How Does a Transistor Work?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ค. 2024
  • How does a transistor work? Our lives depend on this device.
    Support Veritasium on Patreon: bit.ly/VePatreon
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    When I mentioned to people that I was doing a video on transistors, they would say "as in a transistor radio?" Yes! That's exactly what I mean, but it goes so much deeper than that. After the transistor was invented in 1947 one of the first available consumer technologies it was applied to was radios, so they could be made portable and higher quality. Hence the line in 'Brown-eyed Girl' - "going down to the old mine with a transistor radio."
    But more important to our lives today, the transistor made possible the microcomputer revolution, and hence the Internet, and also TVs, mobile phones, fancy washing machines, dishwashers, calculators, satellites, projectors etc. etc. A transistor is based on semiconductor material, usually silicon, which is 'doped' with impurities to carefully change its electrical properties. These n and p-type semiconductors are then put together in different configurations to achieve a desired electrical result. And in the case of the transistor, this is to make a tiny electrical switch. These switches are then connected together to perform computations, store information, and basically make everything electrical work intelligently.
    Special thanks to PhD Comics for awesome animations: bit.ly/16ZXcVY
    And thanks to Henry Reich and Vanessa Hill for reviews of earlier drafts of this video.
    Music: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Decisions

ความคิดเห็น • 5K

  • @kenj0418
    @kenj0418 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7039

    Video: "A problem we won't face until probably 10 years down the track."
    Me: *Looks nervously at how old this video is now*

    • @hdjekso7930
      @hdjekso7930 4 ปีที่แล้ว +294

      @@KajoFox lmao amd is already at 7nm

    • @elevenz367
      @elevenz367 4 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      we need to start investing in grapes for the 2nm manufacturing process

    • @GanjaLibre
      @GanjaLibre 4 ปีที่แล้ว +158

      also when he says 22 nm, I think "wait a second, this is wrong! intel I9 is 10 nm and AMD Ryzen 3rd gen is 7!" then I saw the date of the video and realized we are really close to the limit

    • @baphometpresidente4637
      @baphometpresidente4637 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      me too 🤣 may be trump will extend it a bit to 20 years 😃

    • @grozymalkozy6435
      @grozymalkozy6435 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      *o boi*

  • @andro293
    @andro293 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3741

    I waited my whole life to see Derek dressed as a sillicon atom

    • @100Hasake
      @100Hasake 4 ปีที่แล้ว +159

      Im no longer a furry, I am attracted to men dressed up as scientific concepts

    • @hubb8049
      @hubb8049 3 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      He's so hot 🥵

    • @treasuretotrash2067
      @treasuretotrash2067 3 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      I love silicon atoms. So hot

    • @amishpatel124
      @amishpatel124 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @@hubb8049 very

    • @imperialeagle564
      @imperialeagle564 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      No u didn't

  • @pushkarkhanal4340
    @pushkarkhanal4340 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +204

    From 22nm 10 years ago when this video was made, to IBM's new 2nm chip, the fundamental principle is still simple yet groundbreaking.

    • @Skitzyzzy
      @Skitzyzzy 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      2NM??? SOON YOU PROBABLY WONT BE ABLE TO SEE IT WITH A MICROSCOPE!

    • @Splarkszter
      @Splarkszter 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +13

      ​@@Skitzyzzy Lmao you can't see them with one 10 years ago eithe, visible light is over the 200nm mark. Only electron microscopes could.

    • @ayushjha2345
      @ayushjha2345 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I understand both the points. Whether we talk about 22nm or 2nm, both are incredibly small to see. But in the future where 0.5nm or 0.01nm comes, i think they will apply a different unit. So no need to worry about that either.

    • @TeTe76VTheChiken
      @TeTe76VTheChiken 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      ​@@ayushjha2345a silicium atom is about 0,2 nm so it seems irrealistic

    • @ayushjha2345
      @ayushjha2345 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@TeTe76VTheChiken thanks my friend for giving me good info. We found the limitation of how small measurement can reach. Appreciated.

  • @deawinter
    @deawinter 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1881

    10 years down the track sure does feel a lot closer now. Maybe an update on this one?

    • @jonwalters485
      @jonwalters485 2 ปีที่แล้ว +74

      We still use transistors plenty even now, and because they have made such a huge impact on computing they will virtually always be used, but now we have been working on quantum computing, which is a whole new ballpark, but honestly he is on point. Moore's law has been recently shown to not hold up too well, but he raised a great point and with quantum computing, we will have the next age of computing soon.

    • @karuki5791
      @karuki5791 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@jonwalters485 hopefully we do and it gets accessible to the public with an ok price

    • @josephwiebe4617
      @josephwiebe4617 2 ปีที่แล้ว +81

      Almost at ten years and the truth is, we don't have to make transistors smaller because we can't even make enough chips today...

    • @diabl2master
      @diabl2master 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@jonwalters485 "Because they made such a huge impact, they will virtually always be used"
      Sorry what? What about when we finally figure out something much better?

