CA_BASIC
Basic - Components and circuits
Components and circuits follows the B-004 section of the Canadian question bank.
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- Components and circuits
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Review by section order to build the topic framework first.
For regulatory and safety questions, prefer compliant and conservative actions.
For calculations, check units, multipliers, and approximations.
Topic Study Guide
This topic covers basic radio components and circuits, focusing on the functions, terminal names, and operating principles of amplifiers, diodes, bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), and field-effect transistors (FETs).
High-Yield Checks
- Amplifiers and Oscillators: Amplifiers increase signal amplitude (gain), while excessive positive feedback causes oscillation.
- Core Diode Functions: Rectification (AC to DC), detection (recovering information from signals), and forward bias for conduction.
- Transistor Terminals: BJTs use Base, Emitter, and Collector; FETs use Gate, Source, and Drain.
- Transistor Types: BJTs are classified as NPN and PNP; FETs are classified as N-channel and P-channel.
Trap Patterns
- Confusing BJT and FET terminals. For example, mistakenly thinking a FET has a Base or a BJT has a Gate.
- Misunderstanding diode output. AC applied to a simple diode produces pulsating direct current, not steady direct current.
- Confusing detection with conversion or rectification. Detection specifically refers to recovering information from an RF signal.
Review Steps
- Memorize and compare the three terminals for both BJTs and FETs, understanding their equivalent control functions (e.g., Base corresponds to Gate, Emitter to Source).
- Master the specific terminology for diode applications: rectification in power circuits and detection in receiver signal circuits.
- Review basic amplifier concepts, clarify the definition of gain, and remember that positive feedback turns an amplifier into an oscillator.
Quick Checks
- What are the three terminals of a Field-Effect Transistor (FET)?
- What happens when an amplifier has excessive positive feedback?
- What is the process of recovering information from a transmitted signal called?
- Which electrode controls the state of a bipolar transistor when used as a switch?
Questions in This Topic
Choose Practice ModeB-004-001-001What term describes a circuit designed to increase the amplitude of a signal?B-004-001-002If an amplifier becomes non-linear, the output signal would:B-004-001-003To increase the level of very weak radio signals from an antenna, you would use:B-004-001-004To increase the level of very weak signals from a microphone you would use:B-004-001-005What range of frequencies does the speech amplifier of an amateur radio transceiver typically process?B-004-001-006Apart from power and current, which signal property can amplifiers be specifically designed to increase?B-004-001-007The increase in signal level by an amplifier is called:B-004-001-008A device with gain has the property of:B-004-001-009A device labelled "Gain = 10 dB" is likely to be an:B-004-001-010What term describes the ratio of output power to DC input power of an amplifier?B-004-001-011What is the result of excessive positive feedback in an amplifier stage?B-004-002-001A diode is in series in the positive power lead to a transceiver. What is its purpose?B-004-002-002One important application for diodes is recovering information from transmitted signals. This is referred to as:B-004-002-003The primary purpose of a Zener diode is to:B-004-002-004The action of changing alternating current to direct current is called:B-004-002-005The electrodes of a semiconductor diode are known as:B-004-002-006If alternating current is applied to the anode of a diode, what would you expect to see at the cathode?B-004-002-007In a semiconductor diode, electrons flow from:B-004-002-008What semiconductor device glows different colours, depending upon its chemical composition?B-004-002-009Which property of a semiconductor diode permits its use for reverse-polarity protection?B-004-002-010In order for a diode to conduct, it must be:B-004-003-001Which of these components can amplify a small signal using low voltages?B-004-003-002What term describes the most basic semiconductor component used to amplify?B-004-003-003What are the three electrodes of a bipolar transistor?B-004-003-004If a low-level signal is placed at the input to a transistor and a higher level of the signal is produced at the output, what is this effect called?B-004-003-005What prevents the substitution of a PNP transistor with an NPN transistor?B-004-003-006A semiconductor device is labelled as a "general purpose audio NPN device." What is it?B-004-003-007What are the two basic types of bipolar transistors?B-004-003-008Which of these operating conditions is most likely to cause a transistor to fail?B-004-003-009Which electrode of the bipolar transistor controls the output current?B-004-003-010When a bipolar transistor is used as a switch, which electrode controls its state?B-004-003-011If a transistor is alternatively driven into saturation and cut-off, what does it behave like?B-004-004-001When considering the material between source and drain, what are two basic types of field-effect transistors (FET)?B-004-004-002Which semiconductor device has a gate, a drain and a source?B-004-004-003In a field-effect transistor, which electrode controls the resistance of the device's channel?B-004-004-004In a field-effect transistor, from which electrode do charge carriers enter the channel?B-004-004-005In a field-effect transistor, from which electrode do charge carriers leave the channel?B-004-004-006Why is a field-effect transistor considered a high impedance device?B-004-004-007What is the control electrode in a field-effect transistor?B-004-004-008In a field-effect transistor, what circuit parameter change causes the current to increase?B-004-004-009Which electrode of a bipolar transistor corresponds to the source of a field-effect transistor?B-004-004-010Which electrode of a bipolar transistor corresponds to the drain of a field-effect transistor?B-004-004-011In a field-effect transistor, which two electrodes are connected to the ends of the channel?B-004-005-001What is one reason a triode vacuum tube might be used instead of a transistor in a circuit?B-004-005-002Which two elements of a triode carry the output current?B-004-005-003A feature common to triode tubes and transistors is that both:B-004-005-004Which electrode on a vacuum tube is operated with the highest positive voltage?B-004-005-005Which semiconductor device has characteristics most similar to a triode vacuum tube?B-004-005-006Which electrode of a vacuum triode is the control element?B-004-005-007In a vacuum tube, which electrode emits electrons?B-004-005-008What is inside the envelope of a triode tube?B-004-005-009What term describes a vacuum tube with a cathode, a single grid and a plate?B-004-006-001On resistors with four colour bands, which colour band specifies the tolerance?B-004-006-002On a resistor with four colour bands, what do the first three colour bands indicate?B-004-006-003On a resistor with four colour bands, what does the fourth colour band indicate?B-004-006-004What are the possible values of a 100-ohm resistor with a 10% tolerance?B-004-006-005On resistors with four colour bands, which colour band differentiates two resistors rated at 33 ohms and 39 ohms respectively?B-004-006-006Out of the list of resistor tolerances below, which has the highest precision?B-004-006-007Out of the list of resistor tolerances below, which has the lowest precision?B-004-006-008How does the resistance of a resistor change with rising ambient temperature?B-004-006-009Which resistor rating is specified as a given fraction per degree Celsius?B-004-006-010On resistors with four colour bands, which colour band differentiates two resistors rated at 120 ohms and 1200 ohms respectively?B-004-006-011Given that red=2, violet=7 and yellow=4, what is the nominal value of a resistor whose colour code reads "red," "violet" and "yellow"?