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A Working Transistor: |
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Transistors consist of three terminals; the source, the gate, and the drain. |
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In the n-type transistor, both the source and the drain are negatively-charged and sit on a positively-charged well of p-silicon. |
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When positive voltage is applied to the gate, electrons in the p-silicon are attracted to the area under the gate forming an electron channel between the source and the drain. |
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When positive voltage is applied to the drain, the electrons are pulled from the source to the drain. In this state the transistor is on. |
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If the voltage at the gate is removed, electrons aren't attracted to the area between the source and drain. The pathway is broken and the transistor is turned off. |