Worksheet: Basic Electronic
Components, Uses and Symbols
Name: ____grace_______________ Date:
____16/07/2026___________
Part A — Reading Section
Basic Electronic Components
Electronic systems are built from components that each
perform a specific job. Engineers use standard circuit symbols
so diagrams can be understood anywhere in the world. Below
are the most common components used in beginner circuits.
1. Battery
A battery provides electrical energy to a circuit. It has a positive
and negative terminal.
Use: Powering low-voltage circuits.
2. Wires and Connections
Wires carry current between components. A junction (dot)
shows wires connected; a crossover without a dot means they
are not connected.
3. Resistor
A resistor limits current flow to protect components.
Use: Controlling LED brightness.
4. Variable Resistor (Potentiometer)
A resistor whose resistance can be adjusted.
Use: Volume knobs, dimmers.
5. LED (Light-Emitting Diode)
An LED emits light when current flows in the correct direction. It
has an anode (+) and cathode (–).
Use: Indicators, displays.
6. Diode
Allows current to flow in only one direction.
Use: Protecting circuits from reverse polarity.
7. Switches
SPST switch: Simple on/off control.
Push-button: Only active while pressed.
8. Capacitor
Stores electrical energy and releases it when needed.
Use: Smoothing power supply fluctuations.
9. Transistor
Acts as an electronic switch or amplifier.
Use: Turning components on/off electronically.
10. Speaker / Buzzer
Converts electrical energy into sound.
Use: Alarms, audio output.
11. Motor
Converts electrical energy into rotational motion.
Use: Fans, toys, robotics.
12. Ground
Represents the zero-volt reference point in a circuit.
Part B — Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the main purpose of a resistor?
1. To store electrical energy
2. To limit current flow
3. To convert electricity into sound
4. To allow current to flow in only one direction
Answer: _ To limit current flow__
2. Which component emits light when current flows
through it?
1. Diode
2. LED
3. Capacitor
4. Motor
Answer: _LED___
3. A switch that only works while being pressed is called
a:
1. SPST switch
2. Toggle switch
3. Push-button switch
4. Variable resistor
Answer: __ Push-button switch___
4. Which symbol represents a battery?
1. Zig-zag line
2. Triangle pointing to a line
3. Long and short parallel lines
4. Circle with “M” inside
Answer: ___Long and short parallel lines__
Part C — Short Answer Questions
5. Why must LEDs be connected the correct way around in a circuit?
Because LEDs are diodes, which means they only let electricity flow
through them in one direction. If you put it in backward, the current gets
blocked and the light won't turn on.
6. Describe the difference between a resistor and a variable resistor.
A regular resistor stays at one exact value, and you can't change it. A
variable resistor lets you change the resistance manually, like turning a
volume knob up and down or using a dimmer switch.
7. What does a capacitor do in a circuit? Give one example of its use.
It basically stores up electrical energy like a temporary battery and then
lets it out when it's needed. A good example is a camera flash, where it
saves up energy and dumps it all at once to make a bright flash.
8. Why do engineers use standardised circuit symbols?
So, everyone is on the same page. It’s like a universal language for
electronics, so an engineer anywhere in the world can look at the diagram
and know exactly how to build it
Part D — Research Questions
9. Find a real-world device that uses a transistor. Explain how the
transistor helps the device function.
The device I chose is a computer processer inside the computer chip,
there are billions of tiny transistors that act like super-fast electronic
switches. They constantly turn on and off to pass along bits of data,
which is how the phone runs apps and plays games
10. Research the difference between AC and DC electricity.
Provide two examples of devices that use each type.
AC and DC are different because of how the electricity flows. AC electricity
constantly switches directions back and forth, which makes it great for traveling
long distances from power plants to the main wall sockets in your house. Things
you plug into the wall, like a toaster or a microwave, use AC power. On the
other hand, DC electricity only flows in one steady direction. This is the kind of
power you get from batteries