[ELI5] How do transistors work? What makes 3 chucks of silicon put together able to turn on and off?

Question

[ELI5] How do transistors work? What makes 3 chucks of silicon put together able to turn on and off?

In: 18

Answer 1

Its similar to a hall sensor. Some materials become conductive when a magnet is held close to it. Most Hall sensors are simply on/off, but a transistor is optimised so it can vary the conductivity. A transistor “can” be used as an on/off switch. Its also useful as an amplifier because as you vary the “tiny” signal, it allows more current to pass. In this way a small variable voltage signal can precisely adjust a large flow of current.

Study capacitance and inductance.