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    • Resistor as a CONVERTOR
    • Controling Current with Resistance
    • Mr. OHM's LAW
    • Transistor: Controlling Current with Current
    • Energy = Work + Losses
    • Effects RLC
      ALSO SEE   IRE Page:

    I n t u i t i v e Ideas E l e c t r o n i c s
    Intuitive Electricity____

    [Reason for this Page]

    Voltage E   VOLT Electrons exerting a Potential Force
    Current I   AMP A Flow of Electrons
    Resistance R   OHM A Real Physical Property
    Power P   WATT Electrons flowing through a Resistance

    Of these entities, Resistance is the only real physical property; the rest--for the most part--are the result of their encounter with Resistance. 

    Resistance is the property of a material to resist the flow of Electrons.

    Everything has this resistive property: Air resists greatly the flow of electrons, but they do flow --especially if you are swinging a "nine-iron" on a hilltop, under low hanging dark clouds in the summertime!

    Copper wire also resists the flow of electrons--but not very effectively.

    Superconductors are the only materials that DO NOT resist the flow of electrons.

    Speaking of the flow of electrons, that is the definition of Current.

    And, you guessed it: Electrons exert a potential force measured in VOLTS and--you're ahead of me--is called Voltage.

    WOW, that was easy, we've covered it all in a few short sentences!

    ------------------

    O p p s !

    Oh yea--except for POWER.

    POWER, is the result of VOLTS, AMPS, and OHMS, all getting together!

    That is, the Energy released by Electrons (I) flowing through a Resistance (R), the number of which being determined by the Electron potential (E). [I = E/R]   [P = E x I] 

    OK, you have a 100 Watt light bulb in a drop cord (Drop Light); You plug it in to the 120 VOLT wall outlet and turn it on. 

    The light bulb offers a resistance to the 120 volt (electron potential) flow of electrons coming out of the wall socket--they're just sitting there doing nothing, until they find a path Home... 

    If the light bulb's resistance is too low the fuse will blow! 

    If the light bulb's resistance is too high, not much will happen; 

    But, if the light bulb's resistance is "Just Right," it will consume 100 WATTS of Power, to produce energy in the form of light; also, it gets hot as Hell--put your tongue on it, you'll see what I mean. 

    The light bulb/Resistor performed a useful function: it put out light to read by, and it also produced Heat. Heat that is thought of as "Loss," is technically still light, but at a wavelength few can read by. 

    And, by the way, that drop cord (Drop Light) is also resistive and will get warm, which is Loss--wasted energy. 

    NEXT  L O A D  Based Analysis of Transistors
    Hear what Mrs R.J. of Duluth had to say:
    "That LOAD certainly made my flowers Grow."
    ..--
    ...
    --

    Controling Current with Resistance

    Switch: 
    Ron = Very Low; Roff = Very High

    Relay: 
    Ron = Very Low; Roff = Very High

    Light Switch Light Switch & Relay
    Rheostat 
    (Variable Resistor)
    Transistor 
    (Variable Resistor)
    Reostat
    Transistor-mic & light
    ..
    Mr. OHM's LAW
    .--
    ...
    --
    Transistor: Controlling Current with Current
    Transistor & Pull-down Load
    Notice that the Resistor in the BASE is acting as a Voltage to Current Convertor
    ..--
    ...
    --

    Energy = Work + Losses

    Gravity + Air Drag + Friction + Heat = Loss

    battery-motor-generator-motor = Work
    ..--
    .
    --

     Capacitors: What are they Good For? 

      Inductors: What are they Good For? 

     Z = construction 

    ..--
    --.
    This page is dedicated to all those who, after finishing "n" years of Engineering School, now want to know: "What tha Hell was that all about?"

    I intend to Start at the Light Switch, and go from there!

    Ohm's Law 

      Resistors:
      What are they good for anyway?
      It's role as a Current to Voltage Convertor, and as a Voltage to Current Convertor.
      Capacitors:
      What is a Capacitor if not a poor storage battery? 
      Inductors:
      When is an Inductor an Inductor and when is it a Magnet? 
      Transistors:
      So what is a Transistor if not a Variable Resistor--Fast, but nevertheless, a Resistor?
                  [TOP]

    Concepts:

    Coming soon!
    Impedance
       Resistance 
       Reactances
    Offset & Bias 
    A.C. Coupling 
    D.C. (Direct)Coupling 
    D.C. Restoration 
    Gain 

    ..

    Listen to the Effects RLC as Different Filters ra-player
    Frequency selective impedance
    ...
    .

    Resistor as a CONVERTOR

    CURRENT to VOLTAGE  |  |  VOLTAGE to CURRENT
    1)_ You have a 12 volt car battery. 

    2)_ You connect  two 6 volt 25 Watt bulbs in series across the battery. 

        2a_ Bulb: 6 Volts, 25 Watts = 1.44 OHMS = 4.166 AMPS (1.44 x 4.166 = 6) 

    3)_ Measure the voltage across both bulbs: you will measure 6 volts across each. 
          (R = 2.88 OHMS, I = 4.166 AMPS) 

    4)_ Now place another 6 volt 25 Watt bulb in parallel with either bulb--say the 
          bulb closest to ground. (R = 2.16 OHMS, I = 5.55 AMPS) 

    5)_ Again measure the voltage across both bulbs: 

    6)_ The single bulb (top) will measure   8    volts.  (1.44 OHMS) 

    7)_ The two bulbs (bottom) will measure   4    volts.   (0.72 OHMS) 

    8)_ Of course both voltages will equal   12    volts. 
     

    DISCUSSION: 
    If we think of the bulbs as resistors (they are within reason), notice that there is 6 volts dropped across one bulb in the first example. 

    In the second example, when the second bulb is added, more current is made to flow, and the voltage across the single bulb went from 6 volts to 8 volts. 

    In both cases the single bulb (resistor) is CONVERTING the CURRENT to a VOLTAGE: The more current the more voltage.

        Example #1: 4.166 AMPS across 1.44 OHMS = 6 Volts 

        Example #2: 5.55 AMPS across 1.44 OHMS = 8 Volts 
     

    CONVERTING the VOLTAGE to a CURRENT: 
    Notice that adding the second bulb in parallel increased the Current; conversely, taking away that bulb will decrease the current.

    So changing the total resistance across the 12 Volt battery has converted a fixed VOLTAGE to a changing CURRENT. 

    ALSO SEE   IRE Page

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