ABSTRACT
For the first time in this book we encounter a bipolar (two-carrier) device with three terminals. I can clearly recall the problems I had trying to understand how a device could possibly have three terminals. Two is easy, it's just in and out. But three ! What's the third one for? Because of these conceptual problems I will break from the standard physical electronics format in this chapter, and, apart from discussing the physics of the bipolar transistor, I will show how they are used in a couple of simple circuits . The circuits I will give are there to be built (if you haven't done this sort of thing before). If you build the circuits as shown , you should not damage any devices. If you do manage to destroy a transistor don't panic, and please don't give up.
