The Basic lessons · Circuit components · B-004-004

Understanding Field-Effect Transistors

This lesson explains how field-effect transistors (FETs) work, focusing on their three main parts and how they control electricity. You will learn the difference between N-channel and P-channel types and why FETs are unique compared to other transistors.

This lesson is part of SignalPrep Pro. The subsection's 11 exam questions are free to practise: practise B-004-004.

What this subsection asks

• When considering the material between source and drain, what are two basic types of field-effect transistors (FET)?
• Which semiconductor device has a gate, a drain and a source?
• In a field-effect transistor, which electrode controls the resistance of the device's channel?
• In a field-effect transistor, from which electrode do charge carriers enter the channel?
• In a field-effect transistor, from which electrode do charge carriers leave the channel?
• Why is a field-effect transistor considered a high impedance device?
• What is the control electrode in a field-effect transistor?
• In a field-effect transistor, what circuit parameter change causes the current to increase?
• Which electrode of a bipolar transistor corresponds to the source of a field-effect transistor?
• Which electrode of a bipolar transistor corresponds to the drain of a field-effect transistor?
• In a field-effect transistor, which two electrodes are connected to the ends of the channel?