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12. When the p-side is connected to positive and n-side is connected to the negative terminal it
is called forward biasing. The barrier reduces causing movement of majority carriers. With
increased forward bias, the current grows as shown in the figure given (Silicon diode).
I(mA)
V(volts)
0.8 0.6 O
13. When the p-side is connected to negative and n-side is connected to the positive terminal, it
is called reverse biasing. The barrier grows in size and the potential difference increases
causing a block to the majority carriers.
With increased reverse bias, the barrier further grows, but there will be a slight current due
to the majority carriers flowing across the junction as shown for silicon diode in the given
figure.
I( A)
V(mV) 80
14. Knee voltage : The forward voltage at which the current through the junction increases
rapidly is called Knee voltage.
15. Breakdown voltage : The reverse voltage at which the current due to minority conduction
increases rapidly is called Breakdown voltage.
16. Dynamic resistance : The ratio between the small change in voltage AV to a small change in
current A I is the pn-junction in called dynamic resistance. r
d
=
l
V
A
A
.
17. A pn-junction diode [represented in circuits as
n p
] is used to rectify ac. For a
given ac, the half-wave (one cycle rectified) and a full-wave ( both cycle rectified) are
shown below.
a.c. input
Half-wve rectified output
Full-wave rectified output
The device which does this is called a rectifier. If the frequency of a.c. is f, the frequency of
the half-wave and full-wave rectified output are f and 2f respectively.
18. Zener diode : A special purpose diode, operated under reverse bias close to breakdown is
called zener diode. It is a heavily doped diode used for regulating voltage. It is represented as
in circuits. Over a wide range of current variation it maintains a constant
voltage called Zener voltage is reverse bias.
19. Photodiode is a special purpose diode operated in reverse bias and allows current flow when
the junction made with transparent window receives light of suitable energy. The intensity of
the light decides the current.
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31.
1 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0
0 0 0
Y B A
1 1 1
0 0 1
0 1 0
0 0 0
Y B A
0 1 1
0 0 1
0 1 0
1 0 0
Y B A
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 0 0
1 0 0
Y B A
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0
0 0 0
Y B A
0 1
1 0
B A
Logic
Function
Symbol Logic
Equation
Truth table
Y = A + B (i) OR
A
B
Y
Y = A.B
A
B
Y
(ii) AND
A Y
Y = A
(iii) NOT
Y = A + B
A
B
Y
(iv) NOR
Y = A.B
A
B
Y
(v) NAND
Y = AB + BA
A
B
Y (vi) XOR
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3. Binary equivalence of 12
12
6
2
2 0
0 3
1
0
1
1
2
2
(12)
10
= (1100)
2
4. Binary equivalence of 13
13
6
2
2 1
0 3
1
0
1
1
2
2
(13)
10
= (1101)
2
Conversion of Binary number to decimal number :
Examples :
6 0 2 4 2 0 2 1 2 1 110
0 1 2
= + + = + + =
7 1 2 4 2 0 2 1 2 1 111
0 1 2
= + + = + + =
13 1 0 4 8 2 1 2 0 2 1 2 1 1101
0 1 2 3
= + + + = + + + =
11 1 2 0 8 2 1 2 1 2 0 2 1 1011
0 1 2 3
= + + + = + + + =
61 1 0 4 8 16 32 2 0 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 111101
1 2 3 4 5
= + + + + + = + + + + =
Ex. Convert 37 into binary number.
2 37
2 18
2 9
2 4
2 2
2 1
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
Remainder
Therefore(37) = (100101)
10 2
10 I s a n- type or a p- type semiconductor charged ? Give reason.
Sol. No since they are made by doping element of different valency but neutral net charge is zero.
11. Can an amplifier be used for all frequencies ?
Sol. No, energy amplifier has a range of frequency in which it has better performance.
12 What is the property of a pn- j unction that makes it to be used in a rectifier?
Sol. Uni-directional property -conducting under forward bias only is used to make a rectifier.
13 Name three factors on which the resistivity of a semiconductor depend upon.
Sol. Temperature, number density of electrons and holes and their mobilities affect the resistivity
of semiconductors.
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Sol. From the truth table, we get
A + B = Y
Y = A + X
A + X = A + B
= A + B . ( A +
_
A ) [ A +
_
A = 1]
= A + B . A + B .
_
A
= A .(1 + B ) +
_
A . B [

