7.1.3. DIFFERENTIATION OF COMPONENTS

In order to be able to have a good general view of all electronic components we devide the whole lot into groups. The first of those groups is the group of PASSIVE COMPONENTS.

They are called passive, because they are only reacting on the signal connected to them. They do not control any other value. Examples of those passive components are the resistor, the capacitor, and the inductor. In most of those cases a passive component will have only two wires - but a few of the other groups have two terminals too. The second group of components are the ACTIVE COMPONENTS.

They are called active, because they control currents or voltages on their own, according to “orders”. Examples of those active components are diodes, transistors and thyristors. Except the diode all of them have more than two terminals.