Final answer:
True, transistors are defined as electronic switches, key in digital circuits. They serve as amplifiers and switches, impacting the evolution of electronics like computers and radios.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transistors, a cornerstone of modern electronics, are in fact used as switches in digital circuits. This is true. They are fundamental in creating the binary systems that run our computers and many other digital devices. However, transistors also function as amplifiers, such as amplifying audio signals in radios.
A junction transistor, which is one type of transistor, consists of an emitter, base, and collector. It controls the large collector current by adjusting the small base current, effectively acting as an electronic valve. Transistors have radically improved electronic devices since their invention. They replaced vacuum tubes, leading to smaller, more efficient devices. The transistor radio, for example, was one of the earliest consumer products to utilize transistors, showcasing their capacity for miniaturization and portability in electronics.
Moreover, the use of transistors in the design and construction of computers in the late 1950s and early 1960s marked a significant advancement, making computers smaller, faster, and less power-hungry. The role of transistors in amplifying signals is equally essential in applications like driving loudspeakers from microphones, where they modulate the volume based on the input signal, amplifying the sound.
In summary, while transistors are indeed widely recognized as electronic switches in digital circuits, their role as amplifiers in various devices, including radios and sound systems, cannot be overlooked.