A +
_
A = 1]
= A +
_
A . B
Thus ,
_
A . B = X, which is AND gate with inputs
_
A and B.
19. Why in a transistor, the forward bias voltage is always smaller than the reverse bias
voltage?
Sol. On increasing forward bias voltage, the majority charge will move form the emitter to the
collector thorough the base with higher velocities. This would produce excessive heat and
transistor might get damaged.
20. Depict height of the barrier potential
(i) Without biasing
(ii) With low forward biasing
(iii) With high forward biasing.
Sol.
3
2
1(Without biasing)
(With low forward biasing)
(With high forward biasing)
V
o
21. Analyse the following circuit diagram and write answers to the questions
D
1
D
2
D
4
D
3
.
(i) Choose from the option below the diodes which are in forward bias when the switch is ON.
(a) D
2
, D
4
(b) D
1
D
3
(c) D
1
, D
3
, (d) D
2
, D
3
, D
4
Sol. (i) (d) D
2
, D
3
, D
4
(ii) When the p-end of a diode is connected to the positive pole and the t-end to the
negative pole of a cell, the diode is said to be forward biased.
(iii) diode is used as rectifier and detractor.
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23. Explain Characteristic of p-n junction diode in
(i) Forward bias (ii) Reverse bias
Sol. The variation of current with the applied voltage across the junction diode is known as the
characteristic of p-n junction dipole. Two types of characteristic curve of diode are :
(i) Forward characteristics (ii) Reverse characteristics
(i) Forward Characteristics : The +ve pole of the battery is connected to the p-section &
the ve pole to the n-section of the diode. When the battery voltage is zero, diode does not
conduct and the diode current is zero. As the battery voltage increases, the barrier potential
starts decreasing and a small current begins to flow. The forward current increases slowly at
first but as soon as the batery voltage beocmes geater than the barier potential V
B
, the
forward currrent inceases rapidly. The battery voltage at which the forward curent starts
increasing repidly is known as knee voltage. After the knee voltage, the variation of current
with the applied voltage across the junction is almost linear.
Knee Voltage : It is the forward voltage beyound which the current through the junction
starts increasing rapidly with voltage, showing the linear variation. Below the knee voltage,
the variation is non-linear.
mA
+
v
+
+
B
p n
I
v A
I A
O
I
v
Knee voltage
(mA)
(mv)
Dynamic resistance or AC resistance of junction diode : It is defined as the ratio of small
change in applied voltage AV to the corresponding small change in junction current AI i.e. R
d
=
I
V
A
A
Reverse Characteristics : If p-section is connected to ve terminal & n-section to the +ve
terminal of the battery, the junction diode is said to be reverse biased. For a given reverse
bias voltage a reverse current flows through micro ammeter due to the migration of minority
carriers across the p-n junction. Plotting a graph between reverse bias volage & reverse
current we get the reverse characteristics. Initially, the reverse current is small but attains
its maximum or saturation value immediately and becomes independent of reverse voltage. It
depends on the temperature of the junction diode. The reverse bias voltage at which the
current through p-n junction increases abruptly is known as break down voltage or Zener
voltage.
+
v
+

