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Active and Passive Electrical Components

This document discusses the differences between active and passive electronic components. Active components can control electric current through another signal, such as transistors, integrated circuits, and diodes. Passive components cannot control current and include resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transformers. The document provides examples of common active and passive components and describes their basic functions.

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418 views

Active and Passive Electrical Components

This document discusses the differences between active and passive electronic components. Active components can control electric current through another signal, such as transistors, integrated circuits, and diodes. Passive components cannot control current and include resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transformers. The document provides examples of common active and passive components and describes their basic functions.

Uploaded by

Hannah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Active and Passive Electronic Components

Active and Passive Electronic Components are two classes of electronic components. Both these classes
of electronic components are different from each other. This article explains all about active and passive
electronic components with examples and the difference between the two.

What are Active Electronic Components?


Active electronic components are those that can control the flow of electricity. Different Types of Printed
Circuit Boards have at least one active component. Some examples of active electronic components
are transistor, vacuum tubes, silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs).

Complete List of Active Electronic Components


Here is complete list of most common and widely used Active Electronic Components. I have not
mentioned the Obsolete Components.

 Diodes (All)  Transistors (All)


 Rectifier Diode  Photo Transistor
 Schottky Diode  Darlington Transistor
 Zener Diode  Compound Transistor
 Unipolar / Bipolar Diode  Field-Effect Transistor (FET)
 Varicap  JFET (Junction Field-Effect Transistor)
 Varactor  MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET)
 Light-Emitting Diode (LED)  Thyristors
 Solar PV Cell, PV Panel  Composit Transistors

 Integrated Circuits (All)  CRT / LCD / VFD / TFT / LED


 Digital Circuit  Vacuum Tubes
 Analog Circuit  Rectifier Tubes
 Hall Effect Sensor  Emitters
 Current Sensor  Gas discharge tube
 BGA Packages  Ignitron
 Processor  Thyratron
 Power ICs  Battery / Power Supply
 Optoelectronic Components  Electric Generator

What are Passive Electronic Components?


Passive electronic components are those that don’t have the ability to control electric current by means of
another electrical signal. Examples of passive electronic components are capacitors, resistors, inductors,
transformers, and diodes. These can be either Thru-Hole of SMD Components.

Complete List of Passive Electronic Components


Here is complete list of most common and widely used Passive Electronic Components. I have not
mentioned the Obsolete Components.

Basic Components Electromechanical Components


 Resistors (All Types)  Piezoelectric devices
 Capacitors (All Types)  Crystals
 Inductors / Coil  Resonators
 Memristor / Network  Terminals and Connectors
 Sensors  Cables
 Detectors  Switches
 Transducers  Circuit Protection Devices
 Antennas  PCB
 Assembly Modules  Mechanical Devices such as a Fan, Lamp

What is a Resistor?
A Resistor is an electrical device that resists the flow of electrical current. It is a passive device used to
control, or impede the flow of, electric current in an electric circuit by providing resistance, thereby
developing a drop in voltageacross the device.
What is a Capacitor?
A capacitor is a passive electrical component that can store energy in the electric field between a pair of
conductors called “plates”. The process of storing energy in the capacitor is known as “charging“. The
ability of a capacitor to store charge is measured by its capacitance.
Capacitors are used in electronic circuits as energy storage devices. They are also be used to differentiate
between high-frequency and low-frequency signals. A wide variety of capacitors are available, including
electrolytic capacitors, basic parallel-plate capacitors, and mechanical variable capacitors.

What is a Diode?
A diode is a one-way valve for electricity. Diodes allow flow of electricity in one direction. Most diodes
have a painted line on one end showing the direction or flow. The negative side is normally white.

What is an Integrated Circuit (IC)?


Integrated Circuits (ICs) are package of several complex circuits. ICs are available in a wide variety of
packages and sizes. Their applications are as varied as their packages.
What are Transistors?
A transistor is a semiconductor device. It is the fundamental building block of the circuitry in mobile
phones, computers, and several other electronic devices. A transistor has very fast response and is used
in a number of functions including voltage regulation, amplification, switching, signal modulation, and
oscillators.
Transistors may be packaged individually or they can be a part of an integrated circuit. Some of the ICs
have billion of transistors in a very small area.
Circuit Symbols of Active and Passive Electronic
Components

Active and Passive Electronic Components


Electronic components, both active and passive, are lifeline of any Printed Circuit Board assembly. They both
play vital roles in the functioning of any electronic device. Electronic Components are intended to be
connected together, usually by soldering to a printed circuit board (PCB), to create an electronic circuit
with a particular function.

There is the difference between active and passivecomponents are given


below table.
Active components Passive components

The active component is a device which Passive component is a device which control or
can amplify the output signal of electronic circuit modify the output of the electronic circuit without
with more power in it than the input signal. playing an active role in its performance.

Active component deliver power or energy to the The passive element employs the power or
circuit. energy in the circuit.

It includes the electrical components such as It includes the electrical components such
diodes, transistors, integrated circuits (ICs), as resistors, capacitors, inductors, conductors
battery and etc. and transformers.

It can control the flow of current. It cannot control the flow of current.

It may introduce the gain. It does not introduce any gain.

It does not require any external source for the


It requires external source for the operations. operations.

Generally it has unidirectional functions. It has bidirectional function.

It is widely used in MP3 player, washing machine


It is widely used in personal computers (PC). and etc.

Difference Between Active and Passive Components


The active and passive components are differentiated on various factors like nature of the source, its functions,
power gain, controlling the flow of current. Various examples of the component, nature of the energy,
requirement of the external resistance. The Difference Between Active and Passive Components is given
below in the tabulated form.

Comparison Chart
BASIS ACTIVE COMPONENTS PASSIVE COMPONENT

Nature of source Active components deliver power or Passive elements utilizes power or energy
energy to the circuit. in the circuit.

Examples Diodes, Transistors, SCR, Integrated Resistor, Capacitor, Inductor etc.


circuits etc.

Function of the Devices which produce energy in the form Devices which stores energy in the form
component of voltage or current. of voltage or current.

Power Gain They are capable of providing power gain. They are incapable of providing power
gain.

Flow of current Active components can control the flow of Passive components cannot control the
current. flow of the current.

Requirement of They require an external source for the They do not require any external source
external source operations. for the operations.

Nature of energy Active components are energy donor. Passive components are energy acceptor.
In this article difference between Active and Passive components are explained considering various
points. Active components are the elements or devices which are capable of providing or delivers energy to the
circuit. Passive components are the devices which do not require any external source for the operation and are
capable of storing energy in the form of voltage or current in the circuit.

The Difference Between Active and Passive Components are as follows:-


 Active components are those who delivers or produce energy or power in the form of a voltage or current. Passive
components are those who utilises or store energy in the form of voltage or current.
 Examples of the active components are Diodes, transistors, SCR, integrated circuits, etc. similarly examples of the
passive components are resistor, capacitor and inductor.
 Active components are capable of providing the power gain, whereas the passive components are not capable of
providing the power gain.
 Active components can control the flow of current, but the passive components cannot control the flow of the current.
 Active components are energy donor, whereas the passive components are energy acceptor.
 The active component requires an external source for the operation, whereas the passive components do not require
any external source for the operations.

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