Plus Two Physics Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 14 Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits

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Kerala Plus Two Physics Chapter Wise Questions and Answers Chapter 14 Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits

Plus Two Physics Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Question 1.
In an n-type silicon, which of the following statement is true.
(a) Electrons are majority carriers and trivalent atoms are the dopants.
(b) Electrons are minority carriers and pentavalent atoms are the dopants.
(c)  Holes are minority carriers and pentavalent atoms are the dopants.
(d) Holes are majority carriers and trivalent atoms are the dopants.
Answer:
(c) Holes are minority carriers and pentavalent atoms are the dopants.

Question 2.
Carbon, silicon, and germanium have four valence electrons each. These are characterised by valence and conduction bands separated by energy band gap respectively equal to (E_g)_c, (E_g)_Si and (E_g)_Ge. Which of the following statements is true?
(a) (E_g)_Si < (E_g)_Ge < (E_g)_c
(b) (E_g)_c < (E_g)_Ge < (E_g)_Si
(c) (E_g)_c > (E_g)_Si > (E_g)_Ge
(d) (E_g)_c = (E_g)_Si = (E_g)_Ge
Answer:
(c) (E_g)_c > (E_g)_Si > (E_g)_Ge

Question 3.
When a forward bias is applied to a p-n junction, it.
(a) raise the potential barrier.
(b) reduces the majority carrier current to zero.
(c) lowers the potential barrier.
(d) None of the above
Answer:
(c) lowers the potential barrier.

Question 4.
For transistor action, which of the following statements are correct:
(a) Base, emitter and collector regior should have similar size and dopin concentrations.
(b) The base region must be very thin are lightly doped.
(c) The emitter junction is forward biase and collector junction is reverse biased.
(d) Both the emitter junction as well as to collector junction are forward biased.
Answer:
(b) The base region must be very thin are lightly doped,
(c) The emitter junction is forward biase and collector junction is reverse biased.

Question 5.
For transistor amplifier, the volta gain.
(a) remains constant for all frequencies.
(b) is high at high and low frequencies.
(c) is low at high and low frequencies a constant in the middle frequency large.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(c) is low at high and low frequencies a constant in the middle frequency large.

Question 6.
In half-ware rectification, what is the output frequency if the input frequency is 50Hz. What is the output frequency of a fullwave rectifier for the same input frequency.
Answer:
Given Input frequency = 50Hz
Output frequency
For Halfwave rectifier = 50 Hz
For full wave rectifier = 50 × 2 = 100 Hz.

Question 7.
A p-n photodiode is fabricated from a semiconductor with band gap of 2.8eV. Can it detect a wavelength of 6000 nm?
Answer:
Band gap E_g = 2.8 eV
Energy band gap corresponding to wavelength 6000 nm is given by

Since E_g, < E_g, so it can not detect a wave length of 6000 nm.

Plus Two Physics Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits One Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.
The zenerdiode works in______bias.
Answer:
reverse bias.

Question 2.
A transistor is operated in common emitter configuration at V_c = 2 V, such that a change in the base current from 100 µA to 200 µA produces a change in the collector current from 5 mA to 10 mA. The current gain is
(a) 100
(b) 150
(c) 75
(d) 50
Answer:
(d) 50
Explanation: Current gain,

Question 3.
The electrical conductivity of an intrinsic semiconductor at 0 K is
(a) less than that an insulator
(b) equal to zero
(c) equal to infinity
(d) more than that of an insulator
Answer:
(b) equal to zero.

Question 4.
The voltage between the terminals A and B is 17 V and Zener breakdown voltage is 9 V. Find the potential across R is

Answer:
The potential across R = 17V – 9V = 8V.

Question 5.
Hole is
(a) an antiparticle of electron.
(b) a vacancy created when an electron leaves a covalent bond.
(c) absence of free electrons.
(d) an artificially created particle.
Answer:
(b) a vacancy created when an electron leaves a covalent bond.

Question 6.
A circuit is constructed by using certain gates is given below

1. Each gate is a…….. gate
2. Complete the truth table of above circuit

Answer:
1. NAND gate

2.

Question 7.
In both p and n-type semiconductor, actually electrons are flowing. What difference do you observe in the motion of electrons in these semiconductors?
Answer:
Electrons in valence band are flowing. Electrons in conduction band are flowing.

