Yes.Etherealist said:Is the PN junction inside a diode what makes the electrical current only flow in one direction and not in the opposite direction?
What have you found so far in your Google searching? There are a lot of resources on the net that explain this. What is your background in EE and solid state physics? The level of our replies will depend on your reading so far and your background, so we can try to do our best in our replies. Thanks.Etherealist said:If this is so, why does it happen?
A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that allows current to flow in only one direction. Its purpose is to control the direction of current flow in a circuit.
A PN junction is a boundary between a positively doped material (P-type) and a negatively doped material (N-type) in a semiconductor. Diodes contain a PN junction, which is responsible for its one-way current flow behavior.
A forward-biased diode allows current to flow through it, while a reverse-biased diode blocks current flow. In other words, a forward-biased diode is in its "on" state, while a reverse-biased diode is in its "off" state.
A diode allows current to flow in the forward direction, but blocks it in the reverse direction. This behavior can be used to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and to protect circuits from reverse current flow.
Yes, diodes can also be used for voltage regulation, signal modulation, and as temperature sensors. They are also commonly used in electronic devices such as transistors and integrated circuits.