Linear | Active And Passive Devices

What are electrical elements

All those elements provide, consume, transfer, or control the electrical energy. Called the electrical elements.

Classification of electrical elements

There are many types of electrical elements, but some main classifications are —

1.On the basis of energy transfer

There are two types of electrical elements on the basis of energy transfer

1. Source

2. Load

Source– those elements which provide supply in the circuit are called source.

Load– those elements that consume energy in the circuit are called Load.

Here, you are thinking about what I am saying about source and load. Does anyone know about source and load? but it is not easy to say which are the sources and which are loads in any element of the circuit. actually, source and load are determined by the direction of voltage and current. If the direction of voltage and source are the same in any element, then that element is called the Source in that circuit. And if the direction of voltage and current are opposite in any elements, then it is called the Load.

2. On the basis of waveform

Active Components or Active Elements

Active components are devices that require an external power source to operate and can inject energy into a circuit. They have the ability to amplify signals, control current flow, and perform switching functions. Some common active components include

Some common active components include:

Transistors: These semiconductor devices are the building blocks of modern electronics, used in amplifiers, switches, and digital circuits.
Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps): These are versatile components used for signal amplification, filtering, and mathematical operations.
Diodes (in some contexts): While diodes are generally considered passive for their unidirectional behavior, certain semiconductor diodes (like laser diodes or LEDs) require a biasing current and are thus sometimes classified as active elements in specific applications.
Integrated Circuits (ICs): Complex circuits fabricated on a single semiconductor chip containing numerous active and passive components.

Characteristics and Applications

Active components play a vital role in modern electronics because they can control larger amounts of power and perform signal processing tasks that passive components cannot. Their applications include:

Amplification: In audio, radio, and communication circuits, amplifiers increase the strength of signals.
Switching: Transistors and other semiconductor devices are fundamental in digital electronics, where they act as on/off switches.
Signal Processing: Operational amplifiers and specialized ICs help in filtering, conditioning, and converting signals.
Oscillation: Active circuits can generate periodic signals used in clocks and radio frequency applications.

The ability to control and amplify signals makes active components indispensable in nearly every electronic device, from simple gadgets to sophisticated computing systems.

The graph of the active component is a- -ve slope and lies in the 2nd / 4th quadrant.

Passive Components or Passive Elements

Passive components can’t process and can’t amplify the electrical signal. Passive components don’t deliver or control the power, they consume the power. Those elements can’t change the waveform of electrical energy, called Passive elements.

These components cannot amplify or introduce energy into a circuit. Instead, they store, dissipate, or control energy.

The graph of the Passive component lies in the 1st /3rd quadrant and +ve slope

For example, resistors (R), inductors (L), and capacitors are Passive components. All possible electrical components except R, L, and C are active components.

Resistors: These components oppose the flow of current, dissipating energy as heat. Their resistance, measured in ohms ( $Ω$ ), determines the amount of opposition.
Capacitors: Capacitors store electrical energy in an electric field. Their capacitance, measured in farads (F), indicates their ability to store charge.
Inductors: Inductors store energy in a magnetic field when current flows through them. Their inductance, measured in henries (H), relates to their ability to oppose changes in current.
Passive components play crucial roles in filtering, timing, and impedance matching within circuits.

3. On the basis of V-I Characteristics

Linear Elements (We also say Ohmic Elements)

A linear circuit is one whose parameters are constant with the time also, they do not change with voltage or current & circuit follows Ohm’s Law. V-I characteristics of a linear circuit is a straight line.

Resistors, capacitors, Transformers, and Inductors are Linear components.

Non-Linear Elements (It is also called Non-Ohmic elements)

A Non-Linear circuit or non-linear element is one whose parameters vary with time and change with voltage and current, and also they don’t follow Ohm’s Law. V-I characteristics of the non-linear circuit is not a straight line.

Transistors and diodes are non-linear elements.

4. Unilateral and Bilateral

Unilateral Element/Component

If the polarity of the voltage is changed, then the characteristics of V-I is also changed, then the element is bilateral. In Unilateral, if I change the terminal of that component, then the properties of the circuit change. For example,e a diode – if we connect a diode by changing its terminals, then current flowing stopped because diode conducts current in only one direction, so direction and properties of that circuit will be changed. so I can say that a diode is a Unilateral element.

All semiconductor devices are unilateral, but DIAC is Bilateral.

Bilateral Element/Component

Bilateral circuit- If the polarity of the voltage is changed, then the characteristics of V-I remain the same, then the element is bilateral. circuit is that circuit whose properties don’t change with the direction. In the Bilateral element, the voltage-current relation is not the same for both directions. This means if the element changed in the other direction, then the voltage and current relation don’t change. For example, a resistor- if I connect any resistor with changed terminals, then I see no effect on the system. The best example of a bilateral element is a transmission line or any conducting wire. If I connect the wire by the changing of its terminals. Then, no change occurs in the circuit.

In the case of the generalized plane, the characteristics of the Bilateral element is always Symmetrical about the origin.

Note – All linear elements are bilateral but the reverse is not true.

Also Read

Resistor working | Color Code Of Resistor | SMD Resistor Code

Resistor Color Code

Active | Passive | Linear | Non-Linear | Unilateral | Bilateral Elements