Which terminals are part of a bipolar transistor?

A bipolar transistor consists of three terminals: the base, the collector, and the emitter. Each of these terminals has a specific function in the operation of the transistor.

The base terminal is responsible for controlling the flow of charge carriers (electrons and holes) between the collector and the emitter. It is the terminal through which the input signal is applied to modulate the device's operation. The collector is where the main current flows out of the transistor, while the emitter is responsible for supplying the charge carriers to the base-collector junction.

This configuration allows the bipolar transistor to amplify signals, as a small change in the current flowing into the base can control a much larger current flowing from the collector to the emitter. This essential characteristic makes bipolar transistors crucial components in various electronic circuits.

Other options refer to different types of electronic components. For example, the anode and cathode are terms used for diodes, while source, gate, and drain are associated with field-effect transistors (FETs). The references to drain and source in the last option also indicate a misunderstanding of bipolar transistor configuration, as those terms are not applicable.