    • @jonwalters485
      @jonwalters485 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@diabl2master The transistor is one of those things that cant be replaced. We can use something else in a new design like with quantum computing to get the same output, but the architecture is completely different. So my point was, that there will always be a use for the transistor. An example would be, even if we could have phones with superconductors in them, the ability to supercool the processors to make them work wouldnt be worth it. There are things the transistor is just amazing at doing, and things where the transistor just isnt up to par. The next beat thing will replace transitor logic there, but not where the transistor is doing a bang up job for a much lower cost. I hope that clears up what I was saying

  • @mikecarroll757
    @mikecarroll757 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4006

    In this 6 minute video, I learned more about transistors, and understood better how they work, than in a semester of my electronics class.

    • @RenaldoXhahu
      @RenaldoXhahu 9 ปีที่แล้ว +82

      ***** Same ahahah. I actually came here to study for my test tomorrow XD

    • @mikecarroll757
      @mikecarroll757 9 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Renaldo Xhahu good luck :) I did the same thing for my final exam and did well so hopefully you do the same

    • @RenaldoXhahu
      @RenaldoXhahu 9 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      ahahaa thanks :)

    • @wsnkurn
      @wsnkurn 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ***** ys me too! haha

    • @EDUARDO12348
      @EDUARDO12348 8 ปีที่แล้ว +33

      +Mike Carroll but I wonder why it has to be that way. I think schools are failing to make their teachings relevant and so students are demotivated to learn. On the other hand, thinking about millions of transistor in a chip is mind blowing.

  • @michaelwarnecke3474
    @michaelwarnecke3474 2 ปีที่แล้ว +305

    "But they are both neutral"
    Adds switz plus-sign flag

    • @michaelwarnecke3474
      @michaelwarnecke3474 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      @@muxite6035 and in the first world war. Its just ironic to use switzerland as a symbol for electrical neutrality when the symbol on thrir flag (also) stands for positive, non-neutral charge.

    • @AcTheMace
      @AcTheMace 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@muxite6035 Yeah, sure, but it's still ironic in this context XD

    • @mattmaloney5988
      @mattmaloney5988 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Omg I didn't get that 🥴 I thought it was an error.

    • @lyricsvaultla
      @lyricsvaultla 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I was looking for this comment hahahahaha

    • @vedranb87
      @vedranb87 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I just made the same comment! :D

  • @arthuranydonuts923
    @arthuranydonuts923 ปีที่แล้ว +190

    Almost 10 year update:
    We essentially have 3 more years worth of improvements left. There are lots of improvement in terms of how power is delivered, changing shape of transistors (GAAFET) that will primarily give performance improvement.
    The 3 year delay is also mainly because there has been slowdown in improvement in recent years.
    After that, your galaxy phones and macbooks will essentially have same performance with every new release.

    • @burakki6324
      @burakki6324 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

      lowk bittersweet. if the performance stays constant then the same parts last for longer and dont have to get a new say GPU every several years. also will force developers to optimize the best they can on the hardware they have, maybe in the process making old computers better.

    • @vindicator879
      @vindicator879 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

      Once we reached the limit of cramping more transistors in the same amount of die area, chiplet design and 3d stacking technology is going to be necessary in designing future processors

    • @pixelnobs
      @pixelnobs 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Unless they make the physical chip bigger.

    • @CripsyWaffles43
      @CripsyWaffles43 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      No, the performence will still increase, just slower, every year big chip makers redisign the architecture to be more effecient. Look at intel, they were stuck on the 14nm node for several years, yet still had small improvements every year.

    • @pixelnobs
      @pixelnobs 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@CripsyWaffles43 You cannot really make a transistor smaller than an atom, so theres a limit. (unless you use quantum computing)

  • @ggwp638BC
    @ggwp638BC 2 ปีที่แล้ว +358

    2013: The current transistor size is 23nm
    2021: IBM now working with 2nm chips

    • @warbrain1053
      @warbrain1053 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Deadline comming closer

    • @Pukkeh
      @Pukkeh 2 ปีที่แล้ว +51

      There are no transistors with a 2 nm gate length. "2nm" refers to the process node, and doesn't correspond to any device dimension at all.

    • @srikrishna2561
      @srikrishna2561 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Intel will produce 18A Processors.

    • @imabot7495
      @imabot7495 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@srikrishna2561 no one believe that roadmap, that was just for marketing and increasing funds. There will be delay

    • @sherlockholmes4224
      @sherlockholmes4224 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      😂😂😂

  • @mostafahesham2115
    @mostafahesham2115 3 ปีที่แล้ว +885

    "A problem we won't face until probably 10 years down the track."
    well, we are in 2021 now so, we are facing this problem very soon

    • @nicobugs
      @nicobugs 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Haven't we already reached the limit

    • @oksowhat
      @oksowhat 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      well, intel sucks for now still on 14nm+++++++++++++ for now amd is reaching 5nm but still far from what is the diffrance b/ insulator band and semicondoctor band about 1nm

    • @Arjun-jm4ll
      @Arjun-jm4ll 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@oksowhat intels ice lake processors are 10nm

    • @oksowhat
      @oksowhat 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Arjun-jm4ll Bhai 11th gen launch Nahi Dekha tha Maine tab

    • @dododareal1218
      @dododareal1218 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Im so excited for 2024!!! Hopefully Moore's law is gonna still workk

  • @sundarpranesh1146
    @sundarpranesh1146 3 ปีที่แล้ว +128

    1:04 I was searching the for the 4th electron , and he turned around . I just lost it 😂

    • @shriyanshpandey112
      @shriyanshpandey112 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      You know silicon has tetrahedral geometry.

