🔍 Key Concepts

• Field Effect Transistors (FETs) and how their gate is constructed • CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) input structure and insulation layer • Effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD) on sensitive semiconductor devices

💭 Think About

• Think about what makes the gate/input of FET and CMOS devices different from older bipolar transistor circuits. • Consider what might happen if a high voltage static charge is applied to a very thin insulating layer inside a device. • Which of the choices describes something that could happen even before the device is powered up, just from being handled?

✅ Before You Answer

• Review how the gate of a FET and the inputs of CMOS ICs are insulated from the rest of the device. • Ask yourself which option is commonly associated with electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection procedures in electronics labs. • Eliminate any choices that describe problems you would expect from mechanical damage or light exposure, rather than electrical overstress from static.