B
A
p n
v
I
Saturated
voltage
(mv)
) A (
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Working : During the +ve half of the input ac thorugh the primary coil, induced emf is set up
in the secondary coil due to mutual induction. The direction of induced emf is such that the
upper end of the secondary coil becomes positive while the lower end becomes negative.
Thus, the upper diode D
1
is forward biased & the lower diode D
2
is reverse biased. The forward
current flows due to majority carriers of D
2
across R
L
. During both halves current through R
L
.
flows in the same direction. The ouput has dc & ac components of voltage . It can be
converted into purely dc voltage by filtering through filter circuit using large capacitors,
before it can be put to any use.
Input ac voltage
Output dc voltage
t
t
O
25. Give different Types of Junction Diodes :
Sol.
1. Zener Diode : Specially designed p-n junction diode which can operate in the reverse break
down voltage region continuously without being damaged is called Zener diode. In Zener
diode both p and n sections are heavily doped due to which depletion layer formed in very
thin (10
6
m), so electric field is very high. Its symbols is In the reverse
break down region, the voltage across the Zener diode remains constant even if the current
through Zener diode increases considerably. V - I characteristics of Zener diode is as shown
:
O
Reverse Current
Forward Voltage
Reverse Voltage
Zener Breakdown
voltage
Forward current
Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator : Important use of Zener diode is in making constant
voltage power supply. Zener diode is connected in reverse bias to the fluctuating dc voltage
through a resistance R
s
. Thus the voltage gets divided between R
s
and Zener diode. If the
input voltage increases, the current thorugh R
s
and Zener diode increases to high value. This
increases the voltage across R
s
without any change in voltage across Zener diode. This is
because in breakdonw region, Zener voltage remains constant. Similarly, if input voltage
decreases, the current through R
s
decreases without any change in the voltage across Zener
diode. Hence, the voltage across Zener diode is constant. As load resistance R
L
is connected
to Zener diode, so voltage across R
L
remains constant.
R
s
Constant output
voltage
Input fluctuating
voltage
R
L
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(ii) Separation : separation of electron and holes due to electric field of the depletion region.
Here electrons move towards n-side and holes to p-side.
(iii) Collection : electrons reaching n-side are collected by front contact and holes reaching
p-side are collected by back contact. Thus p-side becomes positive and n-side becomes
negative giving rise to photovoltage.
When an external load is connected a photo current 'I
L
' flows thorugh the load. The output
power depends on the intensity of incident light.
Uses :
1. For charging storage batteries in day time which can supply power during night.
2. Used to power electronic devices in satallites and space vehicles.
3. Used in calculators, wrist watches.
n
n
p
p
Back
contact
v h
Metallised finger electrode
p n
}
Deplection layer
R
L
V-I characteristic curve for a solar cell is as shown :
open circuit voltage
short circuit
current
I
V
26. Draw block diagram and logic symbol of p-n-p & n-p-n Transistors and give its working
Sol. A transistor is a three terminal semiconductor device. A junction transistor is obtained by
growing a thin layer of one type of semiconductor in between two thick layers of othe similar
type semiconductors. Two types of transistors are n-p-n junction transistor & p-n-p junction
transistor. In n-p-n transistor, the p-section is sandwiched between two n-section. In p-n-p
transistor, the n-section is sand wiched between two psections. The three sections of the
transistor are called emitter (E), base (B), & collector (C)
Emitter : The left region of transistor is known as emitter. It suplies majority charge carriers
to the base region. Emitter region is heavily doped.
Collector : The right region of transistor is known as collector. It is also heavily doped. The
collector collects the majority charge carriers.
Base : The middle region of the transistor is known as base. The base is very thin as
compared to the emitter and collector regions and it is lightly doped.
B
E
C
n
p
n
C E
B
npn
n-p-n transistor
B
E
C
p
n
p
C
E
B
pnp
p-n-p transistor
Here arrowhead points hole current i.e. conventional current. In n-p-n transistor the arrowhead
on the emitter points away from the base, while in p-n-p transistor arrowhead points towards
the base.
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27. Give Transistor characteristies in common emitter configuration
Sol. In common emitter configuration, emitter teminal of transistor is common between input and
output circuits.
+
+

v
v
BE
A
+
I
B
B
C
npn
I
C
I
E
mA

+
V
CE
+

v
V
BE
I
B
V
cc
Input characteristics : These characteristics represent the variation of base current I
B
with
base - emitter voltage V
BE
, keeping collector-emitter voltage V
CE
constant.
Input Resistance : It is defined as the ratio of small charge in base - emitter voltage to the
small change produced in base current at constant collector - emitter voltage
t tan cons V
B
BE
input
CE
I
V
R
=
]
]

