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Physical Characteristics of the CPU

* Most CPUs are collections of digital circuits imprinted on silicon wafers, or chips, each no bigger than the tip of a pencil eraser. * To turn a digital circuit on or off within the CPU, electrical current must flow through a medium (usually silicon) from point A to point B. * The speed the current travels between points can be increased by either reducing the distance between the points or reducing the resistance of the medium to the electrical current.

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Q: Are most CPUs are collections of digital circuits imprinted on silicon wafers?
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What is a silicon wafer?

Silicon wafers are a key component of integrated circuits such as those used to power computers, cellphones, and a wide variety of other devices. A silicon wafer consists of a thin slice of silicon which can be treated in various ways, depending on the type of electronics it is being used in. Silicon is a very high quality semiconductor, making it ideal for the production of such circuits, although other materials have been explored historically. Much of the world's production of silicon wafers was historically centered in the aptly-named Silicon Valley in California.If the development of the integrated circuit revolutionized human society, the silicon wafer deserves a big part of the credit. While other semiconductors were tested and tried, siliconproved to be the most stable and useful. Fortunately, the raw materials for silicon wafers are quite accessible, even if some work is required to produce wafer-grade silicon.Making silicon wafers is a lengthy process. A lab must grow a silicon crystal in highly controlled conditions to maintain purity, although the lab may selectively dope the crystal with certain ingredients during the growth process. Once the crystal is grown, it is cut into thin slices which must then be polished before they can used to make integrated circuits.


What element is commonly used in the making of solid state integrated circuits?

Silicon is widely found in clay and sand and is used in the making of solid-state integrated circuits. It is used not only because it's abundance makes it cheap but also because it is a good semiconductor. As a result, highly conducting materials can be overlaid on the silicon to create the electronic circuitry of the integrated circuit.


What are the elements found in sand?

Silicon and oxygen, in this form. SiO2 Silicon dioxide.


Is silicon similar to a non-metal?

no it is not a nonmetal. Silicon is a metalloid


How does silicon carbide differ from quartz?

Silicon carbide consists of silicon and carbon, quartz consists of silicon and oxygen.

Related questions

Silicon is used in computer circuits what special of silicon means that it can be used for this?

It is a semiconductor and therefore can be used to make diodes and transistors for digital circuits which are robust mechanically and electrically. Silicon is inexpensive and widely available, and there is now a well developed industry in handling and manipulating it.


What was the computer made of?

Several early digital computers were made of electromechanical devices similar to those used to build automatic dial telephone exchanges used at the time. First generation digital computers were made of vacuum tubes. Second generation digital computers were made of discrete transistors (most used germanium transistors but later some silicon transistors). Third generation digital computers were made of (hybrid, SSI, MSI, LSI) silicon integrated circuits. Fourth generation digital computers are made of microprocessors and other (VLSI, ULSI, etc.) silicon integrated circuits.


WHAT IS Tiny piece of silicon with electronic circuits?

The tiny piece of silicon onto which electronic circuits are embedded is called a die.


Where is germanium and silicon located in computer chips?

Germanium is not used in integrated circuits. Silicon is.


What is ic fabricationm?

Manufacturing of IC is known as Fabrication of IC.... it is fabricated from silica(sand)... Inside an IC u can see a small silicon sheet where the actual circuits are imprinted by a process... from that small sheet wires are drawn and fabricated into a IC......


What is the purpose of a silicon wafer?

Silicon wafers are thin pieces of silicon which are used in integrated circuits. Silicon is used as it has been proven in tests to be an effective semi-conductor. Much of the silicon used is produced in California.


What are tiny pieces of silicon with electronic circuits called?

wrist watches


BC in integrated circuits stands for what?

BC stands for silicon transistor


What special property of silicon helps it make computer circuits?

booo


WHAT IS Tiny piece of silicon with electronic circuits the CPU is one?

Tiny piece of silicon with electronic circuits in the CPU is the one known as a the processor. This piece will contain all the components of an electric circuit.


The basic substance in all integrated circuits is the element?

Silicon, element 14.


What are many complicated circuits etched onto a small piece of silicon?

The circuits are simply called microchips,because these circuits are too small to be seen clearly with a naked eye.