Question 8.
Unidirectional property of diode; Rectification. Then the break down action of Zener diode:…….
Answer:
Voltage regulation.

Question 9.
For an input frequency 50Hz, the output frequency……..of hall wave rectifier is and the output of full
wave rectifier for the same input frequency is………
Answer:
50 Hz, 100 Hz

Question 10.
The following questions consists of two statements. Assertion: Zener diode works as a voltage regulator Reason: Zener voltage is independent of the Zener current variations and change of load resistance. Write the correct response from the following.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true and the rea¬son is not a correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Assertion is true, but reason is false.
(c) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is correct explanation for the assertion.
(d) Both assertion and reason are false.
Answer:
(c) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is correct explanation for the assertion.

Question 11.
Assertion: Semiconductors have -ve temperature co-efficient of resistance.
Reason: As temperature of a semiconductor increases, number density of charge carriers also increases.
(a) Both assertion and reason are correct, but reason is not proper explanation.
(b) Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is proper explanation.
(c) Assertion is correct but reason is wrong.
(d) Assertion is correct, and reason also is correct.
Answer:
(a) Assertion js correct, but reason is incorrect

Question 12.
Correct the following CE amplifier circuit.

Answer:

Plus Two Physics Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits Two Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.

Answer:
Semiconductor – P-type, n-type.

Question 2.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate word given below. (Base, collector, emitter, bias-collector junction, collector-emitter junction, emitter bias junction) Structurally, a bipolar junction transfer consists of emitter, base and………Out of these regions……….is the most heavily doped. For proper functioning of a transistor………..is forward biased and………….is reverse biased.
Answer:

1. Collector
2. Emitter
3. EB junction
4. CB junction

Question 3.
Classify the following into conductors, insulators, and semiconductors.
Ga, As, Ni, Calcite, Graphite
Answer:

1. Conductor – Graphite, Ni
2. Insulator – Calcite
3. Semiconductor – Ga,As.

Question 4.
Construct truth table for following logic circuit.

Answer:

Question 5.
State whether true or false and justify.

1. Zener diode are used under forward bias.
2. In n-p-n transistor current conduction is primarily due to electrons.
3. Transistor amplifier do not strictly obey law of conservation of energy since output power is greater than input power.
4. In a transistor amplifier all the frequency will have exactly equal gain.

Answer:

1. False, Zener diodes are used under reverse bias
2. True
3. False
4. False

Question 6.
Match the following

Answer:

Plus Two Physics Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits Three Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.

An electric circuit containing a battery, a bulb, and two switches is give above
1. Identify the gate an alogues to the above electric circuit
2.

If the above two input signal are applied to the gate what will be the shape of out put wave Draw the out put wave.
Answer:
1. OR gate

2.

Question 2.
A boy designs a circuit to study the input and output characteristics of an npn transistor

1. Identify the transistor configuration, input current and output current
2. By keeping the output voltage constant, the boy measures the input current by varying the input voltage. If a graph is drawn, what is the nature of the input characteristic? Justify your answer.

Answer:
1. Common Emitter, i_b, and i_c

2. Input Characteristics (CE configuration):
The graph connecting base current with base emitter voltage (at constant VCE) is the input characteristics of the transistor.

To study the input characteristics, the collector to emitter voltage (V_CE) is kept at constant. The base current I_B against V_BE is plotted in a graph. The ratio ∆ V_BE /∆_IB at constant V_CE is called the input resistance.
i.e.,Input resistance = \(r_{i}=\frac{\Delta V_{B E}}{\Delta I_{B}}\).

Question 3.
Truth table of a logic gate is given below:

1. Identify the logic gate.
2. Explain the working of this gate using diode and battery.

3. If these input signals are applied across the gate, what will be the shape of the output wave form.
Answer:
1. OR gate

2. Out of syllabus

Question 4.
A circuit using two switches (A and B), cell and bulb is shown in the figure.

1. The above circuit is equivalent to

• OR gate
• AND gate
• NOT gate
• NOR gate

2. Give symbol and truth table of the above gate
Answer:
1. OR gate

2.

Plus Two Physics Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits Four Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Forward biased pn junction diodes are shown in the figure.