    • @user-nk3ns1gq8w
      @user-nk3ns1gq8w หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      that's quite a brainy move

  • @noahb.e.church
    @noahb.e.church 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    5:35 "This will be a real problem for the future of transistors, but we'll probably only face that another 10 years down the track."
    Hello from 2024.

  • @Stormgebieder
    @Stormgebieder 2 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    "A problem we won't face until probably 10 years down the track."
    These days we are happy with any chip at all :D

  • @mzshmkn
    @mzshmkn 3 ปีที่แล้ว +106

    This is basically my favorite video on explaining how transistors work. Especially as to how the electrons/holes flow in both on and off states. I've probably come back here at least once every semester when reviewing.

  • @andrewdavies5722
    @andrewdavies5722 3 ปีที่แล้ว +224

    2013: "A problem we won't face until probably 10 years down the track.
    2023: ...... 👀

    • @scuida2730
      @scuida2730 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      but what is the problem about not going smaler?

    • @scuida2730
      @scuida2730 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Sizwe Letanta Yes, but when its technical not possible to go smaller at this point, everyone has to find other ways to improve their products.

    • @marcel151
      @marcel151 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@scuida2730 And that's what they are doing. The processes to get smaller transistors are taking more time, so manufacturers are trying to make chips faster in other ways. (See Intel Tick-Tock). The thing is that new outcoming chips are not as that more powerful than newer chips before. A fast CPU from 2015 is still good to use. Try to put that in perspective with CPUs from 1994 and 2000. The good thing about that is that you don't need a new computer every 2 years if you want to have powerful machines.

    • @drakesmith471
      @drakesmith471 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Lol, I was thinking just that. Me: “Ooh, were almost there.”

    • @murarikarmhe2322
      @murarikarmhe2322 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@scuida2730 bigger ones require more power than smaller ones

  • @aaronboonstra680
    @aaronboonstra680 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    The first time I watch this video I had very little knowledge about electricity and semiconductors, but as I've taken more classes through college,, especially since I'm getting a materials science degree, I've learned so much about these topics and I've gone back to this video and I'm amazed by how much more I know about semiconductors and electricity now.

  • @georgeti5188
    @georgeti5188 2 ปีที่แล้ว +115

    Great videos, as always. One correction for accuracy: While the focus appears to be on transistors in digital circuits, in reality, all transistors are much more than switches. They have a full range of operation between 0 or "OFF" and 1 or "ON". This continuous range is how common analog signals like audio, raw sensor voltages, or radio waves are amplified.

    • @ayoitscat
      @ayoitscat 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      This is a very important distinction. While most electronics are digital, it's still fundamental to understand the analog principles behind it

    • @georgeti5188
      @georgeti5188 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@ayoitscat indeed! Technical discussions can be challenging to fully cover in a short video as there are often caveats to consider or as in this case, real world operation in circuit.

    • @paulstelian97
      @paulstelian97 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      To be fair those continuous ranges aren't really used in the digital side of everything. For a DAC or ADC, which are used in basically all of what you mentioned, the intermediate voltage ranges of transistors are indeed something important.

    • @elliotskunk
      @elliotskunk 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      i thought that the benefit of quantum computers was the analog nature of them, compared to the binary nature of transistors?

    • @noorseenelmagre
      @noorseenelmagre 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Ohhhh okay was gonna ask if they turn off so simply how so many common devices keep working for so long. How exactly do they get amplified though? I'm still finding that tricky to understand

  • @planetarynebulae5251
    @planetarynebulae5251 4 ปีที่แล้ว +364

    3:21 Ironic that the Swiss flag could be interpreted as a plus sign.

    • @100Hasake
      @100Hasake 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      hows that ironic

    • @tricksterdude7407
      @tricksterdude7407 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yo

    • @eyescreamcake
      @eyescreamcake 3 ปีที่แล้ว +59

      @@100Hasake You claim to be neutral, yet your flag shows you to be positively charged! SWITZERLAND EXPLAIN!

    • @ibimssss
      @ibimssss 3 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      @@eyescreamcake its because switzerland is next to austria which has a - so it needs to be a + to stay neutral

    • @iaexo
      @iaexo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@eyescreamcake ah yes the comment and replies... very similar to the ones from 4 years ago

  • @jamesconnor5840
    @jamesconnor5840 9 ปีที่แล้ว +167

    I'm an engineering student, this is better explained here than in my classes haha it's impressive. Keep up the good work. Love the atom suit by the way.

    • @ioncasu1993
      @ioncasu1993 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      im sorry for you.

    • @nope110
      @nope110 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Its 4 years later so im assuming you already fail your class, but swap teachers if you can

  • @andycopeland7051
    @andycopeland7051 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I understood how to wire a translator but had never heard a great explanation of the HOW. I've always wondered. This was an awesome video! Your instruction and visuals made it really simple. Thank you for helping me finally scratch that itch.

