Michelin ECT GAP Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

A photodiode is indeed a solid-state component that reacts to light. It is designed to detect and convert light energy into electrical energy, thus functioning as a sensor rather than a simple passive device. When light photons hit the photodiode, they generate electron-hole pairs in the semiconductor material, resulting in a flow of current that can be measured. This characteristic makes photodiodes useful in various applications, such as in optical communication systems, light detection, and even in some imaging systems.

The other options don't accurately describe a photodiode. A passive component that reflects light does not actively convert light to electrical signals, while an optical lens component primarily focuses or disperses light, lacking the capability of electrical signal generation. Lastly, a device that converts sound to light does not relate to the functioning of a photodiode, as it pertains to different physical phenomena. Thus, the correct answer highlights the key function of a photodiode as a responsive electronic component to light.