1. Identify the figure, which shows the correct direction of flow of charges.
2. What do you mean by barrier potential and depletion region of a pn junction?
3. When forward bias is applied to a p-n junction, what happens to the potential barrier and the width of depletion region.

Answer:
1.

2. The potential developed across the junction, which tends to prevent the movement of electron from the n region into the p region, in semiconductor is called a barrier potential.

The space-charge region on either side of the junction at which there is no free charge carriers is known as depletion region.

3. The potential barrier decreases and depletion region gets reduced.

Question 2.
The symbol of a n-p-n transistor is shown in figure.

1. Redraw the symbol and mark emitter, collector and base of the transistor.
2. Arrange the doping concentration and width of emitter, collector and base regions in ascending order.
3. What happens when both the emitter and the collector of a transistor are forward biased?

Answer:
1.

2. Doping concentration of base < doping concentration of collector < doping concentration of emitter. Width of base < Width of emitter < Width of collector.

3. The transistor will work as two p-n junctions with common base terminals.

Question 3.
A green house has an electric system, which automatically switches ON a heater if the air temperature in the green house drops too low. A manual switch is included so that the automatic system can be switched off.

1. What is meant by 1 and 0 in digital circuit?
2. Name logic gate X. Why is it used?
3. Name the logic gate Y?
4. Construct a truth table of this electronic system by taking A and B as inputs and D as output.

Answer:
1. 1 – means maximum, 0 – means minimum voltage

2. NOT gate

3. AND gate

4.

Question 4.

The forward-biased diode is wrongly given above.

1. Redraw the above circuit correctly.
2. Draw the graph of current I with voltage v in forward bias.
3. Classify the following circuit into forward bias, reverse-bias, unbias.

Answer:
1.

2.

3. circuit into forward bias, reversebias, unbias:

• Reverse bias
• Forward bias
• Reverse bias
• Unbias

Question 5.
A car stereo working at stabilized voltage supply of 9 v DC and has a zener diode of 9V, 0.25W. But the voltage supply inside the car is 12V DC.

1. Which mode of bias will you suggest to connect zener diode voltage regulator?
2. Draw a circuit diagram of voltage regulation to help the boy.
3. Which device is essential for circuit diagram? Find the value of that device.

Answer:
1. Reversebias

2.

3. Resistance: R can be calculated using the equation
V_s = IR + V_z , 12 = \(\left(\frac{0.25}{9}\right)\)R + 9, R = 108Ω.

Question 6.
Electric current is the flow of charges along a definite direction and take place through metals as well as semiconductors.

1. Mention the charge carriers in the above cases.
2. Give the sketch of graph with V along X-axis and I along Y-axis for a metal at room temperature.
3. Give the physical significance of the slope of the graph.
4. If the above graph is drawn at 100°C, compared the nature of the graph with the graph at room temperature.

Answer:

1. Metals – electrons
   Semiconductor – Electrons and holes
2. Straight line graph
3. Slope gives conductance
4. When the temperature increases, resistance is also increased and hence slope decreases.

Question 7.
A transistor in the common-emitter mode can be used as an amplifier

1. Design a circuit to amplify an ac signal given in the input region
   [Hint: Give forward biasing to input region, reverse biasing to output region and take output across a resistor]
2. Derive expressions for voltage gain, current gain and power gain in the above transistor configuration.

Answer:
1.

2. When we apply an AC signal as input, we get an AC base current denoted by i_B. Hence input AC voltage can be written as
V_i = i_Br ……..(1)
where ‘r’ is the effective input resistance.
This AC input current produces an AC output current (i_c) which can flow through a capacitor. Hence the output voltage can be written as
V₀ = i_c × output resistance
If we take output resistance as R_L then v₀ becomes
V₀ = i_c R_L

Substituting eq(1) and eq(2),in the above equation we get

Power gain:
The power gain A_p can be expressed as the product of the current gain and voltage gain.
ie. power gain A = β_ac × A_v.

Question 8.
The circuit diagram of a full wave rectifier is shown

1. Explain how its works? Also draw the output wave form
2. If the frequency of a.c. at the input is 50Hz what will be the output frequency?

Answer:
1.

Full wave rectifier consists of transformer two diodes and a load resistance R_L. Input a.c signal is applied across the primary of the transformer. Secondary of the transformer is connected to D₁, and D₂. The output is taken across R_L.
Working:
During the +ve half cycle of the a.c signal at secondary, the diode D₁ is forward biased and D₂ is reverse biased. So that current flows through D₁ and R_L.