  • @mister_80s
    @mister_80s ปีที่แล้ว +9

    5:35 "but that's not a problem until 10 years down the line" - video made 9 years ago

  • @Integralsouls
    @Integralsouls 3 ปีที่แล้ว +114

    In this 6 minutes , I could understand something that I couldn’t for almost 3 years reading books in high school and then college

    • @manitro337
      @manitro337 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ikr?

    • @sarahazman981
      @sarahazman981 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's amazing

    • @Blaisem
      @Blaisem 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      At that point it's more a poor reflection on you lol

    • @binmahin7184
      @binmahin7184 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      This is really true dude

    • @robertobonani4631
      @robertobonani4631 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Blaisem ahah hope he didn’t study computers at this point

  • @auvishekdipta01
    @auvishekdipta01 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    It has been 10 years 💀

  • @matthewrigby6089
    @matthewrigby6089 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This video is dope! Jokes aside, this is the best explanation I've ever seen, and I've looked up what a transistor is many many times because I never really understood why they were so special.

  • @cayde3907
    @cayde3907 8 ปีที่แล้ว +73

    Derek, you have balls for making the video

  • @JonnyWisdom
    @JonnyWisdom 4 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    Fair play. I am an electrical engineer with a Bachelors and Master degrees. If I had videos like this whilst studying, life would have been so easy. It's nice to sit back and watch these videos knowing that my visualization and thinking was correct, if not hard earned.

    • @David-ku6dm
      @David-ku6dm 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Respect for all people who learned without these videos

  • @ahmeterhanarik
    @ahmeterhanarik ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Do not ever delete or remove this video. So friggin helpful!!!

  • @hassaan1670
    @hassaan1670 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    1:20
    Never knew hippy Derek was the friend i needed

  • @tonirazz5565
    @tonirazz5565 8 ปีที่แล้ว +167

    Little mistake: By applying a gate voltage, you don't really encourage electrons to jump out of the Source region. You attract electrons from the substrate underneath the gate, and repel holes at the same time. And as soon as there are more electrons than holes, this region behaves like an n-type layer (this is called inversion) , and that way, it connects Source to Drain.

    • @CDTSimon
      @CDTSimon 8 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      You're right in that the holes get repelled from the gate electrode, however there are no free electrons in the p-Type so they can only be generated by increasing the temperature and therefore the energy of the electrons until they are able to break free... But this is only one option, the other option is for electrons from the n-type to tunnel through the barrier into the p-type, just like he said in the video ;)

    • @mjtsquared
      @mjtsquared 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Timothy Kimman no. You're referring to inversion. Tunneling is the problem Derek was talking about, since to keep up with Moore's law, transistors have to double their number inside a chip meaning they have to get smaller. However once they get too small that source to drain terminals are too close, due to quantum effects electrons can tunnel from one terminal to the other bypassing the entire transistor which will be a problem.

    • @pedrohenriquecontente332
      @pedrohenriquecontente332 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      This video is meant for 12-17 year-olds, man. It's just an oversimplification to get people interested on this topic

    • @89RYGUY
      @89RYGUY 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@CDTSimon a little late to the comments but there are actually free electrons in the p-type region. They are minority carriers.

    • @bluepainting5758
      @bluepainting5758 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi Toni, thanks for the correction, this is very helpful and is a very important detail !!

  • @kpiyer
    @kpiyer 6 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Loved it!! I am re-learning transistors after about 30 years! And I can see this is by far the BEST explanation I have seen/heard. Great job.. I am going to share it with many people!

  • @RicardoKugo
    @RicardoKugo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have had a course about nano devices for 3 weeks and this 6 minute video taught me more than 12 hours of classes on the subject

  • @official-obama
    @official-obama 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for clearing the ambiguity of what transistors do. No one else explained what turning on the base for each transistor did.

  • @Avionics1958
    @Avionics1958 10 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    The BEST transistor demo I have come across on the web. WELL DONE !!! and thank you.

    • @addipirnia1
      @addipirnia1 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      I couldn't agree more.

  • @cryofpaine
    @cryofpaine 10 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    You accomplished in less than 7 minutes what my college professor wasn't able to do for months. The guy was smart, but couldn't teach worth crap. He'd show us a circuit diagram, toss an equation at us, and have us memorize it. It took me months to figure it out, on my own, just what a transistor was actually doing.

    • @ThiagoCururu1
      @ThiagoCururu1 10 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Same here! That's why i love this channel!

    • @890slay
      @890slay 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That's because he was filling in time till his term was up.

    • @cinquine1
      @cinquine1 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Also because if you want to actually work with transistors this video isn't very useful, because it glosses over a ton of important stuff.

  • @arifhossain1862
    @arifhossain1862 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    This 6 minutes video is way better than 3 hours of academic class

  • @---GOD---
    @---GOD--- 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dude I need more of this... a whole series explaining how a computer works... all the way from the electricity to watching you on my screen.

  • @aimanadnan7405
    @aimanadnan7405 4 ปีที่แล้ว +304

    Its 7nm now in 2019 😱😱😱

    • @cekpi7
      @cekpi7 4 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      As mainstream yes, if i'm not mistaken, IBM did 5nm few years ago.
      EDIT: 5nm is already mainstream, Samsung has begun production this year and plans on going even lower (3.5nm).