\
|
A
A
=
) A ( I
B

) volts ( V
BE
V = 2V
CE
V = 4V
CE
V = 6V
CE
Output characteristics : These characteristics represent the variation of collector current
I
C
with collector mitter voltage V
CE
, keeping base current I
B
constant.
Output resistance : It is defined as the ratio of small change in collector-emitter voltage to
small change produced in collector current at constant base current.
t tan cons I
C
CE
output
B
I
V
R
=
]
]

\
|
A
A
=
I (mA)
C
A 30 I
B
=
A 20 I
B
=
A 10 I
B
=
0 I
B
=
V (volts)
c
Cut off region
Saturation region
Active
region
Output characteristics of a transistor in common - emitter configuration are divided into
three regions :
(i) Active-region : Active region lies above I
B
= 0. In this region, collector junction is reverse
biased and emitter junction is forward biased. For a given value of I
B
, collector current
increases as V
CE
increases. A transistor is operated in active region if it is used as an amplifier.
(ii) Cut off region : Cut off region lies below I
B
= 0. The collector current has finite value. In
order to cut off the transistor, the emitter junctions has to be made slightly reverse biased in
addition to I
B
= 0
(iii) Saturation region : Saturation lies close to zero voltage axis where all the curves
coincide. In this region, collector current is independent of the base current.
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2. Trans-conductance(g
m
) : It defined as the ratio of change in collector current (AI
C
) to the
change is abse emitter voltage i.e. input voltage (AV
i
)
i
B
B
C
i
C
m
V
I
I
I
V
I
g
A
A

A
A
=
A
A
=
i
ac
m
R
g
|
=
]
]

\
|
A
A
=
B
i
i
I
V
R
3. a.c. voltage gain (A
v
) : It is defined as the ratio of change in output voltage (AV
C
) to the
change in input voltage (AV
i
)
i
0
ac
i B
0 C
i
C
v
R
R
R I
R I
V
V
A | =
A
A
=
A
A
=
gain ce tan sis Re A
ac v
| =
0
i
ac
v
R
R
A
|
=
0 m v
R g A =
4. a.c. power gain : It is defined as the ratio of change in output power to change in input
power.
Power gain =
i
0
P
P
A
A
=
i
0
2
B
2
C
R
R
I
I

A
A
gain ce tan resis gain Power
2
ac
| =
v ac
A gain Power | =
29. Explain working of transistor as Oscillator
Sol. Tank circuit consisting of an inductance L & a capacitor C, connected in parallel is the
simplest type electrical oscillating system. In this circuit electrical energy once given to the
circuit, oscillates as magnetic energy in the inductance & electrostatic energy in the
capacitance. frequency of oscillations is given by
LC 2
1
v
t
=
Here LC circuit is inserted in emitter-base circuit of transistor which is forward biased with
battery B
1
. The collector-emitter circuit is reverse biased with battery B
2
. A coil L
1
is inserted
in collector emiter circuit. I is coupled with L in such a way that if increasing magnetic flux is
linked with L it will support the forward bias of emitter-base circuit & decreasing magnetic fiux
will oppose the forward bias.
C
B
E
npn
C
L
L
1
+

