X is for X-ray

is for X-ray







X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation. They can pass through all uncompressed gasses and some solid and liquid substances. They are commonly used to take images inside objects most notably for inspecting internal damage to the inside of the human body, usually damage to bones.

Some electrical components are known to give off X-rays and so it is important to take this into account during electronic manufacture processes. Small doses of radiation can be very damaging in the long term.

W is for Watt

is for Watt






In electronics and electronic manufacture a watt is a unit of measure for the rate that energy is transferred or converted. It is the equivalent of one joule per second is is usually represented by the symbol W. It is named after James Watt a famous engineer from Scotland for his input in the creation of the steam engine.

V is for Volt

is for Volt







The Volt is a unit of measure for electromotive force, electric potential and potential difference and so is a very important part of electronic manufacture. It is usually represented by the symbol V. The name comes from Alessandro Volta who is widely regarded as the inventor of the first chemical battery.

In trying to explain what a volt is, voltage difference is usually compared to water pressure difference in water filled pipes.

U is for Unijunction Transistor

is for Unijunction Transistor






As the name suggests a unijunction transistor is a transistor with just one junction. It was a very popular component used in hobbyist electronic design in the 60s and 70s because it allowed for the easy construction of oscillators. When used of part of a PCB assembly they usually use surface mount construction.

T is for Technology

is for Technology






When it comes to electronic design and engineering the way that technology moves is very important. Advances in the manufacture process of electrical components helps technology evolve. We're beginning to see things that we never would've dreamt of a few years ago making an appearance in electronic design and the sky really is the limit.

S is for Switch

is for Switch

Where electronic design is concerned a switch is a component that can be used to make or break a circuit. A switch may be used to power on or power off a device or divert power elsewhere. They can be manually activated or can be controlled by the level or power flow amongst other automated causes.

R is for Robotics

is for Robotics






A robot is a mechanical or sometimes virtual entity that can perform a set of given tasks independently or with guidance. They are usually mechanical and are driven by belts, hydraulics, DC motors and many other electronic components. They can be programmed to work autonomously or be guided by human intervention.

Today they are used in many industries and there is a concern that as time goes on they could replace humans in many key employment sectors. As well as being tools for industry robots have been created to be helpful in the home, entertaining or to compete in robotics competitions.