    • @Ikbeneengeit
      @Ikbeneengeit 4 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      @@cekpi7 these nanometer ratings are just marketing buzzwords now.

    • @cekpi7
      @cekpi7 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@IkbeneengeitNot all of them, but yea, most CPU manufacturers use smaller number, even if small part of the chip is made using 7nm and other part using 12nm process, they will say it's 7nm chip.

    • @edvardscacacielava7605
      @edvardscacacielava7605 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@cekpi7 2nm are in progress now

    • @zacharyjefferies9965
      @zacharyjefferies9965 4 ปีที่แล้ว +46

      I'm here from the future, and we've achieved -3nm.

  • @rkgki
    @rkgki 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thank you for this. I haven't read an explanation tying the molecular structure of silicon to the flow of electrons in a transistor before as clearly as this, and I've looked at several books on electronics. Especially the need for an insulator between the gate and the P type silicon.

  • @tyhutchinson9530
    @tyhutchinson9530 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    this explained transistors better in 6 minutes than my college professor did in in a couple hour long lectures. Neat!

  • @farmerzocker3822
    @farmerzocker3822 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    "This problem we might face in about 10 years". This video is 8 years old...well, seems to get interesting now...

    • @b-beluga4510
      @b-beluga4510 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Lol. But we have reached 4nm size.idk how small those could get.

  • @calebflenoury178
    @calebflenoury178 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This is such a great video. As an electrical engineer who is very weak in chemistry, this definitely helped me understand the processes of transistors.

    • @samuraijosh1595
      @samuraijosh1595 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You're kidding right..? You can't possibly become an electrical engineer without knowing this stuff beforehand.....

    • @calebflenoury178
      @calebflenoury178 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@samuraijosh1595 lol well I’m totally doing it rn. For ECE you don’t really need to know the chemistry behind the transistor. You just need to know how to use them in logic circuits.

  • @ryanaiden
    @ryanaiden 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    1:18 rare footage of Derek's Aussie accent!!!

  • @remusgogu7545
    @remusgogu7545 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    It is so cool how Derek talks about the subject. He really likes this stuff. BTW, I wanted for a long time to understand how transistors work. Now I have. Thanks! 😉👍

  • @randomeggthatworksforthefb7172
    @randomeggthatworksforthefb7172 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Video: "A problem we won't face until probably 10 years down the track."
    Me: *Sees video was released 10 years ago*

  • @TheBigFella
    @TheBigFella 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thanks for taking the time to put this together - greatly appreciated!

  • @jakeengstrom2564
    @jakeengstrom2564 8 ปีที่แล้ว +594

    I wanted to know more so I did a quick Wikipedia search, turns out Derek was completely wrong, transistor is a science fiction RPG game published by Super Giant games...don't always trust these science videos.

    • @sumanacharya6576
      @sumanacharya6576 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      what do you mean by that!, transistor work the same way as explained.

    • @memespdf
      @memespdf 6 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      *woosh*

    • @benjamincormack3217
      @benjamincormack3217 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      I want to play it!

    • @zacharytaylor190
      @zacharytaylor190 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@sumanacharya6576 r/whoosh

    • @krishabm1
      @krishabm1 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Meanwhile from the game developers:
      "YeAh yOu'rE riGht Jake! wE shOulD NeVeR TrUsT tHeSe sCiEnCe vIdEos !"

  • @Abou47Pandas
    @Abou47Pandas 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    @5:45 That ten years is almost up-- how is this lookin for the future of transistors now?

  • @SyntekkTeam
    @SyntekkTeam 9 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Great video. I'm studying Computer Engineering right now and I specifically working with semiconductor physics in one of my classes. I feel like I understand it a lot better after watching this video.

    • @jasminevalentine1919
      @jasminevalentine1919 หลายเดือนก่อน

      What are you doing now?

    • @SyntekkTeam
      @SyntekkTeam หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@jasminevalentine1919 haha, I'm a software engineer. I make video games (with star garden games) and work to promote Star Voting
      Thanks for asking!

  • @nishant7452
    @nishant7452 8 ปีที่แล้ว +198

    So my Tamagotchi is just a machine!? *I FAIL TO BELIEVE THAT! MY TAMAGOTCHI LIVES!*

    • @a.f.nik.4210
      @a.f.nik.4210 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      :P

    • @AlephAce
      @AlephAce 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I love satire

    • @Nutritional-Yeast
      @Nutritional-Yeast 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Well, if it makes you feel better, man is just a machine in the literal sense. Governed by nano scale machines called molecules/proteins.

    • @AlickzRider
      @AlickzRider 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm never going to see silicon the same way again...

    • @SW-2010
      @SW-2010 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I don't understand what your saying but..................YES I BELIEVE U!

  • @user-qv4xl4ij9d
    @user-qv4xl4ij9d 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you - This was a great video. Im refurbishing a pinball machine & I have to replace some transistors on the motherboard. In a blog a guy said take a wire & touch one end to the top drain of the transistor & the other side to a ground & if the bumper fires, you found your problem. The transistor was the issue. Now I understand how & why that test worked = )

  • @cybersteel8
    @cybersteel8 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    2 years to go and hearing about the research into 3nm transistors now, Derek was almost spot on!