During the negative half cycle of the a.c signal at secondary, the diode D₁ is reverse biased and D₂ is forward biased. So that current flows through D₂ and R_L.

Thus during both the half cycles, the current flows through R_L in the same direction. Thus we get a +ve voltage across R_L for +ve and -ve input. This process is called full wave rectification.

2. 100Hz

Question 9.
Forward biased pn junction diodes are shown in the figure.

1. Identify the figure, which shows the correct direction of flow of charges. (1)
2. What do you mean by barrier potential and depletion region of a pn junction? (2)
3. When forward bias is applied to a p-n junction, what happens to the potential barrier and the width of depletion region. (1)

Answer:
1.

2. The potential developed across the junction .which tends to prevent the movement of electron from the n region into the p region, in semiconductor is called a barrier potential.

The space charge region on either side of the junction at which there is no free charge carriers is known as depletion region.

3. The potential barrier decreases and depletion region gets reduced.

Question 10.
LEDs that can emit red, yellow, orange, etc. commercially available.

1. How these colours are obtained in a LED. (1)
2. Write any two uses of LED. (1)
3. What are its advantages over ordinary bulbs? (2)

Answer:
1. Different colours are obtained by changing the concentration of arsenic and phosphors in Gallium Arsenide Phosphide.

2. LEDs find extensive use in remote controls, burglar alarm systems, optical communication, etc.

3. LEDs have the following advantages over conventional incandescent low power lamps:

• Low operational voltage and less power.
• Fast action and no warm-up time required.
• The bandwidth of emitted light is 100A° to 500A° or in other words it is nearly (but not exactly) monochromatic.
• Long life and ruggedness Fast on-off switching capability.

Question 11.
The symbol of a n-p-n transistor is shown in figure.

1. Redraw the symbol and mark emitter, collector and base of the transistor. (1)
2. Arrange the doping concentration and width of emitter, collector and base regions in ascending order. (2)
3. What happens when both the emitter and the collector of a transistor are forward biased? (1)

Answer:
1.

2. Doping concentration of base < doping concentration of collector < doping concentration of emitter. Width of base < Width of emitter < Width of collector.

3. The transistor will work as two p-n junctions with common base terminals.

Plus Two Physics Semiconductor Electronics: Materials, Devices, and Simple Circuits Five Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.
The transfer characteristic of n-p-n transistor in CE configuration is shown in the figure.

1. Identify the cut-off region, active region, saturation region from the figure.
2. In which of these regions, a transistor is said to be switched off.
3. For a CE transistor amplifier, the audio signal voltage across collector resistance of 2.0 kΩ is 2.0V. Suppose the current amplification factor of the transistor is 100. What should be the value of R_B in series with V_BB supply of 2.0V, if DC base current has to be 10 times the signal current?
4. In the working of a transistor, the emitter-base (EB) junction is forward biased while collector-base (CB) junction is reverse biased. Why?

Answer:
1.

• I – cut off region
• II – active region
• III-saturation region

2. Region I

3.

I_dc =10^-5 × 10 = 10^-4A
V_bb = V_be + I_bR_b

4. Only forward biased emitter-base junction can send the majority charge carriers from emitter to base and only reverse biased collector can collect these majority charge carriers form the base region.

Question 2.
The basic building blocks of digital electronic circuits are called Logic Gates. Some logic gates and their names are given in the table.

1. Match the symbols of logic gates with their names.
2. Draw the output wave form, from the given input wave form of a NAND gate as shown in figure (input terminals are A and B)

3. Write the truth table forthe given circuit.

Answer:
1. Match the symbols of logic gates with their names:

• A – 5
• B – 1
• C – 2
• D – 3
• E – 4

2.

3.

Question 3.
Following figure is an incomplete circuit of common emitter transistor in CE configuration with the input forward biased.

1. Identify the transistor an NPN or PNP.
2. Complete the above circuit diagram by giving proper bias in the output and connect load resistance of 4 KΩ.
3. When the base current changes by 20µ Afor V_BE = .02 V. What is the voltage gain of the amplifier, if I_c = 2mA
4. npn transistors are preferred in devices with very high-frequency source. Why?

