Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- About This Book -- Foolish Assumptions -- Icons Used in This Book -- Beyond the Book -- Where to Go from Here -- Part I Fathoming the Fundamentals of Electronics -- Chapter 1 Introducing You to Electronics -- Just What Is Electronics? -- Checking Out Electric Current -- Exploring an atom -- Getting a charge out of protons and electrons -- Identifying conductors and insulators -- Mobilizing electrons to create current -- Understanding Voltage -- Let the force be with you -- Why voltage needs to be different -- Putting Electrical Energy to Work -- Tapping into electrical energy -- Working electrons deliver power -- Using Circuits to Make Sure Electrons Arrive at Their Destination -- Supplying Electrical Energy -- Getting direct current from a battery -- Using alternating current from a power plant -- Transforming light into electricity -- Using symbols to represent energy sources -- Marveling at What Electrons Can Do -- Creating good vibrations -- Seeing is believing -- Sensing and alarming -- Controlling motion -- Computing -- Voice, video, and data communications -- Chapter 2 Gearing Up to Explore Electronics -- Getting the Tools You Need -- Stocking Up on Essential Supplies -- Getting Ready to Rumble -- Using a Solderless Breadboard -- Chapter 3 Running Around in Circuits -- Comparing Closed, Open, and Short Circuits -- Understanding Conventional Current Flow -- Examining a Basic Circuit -- Building the basic LED circuit -- Examining voltages -- Measuring current -- Calculating power -- Chapter 4 Making Connections -- Creating Series and Parallel Circuits -- Series connections -- Parallel connections -- Switching Electric Current On and Off -- Controlling the action of a switch -- Making the right contacts -- Creating a Combination Circuit -- Switching On the Power.

What Do Circuits Look Like? -- Part II Controlling Current with Components -- Chapter 5 Meeting Up with Resistance -- Resisting the Flow of Current -- Resistors: Passive Yet Powerful -- What are resistors used for? -- Choosing a type of resistor: Fixed or variable -- Reading into fixed resistors -- Rating resistors according to power -- Combining Resistors -- Resistors in series -- Resistors in parallel -- Combining series and parallel resistors -- Chapter 6 Obeying Ohm's Law -- Defining Ohm's Law -- Driving current through a resistance -- It's constantly proportional! -- One law, three equations -- Using Ohm's Law to Analyze Circuits -- Calculating current through a component -- Calculating voltage across a component -- Calculating an unknown resistance -- Seeing Is Believing: Ohm's Law Really Works! -- What Is Ohm's Law Really Good For? -- Analyzing complex circuits -- Designing and altering circuits -- The Power of Joule's Law -- Using Joule's Law to choose components -- Joule and Ohm: perfect together -- Chapter 7 Getting Charged Up about Capacitors -- Capacitors: Reservoirs for Electrical Energy -- Charging and Discharging Capacitors -- Watching a capacitor charge -- Opposing voltage change -- Giving alternating current a pass -- Discovering Uses for Capacitors -- Characterizing Capacitors -- Defining capacitance -- Keeping an eye on the working voltage -- Choosing the right dielectric for the job -- Sizing up capacitor packaging -- Being positive about capacitor polarity -- Reading into capacitor values -- Varying capacitance -- Interpreting capacitor symbols -- Combining Capacitors -- Capacitors in parallel -- Capacitors in series -- Teaming Up with Resistors -- Timing is everything -- Calculating RC time constants -- Varying the RC time constant -- Chapter 8 Identifying with Inductors -- Kissing Cousins: Magnetism and Electricity.

Drawing the (flux) lines with magnets -- Producing a magnetic field with electricity -- Inducing current with a magnet -- Introducing the Inductor: A Coil with a Magnetic Personality -- Measuring inductance -- Opposing current changes -- Calculating the RL time constant -- Keeping up with alternating current (or not!) -- Behaving differently depending on frequency -- Uses for Inductors -- Using Inductors in Circuits -- Reading inductance values -- Combining shielded inductors -- Tuning in to Radio Broadcasts -- Resonating with RLC circuits -- Ensuring rock‐solid resonance with crystals -- Influencing the Coil Next Door: Transformers -- Letting unshielded coils interact -- Isolating circuits from a power source -- Stepping up, stepping down voltages -- Chapter 9 Diving into Diodes -- Are We Conducting or Aren't We? -- Sizing up semiconductors -- Creating N‐types and P‐types -- Joining N‐types and P‐types to create components -- Forming a Junction Diode -- Biasing the diode -- Conducting current through a diode -- Rating your diode -- Identifying with diodes -- Which end is up? -- Using Diodes in Circuits -- Rectifying AC -- Regulating voltage with Zener diodes -- Seeing the light with LEDs -- Turning on an LED -- Other uses of diodes -- Chapter 10 Tremendously Talented Transistors -- Transistors: Masters of Switching and Amplifying -- Bipolar junction transistors -- Field‐effect transistors -- Recognizing a transistor when you see one -- Making all kinds of components possible -- Examining How Transistors Work -- Using a model to understand transistors -- Operating a transistor -- Amplifying Signals with a Transistor -- Biasing the transistor so it acts like an amplifier -- Controlling the voltage gain -- Configuring transistor amplifier circuits -- Switching Signals with a Transistor -- Choosing Transistors -- Important transistor ratings.

