) to achieve high efficiency, low static power consumption, and scalability for complex digital logic.

/ˌɡæl iəm ˈɐr səˌnaɪd/

noun — "the high-speed semiconductor of choice for RF and optoelectronics."

GaAs (Gallium Arsenide) is a III-V compound semiconductor widely used in high-frequency, high-speed, and optoelectronic devices. Its direct bandgap of approximately 1.42 eV allows efficient light emission, making it ideal for LEDs, laser diodes, photodetectors, and solar cells. Additionally, its high electron mobility and saturation velocity outperform silicon in radio frequency (RF) and microwave applications.

/ˌæl ɡæ əˈs/

noun — "the tunable semiconductor for optoelectronics."

AlGaAs (Aluminum Gallium Arsenide) is a compound semiconductor formed by combining aluminum arsenide (AlAs) and gallium arsenide (GaAs). By adjusting the relative composition of aluminum and gallium, engineers can precisely control the material’s bandgap, lattice constant, and optical properties. This tunability makes AlGaAs widely used in high-speed electronics, light-emitting diodes (LED), laser diodes, and photovoltaic devices.

/ɡæn/

noun — "the semiconductor powering high-efficiency electronics."