The Structure and Properties of Matter

The Structure and Properties of Matter - The Uses of Different Materials According to Their
Properties and Structures: Electronic Devices

Objective
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to relate the properties and structures of
electronic devices to their uses.

In the age of technology, almost everyone owns a device that has electronic devices, such
as capacitors, inductors, and resistors.

Have you ever wondered what materials make up the electronic devices?

Last Updated: 08.12.16

Learn about it!

Electronic devices are components for controlling the flow of electrons or electricity.
Common examples include capacitors, inductors, and resistors. They are often small
and combined into packages called integrated circuits.

Capacitors

A capacitor stores electrical energy temporarily in an electric field. It has two electrical
plates separated by a dielectric. The dielectric is an insulator that stores energy when
polarized.

The electrical plates are made of conductive materials, such as metals and
electrolytes. On the other hand, the nonconducting dielectrics are often made of
ceramic, plastic film, and glass.
Example
Film capacitors are the most common type of capacitors. Their dielectrics are made of
plastic films, such as polystyrene. Polystyrene, a synthetic polymer made from the
monomer styrene, has no free flowing electrons, so it has superior insulating properties.

On the other hand, metals like aluminum are used as electrical plates in film
capacitors. Metals have free flowing electrons, so they are good conductors of electricity.
Long thin strips of the metal foil with the dielectric material are sandwiched together
and then wound into a tight roll.

Learn about it!

Inductors

An inductor resists changes in electric current passing through it. It is often comprised
of conductors wound into a magnetic core. When an electric current passes through its
coil, it produces a magnetic field, which in turn produces electric current. In other
words, an inductor stores energy on the basis of reactive magnetic flux.

Example
A typical inductor has copper wires, which are good electrical conductors, wound
around a magnetic iron or ferrite core. Ferrites are ceramic materials comprised of
iron oxides combined with nickel, zinc, or manganese compounds. They have high
magnetic permeability and high electrical resistivity.
Learn about it!
Resistors

A resistor reduces the amount of current and lowers the voltage levels within circuits.
The reduction in current or voltage results in the transformation of electrical energy into
heat. A resistor is necessary in devices that need circuit adjustments, such as those that
need control of volume or dimming of light.
Example
The most common type of resistor is the carbon resistors, which are cheap general
purpose resistors. They are mainly composed of a mixture of conducting graphite or
carbon powder and a nonconducting ceramic powder.

The resistive value of the resistor depends on the ratio of graphite to ceramic (conductor
to insulator). If the amount of carbon is higher, then the overall resistance is lower. The
mixture is then placed in an insulating material with metal wires connected to each end.

What do you think?

Why do scientists and engineers need to study the properties of different materials used
in electronic devices?

Key Points
 Electronic devices are components for controlling the flow of electrons or
electricity.
 A capacitor stores electrical energy temporarily in an electric field. It has two
electrical plates separated by a dielectric. The dielectric is an insulator that stores
energy when polarized.
  An inductor resists changes in electric current passing through it. It is often
comprised of conductors wound into a magnetic core.
 A resistor reduces the amount of current and lowers the voltage levels within
circuits. It is often comprised of a mixture of conductors and insulators.

Question 1
Which of the following are components for controlling the flow of electrons?

Correct!
4electronic devices
Electronic devices are materials that control the flow of electrons. Common examples include
capacitors and resistors.

Next question
1electrical devices2electric current3electric power

Question 2
Which of the following materials resists changes in electric current passing through it?

Incorrect!
3resistor
An inductor resists changes in electric current passing through it. It is often comprised of conductors
wound into a magnetic core.

Next question
1inductor2capacitor4transistor

Question 3
Which of the following stores electrical energy temporarily in an electric field?

Correct!
3capacitor
A capacitor is an electronic device which controls electricity by storing it temporarily in an electric
field.

Next question
1inductor2resistor4transistor

Question 4
Which of the following are true about the electrical plates in a capacitor?
Correct!
2They are separated by a dielectric.4They are made of conductive materials.
A capacitor has two electrical plates separated by a dielectric. The plates are made of conductive
materials, such as metals and electrolytes.

Next question
1They are made of electrical insulators.3They are attached with screws.

Question 5
What are the functions of a resistor?

Correct!
3reduce the amount of current4lower the voltage levels
A resistor reduces the amount of current and lowers the voltage levels within circuits. The reduction
in current or voltage results in the transformation of electrical energy into heat.

Next question
1increase the flow of electrons2resist the change in electric current

Question 6
Which of the following can be used as a dielectric?

Incorrect!
2electrolyte
The dielectric is an insulator that stores energy when polarized. It is made of nonconducting
materials such as ceramic and glass.

Next question
1glass3metal4ceramic

Question 7
Which of the following are true about ferrites?

Incorrect!
3They have no free flowing electrons, so they have superior insulating properties.
Ferrites are ceramic materials often used as the core of inductors. They are comprised of iron oxides
combined with nickel, zinc, or manganese compounds. They have high magnetic permeability and
high electrical resistivity.

Next question
2They are ceramic materials comprised of iron oxides combined with nickel, zinc, or
manganese compounds.1They have high magnetic permeability and high electrical
resistivity.4They are mainly composed of a mixture of conducting graphite or carbon
powder and a nonconducting ceramic powder.

Question 8
Resistors X and Y are carbon resistors. The ratio of graphite to ceramic in Resistor X is greater
than one. However, for Resistor Y, that ratio is less than one.

Which of the following is true about Resistors X and Y?

Incorrect!
2The overall resistance of Resistors X and Y are equal.
The resistive value of the resistor depends on the ratio of graphite to ceramic (conductor to
insulator). When there is more conductor than insulator (graphite/ceramic >1), then the overall
resistance is lower.

Next question
1The overall resistance of Resistor X is higher than that of Resistor Y.3The overall
resistance of Resistor X is lower than that of Resistor Y.4The overall resistance of Resistors
X and Y cannot be compared from the given data.

Question 9
Substance A is sandwiched between two electrical plates in a film capacitor.

What type of material is Substance A possibly made of?

Correct!
1polystyrene
Film capacitors have dielectrics often made of plastic films, such as polystyrene. Polystyrene, a
synthetic polymer made from the monomer styrene, has no free flowing electrons, so it has superior
insulating properties.

Next question
2aluminum3ferrite4copper

Question 10
Substance X is wound into a magnetic core. When electricity passes through it, reactive magnetic
fluxes are generated.

What type of material is Substance X possibly made of?

Incorrect!
1polystyrene
A typical inductor has copper wires, which are good electrical conductors, wound around a magnetic
iron or ferrite core. When an electric current passes through the coil, it produces a magnetic field,
which in turn produces electric current.

Finish quiz
2ferrite3copper4iron