General Electronic terms-P
Positive ion
Atom that has lost one or more
valence electrons.
Potential difference
Voltage difference between two
points which causes current to flow in a closed
circuit.
Peak
Maximum or highest amplitude level.
Phase
Angular relationship between two
waves.
Photoconductive cell
Material whose resistance decreases
and conductance increases on being exposed to light.
Photo detector
Component used to detect or sense
light.
Photometer
Meter used to calculate light
intensity.
Photon
A particle of light.
Photo resistor
Also known as a photoconductive
cell or light dependent resistor. An electronic
component whose resistance is inversely proportional to
the intensity of incident light
Photovoltaic cell
Commonly called a solar
cell used to convert light energy into electrical
energy.
Piezoelectric effect
the direct conversion of electrical
to mechanical energy or vice versa in some crystalline
materials. Converts mechanical energy into electrical
energy and electrical energy into mechanical energy.
Pnp transistor
A bipolar junction transistor with
an n-type base and p-type emitter and collector.
Pole
In an active filter, a single RC
circuit.
Polarity
Used to describe positive and
negative charges.
Positive charge
having a higher electric potential
Potential energy
Energy that has potential to do
work & has potential to be converted into other forms of
energy, such as kinetic energy.
Potentiometer
A variable resistor with three
terminals.
Power
The amount of work done per unit of
time.Measured in units of watts. (joules/second).
Power amplifier
An amplifier designed to give
maximum power output to a load.
Power dissipation
Amount of heat energy generated by
a device in one second when current flows from it.
Power loss
Ratio of power absorbed to power
delivered.
Power supply
Electrical equipment used to
deliver either AC or DC voltage.
Primary
First winding of a transformer.
Printed circuit board -PCB
a thin plate on which chips and
other electronic components are placed
Propagation
Movement of electromagnetic,
electrical or sound waves through a medium.
Pulse
Rise and fall of some quantity for a period of time.
Pulse fall time
Time for a pulse to decrease from
90% of its peak value to 10% of its peak value.
Pulse rise time
Time required for a pulse to
increase from 10% of its peak value to 90% of its peak
value.
Pass band
The range of frequencies that will
be allowed and amplified by a tuned amplifier.
Passive component
Component that does not amplify a
signal.
Passive filter
A filter that contains only passive
or non amplifying components
