What's the, um, aim in electronics?

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Hi all,

a question from a total eletronics newbie...

Generally speaking, when it comes to electric circuits, is it fair to
say that they all work by manipulating the current?

For example, the purpose of a resistor (correct me if I'm wrong) is to
provide a potential difference of specific magnitude between two
points. Since the potential difference and the current are related, the
ultimate purpose of this is to manipulate the current.

Or is this incorrect?

thanks in advance...

 

[[email protected]]

Hi all,

a question from a total eletronics newbie...

Generally speaking, when it comes to electric circuits, is it fair to
say that they all work by manipulating the current?

That's like asking, "When it comes to writing books, is it fair to say
that they all work by manipulating words?"

 

[PeteS]

Hi all,

a question from a total eletronics newbie...

Generally speaking, when it comes to electric circuits, is it fair to
say that they all work by manipulating the current?

For example, the purpose of a resistor (correct me if I'm wrong) is to
provide a potential difference of specific magnitude between two
points. Since the potential difference and the current are related, the
ultimate purpose of this is to manipulate the current.

Or is this incorrect?

thanks in advance...

The aim is to make something that:

a. Works
b. Does something useful (1)

A resistor resists the flow of current. (2) As to what it may be *used*
for, that's a different matter.

No, circuits do not always work by manipulating current; they may
manipulate voltage (it's just as easy to make a constant current as a
constant voltage).

In general, circuits do useful things by varying voltage and/or
current, but as another posted, that's analogous to saying books are
written by joining letters to form words.

(1). Useful can be useful personally, or useful as determined by people
wishing to buy it; it's rather subjective.

(2) Real devices, whether they be resistors or something else, do not
completely conform to ideal equations, although the base equations are
suitable _most_ of the time.

Cheers

PeteS

 

[Tom Biasi]

That's like asking, "When it comes to writing books, is it fair to say
that they all work by manipulating words?"

I like that analogy, very good.

Tom

 

[[email protected]]

Hi all,

a question from a total eletronics newbie...

Generally speaking, when it comes to electric circuits, is it fair to
say that they all work by manipulating the current?

For example, the purpose of a resistor (correct me if I'm wrong) is to
provide a potential difference of specific magnitude between two
points. Since the potential difference and the current are related, the
ultimate purpose of this is to manipulate the current.

In cathode ray tubes the electron beam is moved by a varying potential
(or voltage) so the control circuitry does not manipulate a current but
a voltage. The same principal applies to LCD displays.

As a total newbie I hope you will get down to the most enjoyable part
of the hobby and get making gadgets and enjoy the thrill of creating
things that work.

Look at website www.geocities.com/sirkituk to find a practical approach
to learning electronics from the basics.

 

[PeteS]

I like that analogy, very good.

Tom

Indeed better than many; for from this we can tell the story that
designing electronic equipment is like writing a book - one must first
have a story in mind and then make the circuitry to tell the story.

Cheers

PeteS