  • @larazegers797
    @larazegers797 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    You have taught me more in 1 video than an entire 50-minute lecture.

  • @kidzcannon
    @kidzcannon 9 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    you dont know how much time i spent to learn this, and then there is a 6 minute video that learned it from :O very good video :D

    • @Legendaryknight2
      @Legendaryknight2 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      do you know anything about p-channels?

    • @kidzcannon
      @kidzcannon 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      no whats that??

    • @Legendaryknight2
      @Legendaryknight2 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Well, I meant n-channel, p-channel is just this on the video. It would be the reverse of this, the p-type is on the drain and the source, while the n-type is on the middle (the n-channel). Apparently, this type of transistor turns off when there is a current to the gate. But I'm trying to find out how does it does it physically, like shown in this video.

    • @DanielVoyles
      @DanielVoyles 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ***** Yeah, I wish he had explained both. I am starting to learn more about electronics and would like to better understand the PNP transistor compared to the NPN similar to how he does in the video.

  • @ale_0921
    @ale_0921 ปีที่แล้ว

    Complex concept explained in a very simple way. Thank you for your work.

  • @awaisakram2081
    @awaisakram2081 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    10 years have completed, we have actually reached that level after invention of 2nm 3nm transistors. NOW quantum effects are creating problmes and solutions are also available to overcome that.
    This is evident of the amazing work of this channel. Hats off

  • @LarlemMagic
    @LarlemMagic 9 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    We now have 14nm transistors in our products.

    • @RaiZRiZ
      @RaiZRiZ 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      LarlemMagic Skylake has yet to be released mate.

    • @brainandforce
      @brainandforce 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ***** Broadwell is using 14 nm.

    • @ernststavroblofeld1961
      @ernststavroblofeld1961 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      LarlemMagic Why the silicon?

    • @LarlemMagic
      @LarlemMagic 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ernst Stavro Blofeld Dafaq you talking about?

    • @LarlemMagic
      @LarlemMagic 9 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Ernst Stavro Blofeld Ok first, rude.:(
      Can you just expand the question?

  • @doorhanger9317
    @doorhanger9317 8 ปีที่แล้ว +150

    I really, really, want to understand exactly how these things work, but every time I go deep into electronics i just get more confused. I can do quantum mechanics, complex algebraical proofs involving imaginary numbers, but just not those stupid electrons. I watched this video, said OMG i get it, then saw comments saying that this is only a specific kind of transistor, so I looked up the other kind and now I'm busy wiping the brain off my screen.

    • @BeeBumper
      @BeeBumper 8 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      +GEORGE witton I recommend the book Microelectronic devices by sedra smith, as far as I've seen it's the bible on semiconductors, this video talks about FET type transistors and really only discusses cutoff and saturation, or the switch type properties. It does nothing to explain the biasing and how that can yield three distinct modes of operation. It doesn't touch on the BJT at all. This video is strictly for semiconductors in chips, and it does a good job explaining why a FET conducts or doesn't but it's really just the surface of the topic and doesn't discuss at all current controlled bjt type npn or pnp devices.

    • @RediceRyan
      @RediceRyan 8 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      +GEORGE witton Give me an example of a proof you can do involving imaginary numbers

    • @ripsirwin1
      @ripsirwin1 8 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      You probably sound really smart to stupid people

    • @doorhanger9317
      @doorhanger9317 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Redice when i said "do" i meant understand, cope with etc. I understood the videos or books or whatever sources at the time, but I couldn't recall what happened in them exactly. I'm sorry if there was confusion, to be honest I probably should have worded it differently

    • @hanniffydinn6019
      @hanniffydinn6019 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It's just a valve - a TRANSFORMING RESISTOR. It's not just a switch.

  • @zzzxhrg
    @zzzxhrg 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I can only wish there would have been Veritasium when I was in high school. It only took me like what, 30 years to properly understand it. Still worth it, all of the journey.
    Oh and that German/Swiss Quantum scientist... Quite a highlight.
    Oh BTW, you said a problem we would have along the road in ten years, and it's been eight since this video, so maybe time for... An update?

  • @angkasasuryaamerta5757
    @angkasasuryaamerta5757 ปีที่แล้ว

    9 year and we get from 22 nm to 1 nm
    It probably the perfect time for new episode for transistor.
    thankyou Mr. Derek

  • @ayior
    @ayior 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I'm in a rabbit hole of trying to understand how computers work on a physical levels today. This was an important puzzle piece, thanks!

  • @DrAElemayo
    @DrAElemayo 10 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I actually understand them now. Amazing! Now can you explain how these transistors work to do logic in a computer? (for example, add a couple of numbers.)

  • @tobykidwell5998
    @tobykidwell5998 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    After 8 years, phones have more transistors than cpus from 2012.

  • @sunitasharma2536
    @sunitasharma2536 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    No doubt that this is the best explanation ever👍🙏
    Thanks sir for teaching us and making concepts easier and clear in interesting ways🙏❤️

  • @TheRangeControl
    @TheRangeControl 9 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thank you. :-)
    Now for a class on the emitter, collector, and whatever the third thing is.