B
i
K
+

B
2
Working : When K is closed, the current starts rising due to L
1
. As a result magnetic flux
linked with L
1
increases & hence increases with L. Due to mutual induction; an emf is induced
in L which will charge the upper plate of the capacitor with positive charge which supports
the forward biasing of base-emitter circuit. This results in an increase in the emitter current
& hence an increase in collector current. In this way the collector current through L
1
goes on
increasing, till the induced emf across L attains a saturation value.
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31. Explain OR AND and NOT gate used in digital circuit
Sol. Boolean algebra and logic operations :
George Boole developed algebra to solve the logical problems. This algebra is known as
BOOLEAN ALGEBRA. This logic is a binary or two valued logic. So this algebra allows only
two values or states for a variable. These two values or states represent either 'true' or
'false' ; 'ON' or 'OFF' ; 'closed' or 'open'; 'high' or 'low' etc. by 1 and 0 respectively.
Logic Gates :
The digital circuit that can be analysed with the help of Boolean algebra is called logic gate or
logic circuit. A logic gate has one or two input but only one output.
There are primarily three logic gates namely the OR gate, the AND gate and the NOT gate.
Truth table : The operation of a logic gate or circuit can be represented in a table which
contains all possible inputs and their corresponding output is called truth table.
The OR gate:
OR gate has two inputs (A and B) and only one ouput (Y). The relation between the output
(Y) and the inputs (A and B) is given by the Boolean expression.
Y = A + B and is read as "Y equal A OR B"
Logic symbol of OR gate is shown as
Y
A
B
OR gate used in digital circuit
OR gate consists of two diodes connected in such a way that their n-regions are connected
at a common point. The input applied to A or B is either 0 or 1. These diodes are assumed to
be ideal (zero resistance).
A
B
1
0
5v
D
1
D
2
y
Following cases may heppen :
1. When A = 0 and B = 0, both the diodes are revese biased. In this case, non of the diodes
conducts and hence there is no output i.e. Y = 0
2. When A = 0 and B = 1. In this case, D
2
is forward biased and D
1
is reverse biased. So diode D
2
conducts. The whole input voltage (i.e. 5V) appers at the output as diode D
2
is ideal one. The
high voltage (5V) is represented by 1, so the output Y = 1.
3. When A = 1 and B = 0. In this case, diode D
1
is forward biased and diode D
2
is reverse biased.
So diode D
1
conducts. The whole input voltage (5V) appears at the output as diode D
1
is
ideal. The high voltage (i.e. 5V) is represented by 1. So output Y = 1
4. When A = 1 and B = 1. In this case, both the diodes are forward biased and hence both
conduct. The output voltages of two diodes obtained across R are in parallel, so the net
ouput Y = 1 (i.e. 5V)
The truth table of OR gate is given below :
Output
A B Y
0 0 0
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 1
Inputs
The operation OR can be understood with the help of the following example.
Consider a circuit having two parallel switches A and B and an electric bulb in the circuit will
glow only if either switch A or switch B or both are closed. If both the switches are open, the
bulb will not low at all.
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Y

