What is a diode and what is it's purpose?

Answer 1

A diode is a device that passes current in one direction but not in the other. One use is for rectifying AC (i.e. turning AC to DC). It can also be used to decode AM radio signals into audio.

It can also be used to protect a coil from the pulse of voltage that occurs when the current is turned off. (I'm not sure how to explain this. When the current is flowing through the coil a 'field' develops, and when the voltage is turned off the field collapses and causes a voltage spike. This is how sparks are made in a car engine. The diode protects the circuit, and the coil itself, from this spike.)

Answer 2

In electronics, a diode is a component that restricts the directional flow of charge carriers. Essentially, a diode allows an electric current to flow in one direction, but blocks it in the opposite direction. Thus, the diode can be thought of as an electronic version of a check valve. Circuits that require current flow in only one direction typically include one or more diodes in the circuit design.

Early diodes included "cat's whisker" crystals and vacuum tube devices (called thermionic valves in British English). Today the most common diodes are made from semiconductor materials such as silicon or germanium.

Answer 3

A diode is a component that allows current flows in one direction and prohibits current flows in another direction. It can be used as a switch in DC circuit and a rectifier in AC circuit. An ideal diode does not exist in reality.

Answer 4

Diode is a device which is obtaine by joining P type and N type semiconductor together. This is also called as PN junction diode. This conduct in one direction either P to N or N-P according to the supply terminals.
applications are wide: All rectifier circuits ( AC to DC converter) e.g Cellphones, FM adapter
Wherever DC supply required, we can convert ac to dc throu. diode circuit

Answer 5

It is a one-way value for electric current.

Uses: In general, to prevent back-flow of current. It can be used as a safety devise to prevent static electricity or other sources from damaging or setting-off an electrical system that would normally be "up-stream" of the diode.

Answer 6

A diode is a semiconductor device or a valve/vacuum tube which only allows current flow in one direction. It can be used for rectification of AC to DC, switching and detection of radio waves

Answer 7

It lets current flow only one direction.

Since a real diode has a tiny capacitance also, it can be used as an envelope detector, so it can strip off the audio frequency from an amplitude modulated radio signal.

Answer 8

Basically, it is a one way valve for electrons. It keeps electricity from flowing the wrong way in a circuit. There are also Light Emitting Diodes that have the same function, but also light up when current is applied. These are used as much for light as they are for their electrical properties these days.

Answer 9

A diode is an electrical device that allows current to pass in just one direction, not in both directions. Therefore it it often called a rectifier because it can change alternating current (AC) to direct current(DC).

Answer 10

A diode, from Merriam Webster online:

an electronic device that has two electrodes or terminals and is used especially as a rectifier

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have many uses; they are very efficient energy-wise, and last almost indefinitely. That's why they're recently being used in car headlights, flashlights, stoplights, etc.