2007-12-29 05:16:35 · 10 answers · asked by Rokkam N 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
A diode is an electronic component that acts as a conductor for current in one direction and as a non-conductor for current in the other direction.
I add this in order to address some of the other responses:
Robert S has exactly the right answer.
Nur S has given an unnecessarily restrictive definition -- a diode does not need to be a solid-state device. Millions of electron tubes had/have diode elements.
Rusty C’s response is not good. Current flows. Voltage is a potential across two points. Voltage does not “go to” or “pass through” anything. Voltage across a load (resistance) causes current to flow through it.
2007-12-29 06:13:29 · answer #1 · answered by MVB 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One of many experimental "light" bulbs invented by Thomas Edison who never learned OHMS law and as a result he sold the patent for it to, I beleive, Tesla along with some other patents he felt were unusable.
Tesla bought the device after reading about the "Edison effect" published in a journal by Edison and his team, trying describe how the tube worked.
Telsa, who did know Ohms law, knew what he bought and cornered the radio market, suing Marconi in court and winning.
This was one of several mistakes made by Edison, including throwing 2 million down a well that never returned nothing.
Little did Edison know one day he'd be buying electronic amplifers with Diodes under license from Tesla (orignally an Edison patent) and Triodes under license from DeForrest to power his phonograph machines!
2007-12-29 15:37:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A P-N junction that uses the edison effect to allow current in one direction only.
2007-12-29 13:35:01 · answer #3 · answered by Michelle C 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You cast a wide net.
"A device with two poles."
Rectifiers, emitters, sensors,
- solid state or tube,
--all diodes.
2007-12-29 15:26:03 · answer #4 · answered by Irv S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A semiconductor device which passes electric current in only one direction.
2007-12-29 13:20:42 · answer #5 · answered by Robert S 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A semiconductor that only allows current to flow in one direction.
2007-12-29 15:11:13 · answer #6 · answered by mark r 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a semi-conductor device that passes current in one direction.it has two electrodes,anode & cathode.diodes are used in electric circuits etc....check out the links for further information...hope these help...
2007-12-29 13:28:15 · answer #7 · answered by a k 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
pn junction , conducting (forward bias) from p(doping)
to n(doping) , while being as an open switch , reverse bias , in the opposite direction , main application is in signal rectificcation
2007-12-29 13:23:04 · answer #8 · answered by Nur S 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
a device that let's voltage pass through it in one direction ....voltage as you may know can go to a destination and then return this device prevents that
2007-12-29 13:21:28 · answer #9 · answered by rusty c 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are a diode...LOL
2007-12-29 13:19:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