In electronics, solid state circuits are those that do not contain vacuum tubes. The term was introduced to describe the transition from valve-based amplifiers to transistorised amplifiers. Solid state means that electrons flow through solid semiconductor, materials such as Germanium (Ge), Silicon (Si) etc, and not through empty spaces, such as in vacuum tubes. Solid-state components last much longer than their thermionic counterparts because of their greater resistance to shock, vibration and mechanical wear. The field of electronics is the study and use of systems that operate by controlling the flow of electrons (or other charge carriers) in devices such as thermionic valves and semiconductors. ... In electronics, a vacuum tube (U.S. and Canadian English) or (thermionic) valve (outside North America) is a device generally used to amplify, or otherwise modify, a signal by controlling the movement of electrons in an evacuated space. ... Assorted transistors The transistor is a solid state semiconductor device that can be used for amplification, switching, voltage stabilization, signal modulation and many other functions. ... Properties The electron (also called negatron, commonly represented as e−) is a subatomic particle. ... A semiconductor is a material with an electrical conductivity that is intermediate between that of an insulator and a conductor. ... General Name, Symbol, Number germanium, Ge, 32 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 14, 4, p Appearance grayish white Atomic mass 72. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silicon, Si, 14 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 14, 3, p Appearance dark gray, bluish tinge Atomic mass 28. ...

As the use of vacuum tubes in consumer electronics has decreased (an exception being the CRT still widely used for TV and desktop computer monitors), the term "solid state" has been increasingly used as a synonym for "no moving parts". For example, digital audio players that store all their songs in flash memory are often described as solid state to differentiate them from hard disk players. Like the older usage, this usage connotes increased durability and shock resistance. Consumer electronics is electronic equipment intended for use by everyday people. ... Cathode ray tube employing electromagnetic focus and deflection Cutaway rendering of a color CRT Electron guns Electron beams Focusing coils Deflection coils Anode connection Mask for separating beams for red, green, and blue part of displayed image Phosphor layer with red, green, and blue zones Close-up of the phosphor... Idiot box redirects here. ... A white Fifth Generation iPod (iPod Video) with a case and earbuds. ... A USB Flash Memory Device. ... Typical hard drives of the mid-1990s. ...

your mom loves solid state amps!