The Transistor

For more mini-films in this series see http://www.vega.org.uk At the heart of our high-tech society with radios, mobile phones, computers and space exploration are tiny electronic components called transistors. They have revolutionised electronics and in the process the world we interact in. The Internet for example would be inconceivable without the transistor. With very simple demonstrations we show how the transistor works and its amazing amplifying action.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Transistors
• Jonathan Hare
• Vega Science Trust
• Rough Science

[fishingthewatershed]

You have a great teaching style.

[DeanC993]

graet video Jonathon!

[tangnatalaga]

@dredericktotem1245 All explanation of the transistor is misleading because it was coined as an amplifier, when if fact the resistance of the transistors collector/emitter jucntion is just changing in proportion to the base input. No energy is gained in fact a lot of energy is wasted in the process in the form of heat. An audio amplifier waste so much electricity as heat. You probably get less than half as music. A modern class D audio amp gets 90% effiency tho.

[tangnatalaga]

@dredericktotem1245 All explanation of transistor is misleading because of the term amplify and magnify. What I meant by supply voltage is what powers the transistor itself and yes that same voltage that power it is also the output. The output can be derived either from the collector or the emmiter of the transistor. That same voltage that power up the transistor is what is being controlled by whatever signal you put in the base.

[dredericktotem1245]

@tangnatalaga Yes I'm thinking this video is misleading if you are correct, is it not? Like you say, energy cannot be created nor destroyed - so how the hell does the input signal AMPLIFY (or increase) the output? I assume "output" is what you mean when you use the term "supply voltage" right? Please correct me if I'm wrong. What I'm understanding is the input signal effectively controls the "shape" of the output. Correct? Why is the output termed "resistance" , though?

[tangnatalaga]

@darkwhitty I will explain it better than him. A transistor does not really amplify nor magnify. Energy cannot be destroyed nor created remember. That's including electricity. All a transistor does is allow a voltage to be controlled by a much smaller voltage. In a class A amplifier the supply voltage will "swing" in the same shape as the input signal. So you get an audio amp, but the input signal was just used to "drive" the supply voltage. Nothing was really gained or lost.

[darkwhitty]

2 other videos and a website failed to explain to me in simple terms what a transistor is. This video succeeded. I honestly believe that if you can't explain something in simple basic terms then you don't fully understand it.

[happygamestvfun1]

wont doing that cuase cancer? or you boobs to sag?

[MonsieurCheckers]

this is the best video on the explanation of transistors. the others are way too complicated for my elementary computer science skills ( i am taking an intro course) and it seems that the people who made them lack great communication skills that this man provides. thank you so much- you are a great teacher

[furulevi]

why this nice circuit isn't working with a 3 volt bulb?

[00ultimate00]

very good explain

[jovanovicoliver]

nice,thank you