Semiconductor Current Flow and Holes

What is the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element?

Who is credited with the discovery of the electron?

Which type of material has very high resistance or low conductivity?

What is the outer orbit of an atom that controls its electrical properties called?

What is the name given to the vacancy created when an electron departs from an atom?

Which type of bonding involves the sharing of electrons by two atoms?

Which type of semiconductor is also known as an undoped semiconductor?

What is the primary characteristic of a semiconductor?

What is the process called when intentional impurities are added to modify the electrical properties of a semiconductor?

Which material is described as having very low resistance and high conductivity?

What is the major difference between a conductor and a semiconductor, as mentioned in the text?

What is the measure of a material's ability to conduct electricity?

What is the role of pentavalent impurities in semiconductors?

Which impurity is an acceptor impurity in semiconductors?

What characterizes an N-Type semiconductor?

In P-Type semiconductors, what is the majority carrier?

Fundamental Concepts of Matter and Electrons

The smallest unit of matter that maintains all chemical properties of an element is an atom.
The electron was discovered by J.J. Thomson in 1897.

Electrical Properties of Materials

Insulators are materials characterized by very high resistance and low conductivity.
The valence shell is the outer orbit of an atom that governs its electrical properties.

Electron Vacancy and Bonding Types

A hole is the vacancy left when an electron departs from an atom.
Covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons between two atoms.

Semiconductor Characteristics

An intrinsic semiconductor, also known as an undoped semiconductor, has uniform electrical properties without impurities.
The primary characteristic of a semiconductor is its ability to conduct electricity between that of a conductor and an insulator.

Doping and Conductivity

The process of adding intentional impurities to modify the electrical properties of a semiconductor is known as doping.
Conductors have very low resistance and high conductivity, allowing electricity to flow easily.

Differences in Electrical Conductivity

The major difference between a conductor and a semiconductor is their level of conductivity; conductors have high conductivity while semiconductors have variable conductivity based on conditions.
The measure of a material's ability to conduct electricity is represented as its conductivity.

Semiconductors and Impurities

Pentavalent impurities, commonly known as donors, add extra electrons in semiconductors enhancing their conductivity.
An acceptor impurity is a trivalent impurity that creates holes, thus facilitating the movement of electric charge in semiconductors.

Type Characteristics of Semiconductors

N-Type semiconductors are characterized by an abundance of electrons, providing extra negative charge carriers.
In P-Type semiconductors, the majority carrier is the hole, reflecting a lack of electrons that facilitates electrical conduction.

This quiz covers the concept of holes in semiconductors, how the departure of an electron creates a vacancy leading to the flow of holes, and the difference between the flow of electrons and holes in a semiconductor. Understand the combined effect of free electron flow and hole flow in generating current in semiconductors.