  • @ElectroMathExp
    @ElectroMathExp 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Great video as always !
    btw ,the one u have explained is The Bipolar Junction transistor .
    while the one used in Computers is MOSFET ( metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor )
    you can explain FET much easier than bjts .
    we used to use bjts in computers 40 years ago , the digital circuits based on bjts are known as TTL or transistor transistor logic .
    Now . we use CMOS digital circuits which stands for "Complementary mosfet ".

    • @musakoca2684
      @musakoca2684 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      BJT isnt use base collector emitter ? he used source gate drain ? this terminology for mosfets?

  • @calowaykagan1379
    @calowaykagan1379 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    10 years now and the limit of Moore's law is coming to pass. Still the best video I have seen on explaining the function and limitations of transistors. Paper lantern costume is legend!!!

  • @happiness4919
    @happiness4919 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    5:40 i am from future and Yes, we are nearing the limits of Moore's law. The number of transistors that can be packed into a chip has been doubling every two years for over 50 years. However, as transistors get smaller, it becomes increasingly difficult to control their behavior. At the 3 nm node, which is the current state of the art, transistors are already starting to show signs of quantum tunneling. This means that electrons can tunnel through the transistor's gate, even when they are not supposed to. This can lead to errors in computation.
    There are a number of ways that engineers are trying to extend Moore's law. One approach is to use new materials, such as carbon nanotubes or graphene. These materials have different electronic properties than silicon, and they may be able to be made smaller without the same problems with quantum tunneling. Another approach is to use new manufacturing techniques, such as extreme ultraviolet lithography. These techniques can be used to create smaller features on a chip, which can help to pack more transistors into a given area.
    However, it is becoming increasingly clear that Moore's law cannot continue forever. At some point, the physical limits of transistor technology will be reached. When that happens, we will need to find new ways to continue the trend of increasing computing power.
    Here are some of the challenges that are being faced in trying to continue Moore's law:
    The cost of manufacturing: As transistors get smaller, the cost of manufacturing them increases. This is because the manufacturing process becomes more complex and requires more precise equipment.
    The power consumption: As transistors get smaller, they also consume more power. This is because the electrons have less space to move around in, so they need more energy to do so.
    The heat dissipation: As transistors get smaller, they also generate more heat. This is because the electrons are moving faster and colliding with each other more often. This heat can damage the transistors and shorten their lifespan.
    Despite these challenges, there is still a lot of research and development being done in the field of semiconductor manufacturing. It is possible that we will find new ways to overcome these challenges and continue Moore's law for many years to come.

  • @MsTatli
    @MsTatli 5 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    2019 - still the best video that explains transistors ...

  • @Vicvines
    @Vicvines 8 ปีที่แล้ว +359

    I refuse to use a computer that uses doping. I live a bad ass lifestyle which means no drugs or alcohol. Ok maybe alcohol, but no doping.

    • @RyanGralinski
      @RyanGralinski 8 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      if you drink alcohol your no better then someone who does dope don't judge the transistor it had a hard life

    • @masync183
      @masync183 8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      +Ryan Gralinski Alcohol is so much worse for you than dope

    • @RyanGralinski
      @RyanGralinski 8 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      what no that's my point ...

    • @henk6172
      @henk6172 8 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Fun-fact: your body makes doping. Yeah, it depends on doping. This stuff tells bone marrow it has to produce red blood cells, which can transport oxygen. Without doping you wouldn't be alive.
      The reason doping gets used in cycling is that you can store more oxygen in your blood, and breathing is more efficient. This is also why it's so hard to check if someone used it, as the stuff will always be there.

    • @johnmsingh7978
      @johnmsingh7978 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Damn you hella INTRINSIC...

  • @MojoJOJO543
    @MojoJOJO543 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I’m taking electronics and my prof pretty much refuses to explain transistors because I have not taken solid states yet. I am so grateful for this video

  • @nicknorthcutt7680
    @nicknorthcutt7680 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Damn its crazy its been 10 years since this video came out...

  • @Ezis9
    @Ezis9 8 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Thanks again for making this; it really cleared up my understanding for a paper I'm working on.

    • @spongmoid842
      @spongmoid842 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      +Ezis9 Same thing for me, cheers!

  • @SmolPotatowo
    @SmolPotatowo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    >we shouldn't have any problems till about 10 years down the track
    That was 6 years ago D:

  • @pennysgarage
    @pennysgarage 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I spent a month learning this in the Navy, in the avionics pipeline. Well explained in much less time...

  • @callumscott4001
    @callumscott4001 9 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    i learnt more about transistors in this six minutes than i have in three years studying technology, thank you very much for this video.

    • @Legendaryknight2
      @Legendaryknight2 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Can you guess how the p-channel works from this? I mean, he just explained the n-channel, right?

    • @Reydriel
      @Reydriel 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      My guess is that it's exactly the same, but the base has a negative voltage applied instead.
      Am I right? :D

  • @Ayplus
    @Ayplus 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You made an arguably confusing concept fairly simple. Wish I had this 5 years ago in my 2nd year EE course

  • @releasedmovies9207
    @releasedmovies9207 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Video: "A problem we won't face until probably 10 years down the track.
    Me: Looks nervously at this the time to face problem in transistors.

