It depends on the transistor type, its purpose and use. The common npn or pnp transistor usually has three leads. Fet's and others usually have three to four (should there be a metal case, sometimes a lead is provided for a ground connection for the purposes of shielding), and sometimes, extra leads that are tied to the same point inside the transistor, just to make circuit board design a lot easier or to provide more than one access point for additional circuitry. It's also possible to use some of the leads for additional heat sinking at the internal junction, especially if it's used in R.F. design. On the average, three leads, but some could have more.
The 7812 is not a transistor. It is an integrated circuit, a voltage regulator designed to regulate an input voltage down to 12 volts output. It typically comes in a TO-220 case, and has three leads, so it sure does look like a transistor though!
3
3
Here are some songs with transistor radio in the title and there are probably many more: Transistor Sister by Freddy Cannon Twisted Transistor by Korn Transistor Radio ... three songs by Cloud Cult, Jaya the Cat, and The Methadones Tiny Blue Transistor Radio by Connie Smith
Most transistors have three leads. This is true even in power transistors which use the external case or housing to connect to the collector, because the circuit which uses the power transistor must still use three wires to connect to it.
256
A silicon transistor is a transistor made of silicon.
When investigated with an ohm-meter, a transistor resembles two diodes connected "back-to-back". But you can't make a transistor by connecting two diodes back-to-back.
A transistor can be in three conditions or states. It can be active (at a voltage higher than the emitter), in saturation or cut off (no current).
Direct coupled transistor logic is a type of transistor that is more economical to use then integrated circuits. These transistors can be found in many types of wires such as the ones that control cable internet.
The active region of a transistor is when the transistor has sufficient base current to turn the transistor on and for a larger current to flow from emitter to collector. This is the region where the transistor is on and fully operating.
2o