Winterstone
Banned
................
So "works" is a perfectly adequate term. If a beginner asked "how does a diode work?" the simplest answer would be "a diode works by only allowing electricity through in one direction".
................
Always insisting on absolute correctness is a crippling disability that I an sorry you are afflicted with.
Hi Mr. RB,
it happens very often that the "truth" is something "in between".
That means: I agree with you - however, not in all parts.
For example, your "explanation" for the working principle of a BJT : Give it >0.6v at the base, and it turns ON. for my opinion is really not enough because it doesn't say anything. What means "it turns ON"?
Do you refer to switching applications only? Is it an "ON"-function like a relay? And what about the minus-pole of this voltage (a voltage exist between two nodes)?
On the other hand, I agree with you that "absolute correctness" (although not possible) is (a) not necessary and (b) can lead to formulas, which are not practical because one cannot identify the parameters with dominant influence. However, it is the task of a good engineer as well as a teacher to find the best trade-off between exactness and simplification.
(Coming back to the original problem: A statement like "the transistor turns on" is by far not enough to explain the working principle)
Regards