What are Passive Components?

Passive components are integral components of electronics assembly. They do not generate electrical signals, but are used to either store, dissipate, or regulate energy in an electrical circuit. Passive components can be split into 3 main categories, which include resistors, capacitors, and inductors. 

Five Major Types of Passive Components and Their Applications

Passive components are integral components of electronics assembly. They do not generate electrical signals, but are used to either store, dissipate, or regulate energy in an electrical circuit. There are several different types of passive components, each with its own unique characteristics and applications. Here are a few things about some of the most common types of passive components:

Capacitors: These passive components are used to store and release electrical energy. They consist of two metal plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. Capacitors are commonly used in filtering, timing, and energy storage applications. They are measured in farads (F) and are known for their ability to smooth out voltage changes in circuits.

Inductors: Inductors are components that store energy in a magnetic field when current flows through them. They are usually made by winding a wire into a coil. Inductors are used in filters, power supplies, and tuning circuits. Their value is measured in henrys (H). They are known for their ability to resist sudden changes in current.

Thermistors: These fuel cells use an alkaline electrolyte (usually potassium hydroxide) and were among the first types of fuel cells to be developed. They are primarily used in niche applications such as spacecraft and submarines.

Varistors: Varistors are components that change their resistance based on voltage. When the voltage is too high, their resistance drops and they absorb the extra energy, helping to protect electronic devices from voltage spikes.These are just a few examples of the many types of fuel cells that exist. Each type has its own unique characteristics and advantages, making them suitable for a range of different applications.

A resistor is an electronic component designed to resist the flow of electrical current. 

A capacitor is an electrical component used to store electrical charges and can supress electrical noise and voltage spikes, smoothing any severe voltage fluctuations in the system.

They are constructed by two conducting, typically aluminum, plates separated by a dielectric such as plastic, paper, mica film, ceramic and even vacuum.

Their ability to charge and store charge allows timed circuits to delay electronic devices from turning on or off. This charging capacity can keep a circuit operating for a certain period of time after it has been shut down. Other than energy storage they can be used for power conditioning and correction, supression and coupling, sensing, oscilalting and more. Nowadays it is very hard to find any electrical product without one type of capacitor or another.

An inductor is an electronic component that stores energy temporarily in its magnetic field. It's composed of two terminals and a conductor, which is usually copper wire. This can be wrapped around air or a core material, for example, iron.

When the wire is coiled around a material instead of air, this can make the magnetic field stronger. If the current passing through the inductor changes, the stored energy is quickly released. This happens due to the magnetic field of the inductor collapsing due to the current change.

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