Hi im allen i am 12 years old and ive been working with basic robotics for about a year but im still puzzled by what the components do mostly i have just used schematics but i want an idea about the components so i can design my own projects other then simple dc motors, so please answer quickly!
http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/
Its basically a free book online about electronics and circuitry - covering AC, DC, and semiconductors.
Trying to type a response as to what each component does would take a very long time!! :)
Good luck!
It is certainly something (a hobby, maybe a career) you will enjoy for a good while.
Get yourself a kit, from radio shack or some other electronic store.
This store
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=abra+electronics&meta=&aq=0s&oq=abraelec
Have a lot of kits especially for people like you. Something to learn hot it works
I am sure you will find a similar store near you
Hope this answers your question and helps you