Answer:
1. npn transistor

2.

3.

4. The resistance of a semiconductor decreases with rise in temperature.

Question 4.
Diodes are one of the building elements of electronic circuits. Some type of diods are shown in the figure.

1. Identify rectifier diode from the figure.
2. Draw the circuit diagram of a forward biased rectifier diode by using a battery.
3. Draw the forward and reverse bias characteristics of a rectifier diode and mark threshold voltage or cut in voltage.
4. What happens to the resistance of a semiconductor on heating?

Answer:
a.

b.

c. The forward and reverse characteristics of a silicon diode is as shown in the fig.

d. The resistance of a semiconductor decreases with rise in temperature.

Question 5.
A full wave rectifier circuit is shown in figure.

1. Draw the output wave form of the rectifier.
2. If a full wave rectifier circuit is operating from 50 Hz mains, the fundamental frequency in the ripple will be

• 50 Hz
• 70.7 Hz
• 100 Hz
• 25 Hz

3. In a zener regulated power supply, a Zener diode with V_z = 6.0V is used for regulation. The load current is to be 4.0 mA and the unregulated input 10.0V. What is the value of series resistor R?

Answer:
1.

2. 100 Hz

3. Input Voltage = 10V, Zener voltage V_z = 6V The voltage drop on the resistor should be 4V

Question 6.
A P N junction diode is connected to a cell as a shown in figure.

1. Name the type of biasing used here
2. Design a circuit diagram to draw the characteristics of the diode in above biasing.
3. Trace the characteristics curve if the polarity of battery is reversed

Answer:
1. forward biasing

2.

3.

In forward bias, current first increases very slowly up to a certain value of bias voltage. After this voltage, diode current increases rapidly. The diode offers low resistance in forward bias.

In reverse bias, current is very small. It remains almost constant upto break down voltage (called reverse saturation current). After this voltage reverse current increases sharply.

Question 7.
The circuit diagram of a full wave rectifier is shown.

1. Explain how its works? Also draw the output wave form.
2. If another diode is connected in series with D₂, as shown below what will happen to the out put wave form?

3. If the frequency of a.c. at the input is 50Hz what will be the output frequency of full wave rectifier?
Answer:
1.

Full wave rectifier consists of transformer two diodes and a load resistance R_L. Input a.c signal is applied across the primary of the transformer. Secondary of the transformer is connected to D₁, and D₂. The output is taken across R_L.
Working:
During the +ve half cycle of the a.c signal at secondary, the diode D₁ is forward biased and D₂ is reverse biased. So that current flows through D₁ and R_L.

During the negative half cycle of the a.c signal at secondary, the diode D₁ is reverse biased and D₂ is forward biased. So that current flows through D₂ and R_L.

Thus during both the half cycles, the current flows through R_L in the same direction. Thus we get a +ve voltage across R_L for +ve and -ve input. This process is called full wave rectification.

2. Out put will be halfwave.

3. 100 Hz.

Question 8.
Diodes are one of the building elements of electronic circuits. Some type of diods are shown in the figure.

1. Identify rectifier diode from the figure. (1)
2. Draw the circuit diagram of a forward biased rectifier diode by using a battery. (1)
3. Draw the forward and reverse bias characteristics of a rectifier diode and mark threshold voltage or cut in voltage. (2)
4. What happens to the resistance of a semiconductor on heating? (1)

Answer:
1.

2.

3. The forward and reverse characteristics of a silicon diode is as shown in the fig.

4. The resistance of a semiconductor decreases with rise in temperature.

Question 9.
A full wave rectifier circuit is shown in figure.

1. Draw the output wave form of the rectifier. (1)
2. If a full wave rectifier circuit is operating from 50 Hz mains, the fundamental frequency in the ripple will be (2)

• 50 Hz
• 70.7 Hz
• 100 Hz
• 25 Hz (2)

3. In a zener regulated power supply, a zenerdiode with V_z = 6.0V is used for regulation. The load current is to be 4.0 mA and the unregulated input 10.0V. What is the value of series resistor R?(2)

Answer:
1.

2. 100 Hz

3. Input Voltage = 10V, Zener voltage Vz = 6V The voltage drop on the resistor should be

Question 10.
The following diagram shows energy bands in a semiconductor.

