This document provides an overview of using a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) to amplify a signal voltage source. It first discusses the general idea and large signal characteristics of a BJT. It then explains that directly applying a voltage signal to a BJT would not work for amplification. The solution is to convert the voltage signal to a current signal using a resistor. However, simply passing this current through another resistor also does not produce amplification. The key is that a BJT can amplify current due to electron-hole recombination effects within its structure. The document goes on to describe in detail how a BJT can be used in a common base amplifier configuration to successfully amplify an input signal voltage.