← Electronics syllabus

EnglandElectronics

Component 1 Principles of Electronics

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do bipolar and MOSFET transistors act as current amplifiers and voltage-controlled switches?

Transistors: the bipolar junction transistor as a current amplifier with current gain, the MOSFET as a voltage-controlled device, the common-emitter amplifier, and biasing.
An Eduqas A-Level Electronics answer on transistors: the bipolar junction transistor as a current amplifier with current gain, the MOSFET as a voltage-controlled device, the common-emitter amplifier and its voltage gain, and the biasing that sets the operating point.
14 min answer →

How does a diode conduct in only one direction, and how is that used to rectify an alternating supply?

Diodes and rectification: the diode characteristic and forward voltage, light-emitting and Zener diodes, half-wave and full-wave (bridge) rectification, and reservoir smoothing.
An Eduqas A-Level Electronics answer on diodes and rectification: the diode current-voltage characteristic and forward voltage, light-emitting diodes and the series resistor calculation, the Zener diode as a voltage reference, half-wave and full-wave bridge rectification, and reservoir-capacitor smoothing with ripple.
13 min answer →

How does a low-power control signal safely switch a large electrical load?

High power switching systems: relays and the flyback diode, power MOSFETs, the thyristor and triac for AC loads, and pulse-width modulation for power control.
An Eduqas A-Level Electronics answer on high power switching systems: the relay with its flyback diode, the power MOSFET as a logic-driven switch, the thyristor and triac for switching AC loads, and pulse-width modulation as an efficient way to control power.
13 min answer →

How is mains AC turned into a smooth, regulated DC supply for an electronic system?

Mains power supply systems: the transformer, rectifier, reservoir smoothing and regulation stages, ripple voltage, and series and switch-mode regulators.
An Eduqas A-Level Electronics answer on mains power supply systems: the transformer that steps down mains voltage, the bridge rectifier, the reservoir capacitor and ripple, voltage regulation with a Zener or series regulator, and the efficiency advantage of a switch-mode supply.
13 min answer →

How is a transistor used as a switch to turn a load on and off from a small control signal?

Transistor switching: saturation and cut-off, choosing the base resistor, the Darlington pair, and driving output transducers such as lamps, LEDs, buzzers and motors.
An Eduqas A-Level Electronics answer on using a transistor as a switch: the saturation and cut-off states, choosing the base resistor to saturate the transistor, the Darlington pair for high gain, and driving output transducers such as lamps, LEDs, buzzers and motors from a logic signal.
13 min answer →