I understand the concept of transistors and electricity flipping them to an on/off state. What I do not understand is how these transistors work. Do they physically move? How is it decided where the electricity goes? I do not understand how the power is controlled, and how it is decided what transistors activate and when
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Is everyone using chatgpt or something? The answers here are completely ignoring your focus on the actual physical workings of these things!
To actually answer the question, the principle is to do with electromagnetism. Most chips use “field effect transistors” (FETs).
Nothing actually moves, rather the electrons (or “holes” which is kind of like the absence of an electron) in the material between the source and output are controlled by the gate’s electromagnetism. Electricity moves by these electrons/holes moving, so if we can stop them then the material becomes non conductive.
A FET has a input source of power, an output and a semiconductor between them. Next to the semiconductor is a “gate” that is connected to the input signal. The input signal controls the output’s connection to the input source.
When a voltage is applied to the gate sitting next to the semiconductor – either positive (p mode FET) or negative (n mode) – the electrons or holes in the semiconductor are essentially pushed aside and paralysed. So the semiconductor is turned “off” and power can’t flow from the source to the output. When the voltage is released the semiconductor turns back “on” as electricity can flow again.
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