+
A
B
~
The NOT Gate :
The NOT has only one input and only one output.
The relation between input(A) and output (Y) is given by Boolean expression as Y = A and is
read as Y NOT equal to A.
This shows that if A = 0, Y = 1 and if A = 1, Y = 0. It means NOT gate inverts the input. Due
to this reason, NOT gate is also known as inverter.
NOT gate used in digital circuit :
Since input signal is to be inverted so a transistor amplifier in common-emitter configuration is
used instead of a diode. This type of transistor configuration changes the phase of the signal
or introduces a phase inversion. The NOT gate used in a digital circuit is shown in figure.
A
R
L
Y
C
E
B
1
n-p-n
0
Following cases may happen :
1. When A = 0, the emitter - base junction is reverse biased and hence ther eis no collector
current. The transistor is cut - off. So there is no potential drop across R
L
. Thus, the output
voltage (Y) is equal to voltage of the battery connected to the collector. Since high voltage
is represented by 1, so Y = 1.
2. When A = 1, the emitter - base junction is forward biased and hence large collector current
flows through R
L
. The transistor is saturated. The voltage drop across R
L
is equal to the
voltage of the battery connected to the collector. Hence Y = 0
The truth table of Not gate is given below :
Input
(A)
Output
(Y)
0
1
1
0
Y = A
32. What is Integrated circuts (IC) give advantage, limitation and its uses
Sol. Integrated circuit is an assembly of large number of transistors, capacitors andresistors
joined on a single piece (square or rectangel) of silicon, which may be very small in size. In
other words, integrated circuit is a collection of interconnected transistors, diodes, resistors
and capacitors fabricated onto a single piece of silicon, known as chip.
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Exercise1
1. What is the ratio of number of holes to number of conduction electrons in (i) n-type (ii) p-
type extrinstic semiconductor ? It is more, less or equal to one.
2. What is the ratio number of holes to number of conduction electrons in an intrinsic
semiconductor ?
3. Why is the conductivity of n-type semiconductor greater than that of the p-type semiconductor
even when both of these have same level of doping ?
4. How does the energy gap vary with doping in a pure semiconductor ?
5. Why Germanium is preferred over Silicon for making semiconductor devices.
6. Why does the conductivity of a semiconductor increase with rise of temperature ?
7. In a semiconductor the concentration of electrons is 8 10
13
cm
3
and that of holes is 5
10
12
cm
3
. Is it p-type or n-type semiconductor?
8. Carbon and Silicon are known to have similar lattice structures. However, the four bonding
electrons of C are present in second orbit while those of Si are present in its third orbit. How
does this difference result in a difference in their electical conductivities ?
9. A semiconductor has equal electron and hole concentration of 6 10
8
m
3
. On doping with a
certain impurity, electron concentation increases to 8 10
12
m
3
. (i) Identify the new
semiconductor obtained after doping. (ii) Calculate the new hole concentration (iii) How does
the energy gap vary with doping ?
10. What is the net charge on (i) p-type (ii) n-type semiconductor ?
11. Which of the diodes are forward biased and which are revese biased ? Give reason.
+5V
(i)
+10V
(ii)
+5V
R
10V
(iii)
12V
(iv)
R
5V
(v)
R
10V
12. Two semiconductor mateials A and B made by
doping Ge crystal with As and In respectively.
The two are joined end
to end and connected to a battery as shown :
A
B
(i) Will the junction be forward biased or reverse biased ?
(ii) Sketch V - I graph for this arrangement.
13. When a forward bias is applied to a p - n junction, it
(i) raises the potential barrier (ii) reduces the majority carrier current to zero
(iii) lowers the potential barrier (iv) none of the above
14. A p-n photodiode is fabricated from a semiconductor with band gap of 2.8 eV. Can it detect a
wavelength of 600 nm?
15. What is the phase relationship between collector and base voltage in common emitter
configuration.
16. Which type of biasing gives a semiconductor diode a very high resistance ?
17. In a CE transistor amplifier, the current gain is 100, input resistance is 1kO, output resistance
is 10kO. Find the voltage gain of the circuit.
18. A transistor has a current gain of 50. If the collector resistance is 5kO and the input
resistance is 1kO. Calculate the output voltage if the input voltage is 0.01 V.
19. In a CE circuit, if V
CE
is changed by 0.2 V, collector current changes by 0.004mA. Calcualte
the output resistance.
20. The current gain for CE amplifier is 59. If the emitter current is 6mA, find the base curent and
collector current.
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13. The graph shown in figure represents a plot of current versus voltage for a given semicon-
ductor. Identify the region. if any, over which the semiconductor has a negative resistance.
[2013]
A
B
C
0
C
u
r
r
e
n
t
(
m
A
)
Voltage (V)
14. In the circuit shown in the figure, identify the equivalent gate of the circuit and make its
truth table. [2013]
Y
1
Y
2
A
B
15. Draw typical output characteristics of an n-p-n transistor in CE configuration. Show how
these characteristics can be used to determine output resistance. [2013]
16. Draw V - I characteristics of a p-n junction diode. Answer the following questions, giving
reasons : [2013]
(i) Why is the current under reverse bias almost independent of the applied potential upto a
critical voltage ?
(ii) Why does the reverse current show a sudden increase at the cirtical voltage ?
Name any semiconductor device which operates under the reverse bias in the breakdown
region.