A semiconductor compound formed
by doping an intrinsic
semiconductor with a pentavalent
element. An n-type material
contains an excess of conduction
band electrons.
negative
Terminal that has an excess of
electrons.
negative charge
A charge that has more electrons
than protons
negative feedback
A feedback signal 180° out of
phase with an amplifier input
signal. Used to increase
amplifier stability, bandwidth
and input impedance. Also
reduces distortion.
negative ground
A system where the negative
terminal of the source is
connected to the system's metal
chassis.
negative ion
An atom having a greater number
of electrons in orbit than there
are protons in the nucleus.
negative resistance
A resistance such that when the
current through it increases the
voltage drop across the
resistance decreases.
negative temperature
coefficient
A term used to describe a
component whose resistance or
capacitance decreases when
temperature increases.
neon bulb
Glass envelope filled with neon
gas which when ionized by an
applied voltage will glow red.
network
Combination of interconnected
components, circuits or systems.
neutral
A terminal, point or object with
balanced charges. Neither
positive or negative.
neutral atom
An atom in which the number of
negative charges (electrons in
orbit) is equal to the number of
positive charges (protons in the
nucleus).
neutral wire
The conductor of a polyphase
circuit or a single-phase three
wire circuit that is intended to
have a ground potential. The
potential difference between the
neutral and each of the other
conductors are approximately
equal in magnitude and equally
spaced in phase.
neutron
Subatomic particle in the
nucleus of an atom and having no
electrical charge.
nickel-cadmium cell
A secondary cell that uses a
nickel oxide positive electrode
and a cadmium negative
electrode.
node
Junction or branch point in a
circuit.
noise
Unwanted electromagnetic
radiation within an electrical
or mechanical system.
An operational amplifier circuit
having no phase inversion
between the input and output.
non-inverting input
The terminal on an operational
amplifier that is identified by
a plus sign.
non-linear scale
A scale in which the divisions
are not equally spaced.
normal closed
Designation which states that
the contacts of a switch or
relay are closed or connected
when at rest. When activated,
the contacts open or separated.
normally open
Designation which states that
the contacts of a switch or
relay are normally open or not
connected. When activated the
contacts close or become
connected.
north pole
Pole of a magnet out of which
magnetic lines of force are
assumed to originate.
Norton's theorem
Any network of voltage sources
and resistors can be replace by
a single current source in
parallel with a single resistor.
notch filter
A filter which blocks a narrow
band of frequencies and passes
all frequencies above and below
the band.
npn transistor
A bipolar junction transistor in
which a p-type base element is
sandwiched between an n-type
emitter and an n-type collector.
nucleus
Core of an atom. The nucleus
contains both positive (protons)
and neutral (neutrons) subatomic
particles.