  • @ssenthilnathan3
    @ssenthilnathan3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Never really thought that I would rewatch this video for my exam, after 9 years in the same day it was released !!!!

  • @georgeevangel3233
    @georgeevangel3233 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Imagine the hard work those three who invented this transistor went through to get the first one working in a lab

  • @JonathanAlmeida
    @JonathanAlmeida 10 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    I think I understood this better solely because you dressed up as molecules.

  • @joshuathomas512
    @joshuathomas512 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Veritasium: "10 years down the track"
    Transistors: *sweating profusely*
    Me: *also sweating profusely*

  • @fuffoon
    @fuffoon 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This channel answers lots of curiosities. Good stuff!

  • @Jhenoah
    @Jhenoah 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    That silicone suit next holloween!! great vid. had trouble visualizing the concept.

  • @Inept_Kushal
    @Inept_Kushal 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    You explain me this better than my physics teacher. It comes in our exams.

  • @hadeelalomrani12
    @hadeelalomrani12 12 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I never understood transistors any better! thank you!!

  • @clayaderhold
    @clayaderhold 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    i hope science teachers use your videos in their class bc theyre so fun and educational, perfect for a pretense to a lesson

  • @vidanatural_oficial
    @vidanatural_oficial 7 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    great video... so simple and so complete.

  • @stalkingtiger777
    @stalkingtiger777 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    7 years down the road, I am wondering how we're heading towards 2nm chips. How did we overcome quantum tunneling?

    • @rudrasingh6354
      @rudrasingh6354 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      it happens at sized of 1nm and less. Its not a problem we have solved currently, atleast to the knowledge of the general public.

    • @tylerknight99
      @tylerknight99 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      GAAFET transistors + EUV manufacturing. When that hits it's limits it will be time to look into carbon nanotubes to replace silicon. Their main challenge will be producing nanotubes at the volume needed for global production rather than technology to make a nanotube transistor.

    • @williamtraub1356
      @williamtraub1356 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Quantum computers can solve this problem

    • @fanban2926
      @fanban2926 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@williamtraub1356 lmfao no that's unrelated

    • @williamtraub1356
      @williamtraub1356 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@fanban2926 they solve the problem of us lacking the computing power to preform complex tasks by using the quantum tunneling to our advantage. Derek made a video about it

  • @anshsethi9870
    @anshsethi9870 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    It's actually 10 years down the track. We gonna need another video

  • @KKJKJH
    @KKJKJH 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    "Now this will be a real problem for the future of transistors, but we'll probably only face that another ten years down the track" -10 years ago

  • @timl2k11
    @timl2k11 10 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I want to walk around in a silicon atom costume, like all the time. Would be a great conversation starter.

  • @IVAN3DX
    @IVAN3DX 8 ปีที่แล้ว +270

    WHAT'S UUUUUUUP!?

  • @yassinemorev9109
    @yassinemorev9109 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    "A problem we won't face until probably 10 years down the track."
    we are already here, time flies

  • @soyoustartedwatching
    @soyoustartedwatching 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    "Another 10 years down the track"
    *Engineers begin sweating, nervously*

  • @RexGalilae
    @RexGalilae 8 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Is that a t-shirt of prof Martyn Poliakoff (the periodic table of videos one) at 7:00 ?

    • @RexGalilae
      @RexGalilae 8 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      *0:07

    • @yoda-ghost
      @yoda-ghost 8 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      +Mohammed Zaid oh my god

    • @DANGJOS
      @DANGJOS 8 ปีที่แล้ว

      Holy crap! How did I not notice that?

    • @U014B
      @U014B 8 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Oddly enough, that was the first thing I noticed.

  • @Applest2oApples
    @Applest2oApples 10 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Ok, but how does a transistor actually work - how can you compute things by controlling a bunch of switches? And how does a processor control the voltage applied billions of individual transistors?

  • @MetlDOME
    @MetlDOME 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Holy crap that was awesome! Thank you for making this so simple to understand!

  • @shahariancuhadad1240
    @shahariancuhadad1240 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Honestly the best explanation I found on how transistors actually work

  • @suryachandra266
    @suryachandra266 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    10 years down the track huh...

  • @AgentDexter47
    @AgentDexter47 10 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    well I expected explanation of bipolar junction transistor
    also not completely true, aplying positive voltage to gate attracts electrons, and repells holes so near the gate we forecefuly create n-type semiconductor, and now there is no barrier so current can flow

    • @TheFounderUtopia
      @TheFounderUtopia 10 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      That's... almost exactly what he said. o_@

    • @ablaze1989
      @ablaze1989 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      TheFounderUtopia they forgot the fact that you can vary the voltage at the gate and with that you can control the flow....with that ability you now have the most basic amp

    • @ederluna2500
      @ederluna2500 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      This is a JFET!

  • @electricpaisy6045
    @electricpaisy6045 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Another advantage over a switch that you forgot to mention in the beginning is that it not only can be 1 or 0 but also everything inbetween.