A passive component is a type of electronic component that does not contain an active power source or an active device for amplification or switching of electrical signals, but instead rely on their physical characteristics to store, release, resist, or conduct electrical energy.
Passive components do not produce energy, but instead they manipulate energy that is supplied to them from an external source. Examples of passive components are resistors, capacitors, inductors, and switches. These components play an important role in electronics and are used in a wide range of applications, from power supplies and filters, to signal conditioning and data storage.
Features of Passive Components
- No Active Power Source
- Physical Properties
- Stability
- Reliability
- Non-Volatile
- Cost-Effective
Working of Passive Components
The working of passive components is based on their physical properties, such as resistance, capacitance, inductance, and impedance, which are used to store, release, resist, or conduct electrical energy. Here are some working principles:
Resistor: A resistor works by opposing the flow of electrical current, and its resistance value determines the amount of opposition to the flow of current.
Capacitor: A capacitor works by storing electrical energy in an electric field between two conductive plates. The amount of energy stored is proportional to the voltage across the plates and the capacitance value of the capacitor.
Inductor: An inductor works by storing energy in a magnetic field when a current flows through it. The amount of energy stored is proportional to the current flowing through the inductor and the inductance value.
Transformer: A transformer works by changing the voltage of an AC signal. The amount of voltage change is determined by the turns ratio of the transformer’s windings.
Switch: A switch is a component that can open or close a circuit to control the flow of electrical current.
Applications of Passive Components
Passive components have a wide range of applications in electronics due to their stability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Some of the main applications of passive components are:
- Power Supplies
- Filters
- Signal Conditioning
- Data Storage
- Amplifiers
- Oscillators
- Power Conversion