transistors

[first_pyro]

Hi, I am currently a college student at Universal Technical Institute for automotive/tpat. I asked one of my teachers a question while I was in basic electronics.Which was, why npn transistors are better. He quoted,"I'm not sure why npn transistors work more efficiently than pnp transistors."
I was wondering; if my theology was correct on my conclusion. which is: since npn transistors work on the ground side and the fact that electrons are microscopically smaller than protons;and since they have less electrons on the outer ring; would that mean that the negatively charged particles could move through the transistor in a more dense and faster speed than protons? which if you moved the same amount through the transistor would also cause less heat?

[ShadowWulf2K]

Originally Posted by first_pyro

I was wondering; if my theology was correct on my conclusion.

Because God likes NPN transistors more!

[beef_bourito]

it's always electrons that move through there, no matter what electrical circuit, it's always electrons.

anyways there's no "best" transistor, it's just which one suits the circuit best. i.e. which one will flow the current in the direction you want.

[first_pyro]

ok..I know electrons are always flowing through but negatively charged electrons are microscopically smaller than positively charged electrons. I just thought that one might flow easier than the other. ty for the respones

[beef_bourito]

there's no such thing as a positively charged electron. there are electrons, and protons. there are also positrons (the size of an electron but positively charged) but they have nothing to do with electrical circuits.

[first_pyro]

OOO ok...then he told me wrong lol.he told me that pnp transistors work on the positive side of the ckt and npn transistors work on the ground side. so i assumed that one was using a negative source visa versa. ty u clarity is a beauty lol.

[curtis73]

Yep, just proton (+) neutron (0) and electron (-) Its just which way the electrons are flowing that determines + and - in a circuit.

[rwortman]

A quick clarification for you here: in transistors, there are electrons, but there are also 'holes'. The easiest way to think about it is like in water. You can either have water flowing (electrons) or bubbles flowing in the opposite direction (holes), which displace the water. npn transistors work "better" (this is kind of a loaded statement) because electrons have a higher mobility (basically their ability to move) than holes, and in an npn transistor, the majority of the current is carried by electrons

[first_pyro]

wow. never thought if it like that. your post are much appreciated. ty