(a) Which diagram shows energy band positions at OK? (1)
(b) What do you mean by energy gap? Match the elements /compounds with their respective energy gap values. (1)

Diamond	6 eV
Aluminium	0.03 eV
Germanium	1.1 eV
Silicon	0.71 eV

(c) Classify solids into conductors, semiconductors, and insulators by drawing energy diagram. (3)
Answer:
(a)

(b) The gap between the top of the valence band and bottom of the conduction band is called the energy band gap.

Column I	Column II
A. Diamond	1. 1.1 eV
B.  Aluminium	2. 0.71 eV
C. Germanium	3. 0.03 eV
D. Silicon	4. 6 eV

(c) For conductors

For Insulators

For Semiconductors

Question 11.
The given figure shows an npn transistor.

1. Redraw the figure and show the biasing voltage, direction of current and direction of flow of electrons and holes. (2)
2. Draw the input and output characteristics of transistor connected in common emitter configuration. (2)
3. In a transistor, a change of 7.9mA is observed in the collector current for a change of 7.99mA in the emitter current. Determine the change in base current. (1)

Answer:
1.

2. Input characteristic

Output characteristic

3. ∆I_E = ∆I_c + ∆I_B, ∆I_c = 7.9mA, ∆I_E = 7.99mA
∆I_B = ∆I_E – ∆I_c
= 7.99 – 7.9 = 0.09mA.

Question 12.
The transfer characteristic of n-p-n transistor in CE configuration is shown in the figure.

1. Identify the cut-off region, active region, saturation region from the figure. (1)
2. In which of these regions, a transistor is said to be switched off. (1)
3. For a CE transistor amplifier, the audio signal voltage across collector resistance of 2.0 kΩ is 2.0V. Suppose the current amplification factor of the transistor is 100. What should be the value of R_B in series with V_BB supply of 2.0V, if DC base current has to be 10 times the signal current? (2)
4. In the working of a transistor, the emitter-base (EB) junction is forward biased while collector-base (CB) junction is reverse biased. Why? (1)

Answer:
1. cut-off region, active region, saturation region from the figure:

• I – cut off region
• II – active region
• III – saturation

2. Region I

3.

4. Only forward biased emitter-base junction can send the majority charge carriers from emitter to base and only reverse biased collector can collect these majority charge carriers form the base region.

Question 13.
The basic building blocks of digital electronic circuits are called Logic Gates. Some logic gates and their names are given in the table.

1. Match the symbols of logic gates with their names. (2)
2. Draw the output wave form, from the given input wave form of a NAND gate as shown in figure (input terminals are A and B) (1)

3. Write the truth table for the given circuit. (2)

Answer:
1. Match the symbols of logic gates with their names:

• A – 5
• B – 1
• C – 2
• D – 3
• E – 4

2.

3.

Question 14.

1. According to energy gap, Classify them as metal, Insulator, and semiconductor.
2. From which of the above material we can eject electrons with minimum effort Explain
3. In Photo electric effect, while we are measuring photo current by varying retarding potential the variations is as shown in graph.

Answer:

1. Insulator, semiconductor, and conductor
2. Metals
3. This graph shows that photocurrent increases and reaches saturation with anode potential. This increase in current shows that electrons are emitted from the metal surface with different energies.

Question 15.
A diode can be properly doped at the time of its manufacture, so that it have a shape break down voltage
1. The above diode is called

• Zener diode
• Photo diode
• Light emitting diode
• Solar cell

2. Compare V-l Characteristics of above diode with that of an ordinary diode

3. Explain how the above diode can be used as an voltage regulator.

Answer:
1. Zener diode

2. Zener diode has sharp breakdown voltage than ordinary diode

3.

The zener diode is connected to a fluctuating voltage supply through a resistor R_z. The out put is taken across R_L.
Working:
When ever the supply voltage increases beyond the breakdown voltage, the current through zener increases (and also through R_z).

Thus the voltage across R_z increases, by keeping the voltage drop across zener diode as a constant value. (This voltage drop across R_z is proportional to the input voltage)

Similarly, when supply voltage decreases beyond a certain value, the current through the zener diode decreases. Thus the voltage across R_z decreases, by keeping the voltage drop across zener diode as constant (Zener diode as a voltage regulator).