Identifying transistors -- Gaining Experience with Transistors -- Amplifying current -- The switch is on! -- Chapter 11 Innovating with Integrated Circuits -- Why ICs? -- Linear, Digital, or Combination Plate? -- Making Decisions with Logic -- Beginning with bits -- Processing data with gates -- Simplifying gates with truth tables -- Creating logical components -- Using ICs -- Identifying ICs with part numbers -- Packaging is everything -- Probing IC pinouts -- Relying on IC datasheets -- Using Your Logic -- Seeing the light at the end of the NAND gate -- Turning three NAND gates into an OR gate -- Hanging Out with Some Popular ICs -- Operational amplifiers -- IC time machine: the 555 timer -- Counting on the 4017 decade counter -- Microcontrollers -- Other popular ICs -- Chapter 12 Acquiring Additional Parts -- Making Connections -- Choosing wires wisely -- Plugging in to connectors -- Powering Up -- Turning on the juice with batteries -- Getting power from the sun -- Using wall power to supply higher DC current or voltage (not recommended) -- Using Your Sensors -- Seeing the light -- Capturing sound with microphones -- Feeling the heat -- More energizing input transducers -- Experiencing the Outcome of Electronics -- Speaking of speakers -- Sounding off with buzzers -- Creating good vibrations with DC motors -- Part III Getting Serious about Electronics -- Chapter 13 Preparing Your Lab and Ensuring Your Safety -- Picking a Place to Practice Electronics -- The top ingredients for a great lab -- Workbench basics -- Acquiring Tools and Supplies -- Amassing a multimeter -- Stockpiling soldering equipment -- Hoarding hand tools -- Collecting cloths and cleansers -- Loading up on lubricants -- Stocking up on sticky stuff -- Other tools and supplies -- Stocking Up on Parts and Components -- Solderless breadboards -- Circuit‐building starter kit.

Adding up the extras -- Organizing all your parts -- Protecting You and Your Electronics -- Understanding that electricity can really hurt -- Soldering safely -- Avoiding static like the plague -- Chapter 14 Interpreting Schematics -- What's a Schematic and Why Should I Care? -- Seeing the Big Picture -- It's all about your connections -- Looking at a simple battery circuit -- Recognizing Symbols of Power -- Showing where the power is -- Marking your ground -- Labeling Circuit Components -- Analog electronic components -- Digital logic and IC components -- Miscellaneous components -- Knowing Where to Take Measurements -- Exploring a Schematic -- Alternative Schematic Drawing Styles -- Chapter 15 Building Circuits -- Taking a Look at Solderless Breadboards -- Exploring a solderless breadboard -- Sizing up solderless breadboard varieties -- Building Circuits with Solderless Breadboards -- Preparing your parts and tools -- Saving time with prestripped wires -- Laying out your circuit -- Avoiding damaged circuits -- Soldering 101 -- Preparing to solder -- Soldering for success -- Inspecting the joint -- Desoldering when necessary -- Cooling after soldering -- Practicing safe soldering -- Creating a Permanent Circuit -- Exploring a printed circuit board -- Relocating your circuit to a perfboard -- Making a custom circuit board -- Chapter 16 Mastering Your Multimeter to Measure Circuits -- Multitasking with a Multimeter -- It's a voltmeter! -- It's an ammeter! -- Ohm my! It's an ohmmeter, too! -- Exploring Multimeters -- Choosing a style: analog or digital -- Taking a closer look at a digital multimeter -- Homing in on the range -- Setting Up Your Multimeter -- Operating Your Multimeter -- Measuring voltage -- Measuring current -- Measuring resistance -- Running other multimeter tests -- Using a Multimeter to Check Your Circuits.

Chapter 17 Putting Projects Together.