Transistor as an Amplifier

For a transistor to act as an amplifier, it should be properly biased. We will discuss the need for proper biasing in the
next chapter. Here, let us focus how a transistor works as an amplifier.

Transistor Amplifier
A transistor acts as an amplifier by raising the strength of a weak signal. The DC bias voltage applied to the emitter
base junction, makes it remain in forward biased condition. This forward bias is maintained regardless of the polarity
of the signal. The below figure shows how a transistor looks like when connected as an amplifier.

The low resistance in input circuit, lets any small change in input signal to result in an appreciable change in the
output. The emitter current caused by the input signal contributes the collector current, which when flows through the
load resistor RL, results in a large voltage drop across it. Thus a small input voltage results in a large output voltage,
which shows that the transistor works as an amplifier.

Example
Let there be a change of 0.1v in the input voltage being applied, which further produces a change of 1mA in the
emitter current. This emitter current will obviously produce a change in collector current, which would also be 1mA.

A load resistance of 5kΩ placed in the collector would produce a voltage of

5 kΩ × 1 mA = 5V

Hence it is observed that a change of 0.1v in the input gives a change of 5v in the output, which means the voltage
level of the signal is amplified.

Performance of Amplifier
As the common emitter mode of connection is mostly adopted, let us first understand a few important terms with
reference to this mode of connection.

Input Resistance
As the input circuit is forward biased, the input resistance will be low. The input resistance is the opposition offered by
the base-emitter junction to the signal flow.

By definition, it is the ratio of small change in base-emitter voltage (ΔVBE) to the resulting change in base current (ΔIB)
at constant collector-emitter voltage.
 ΔVBE
Input resistance, Ri =
ΔIB

Where Ri = input resistance, VBE = base-emitter voltage, and IB = base current.

Output Resistance
The output resistance of a transistor amplifier is very high. The collector current changes very slightly with the change
in collector-emitter voltage.

By definition, it is the ratio of change in collector-emitter voltage (ΔVCE) to the resulting change in collector current
(ΔIC) at constant base current.

ΔVCE
Output resistance = Ro =
ΔIC

Where Ro = Output resistance, VCE = Collector-emitter voltage, and IC = Collector-emitter voltage.

Effective Collector Load

By definition, it is the total load as seen by the a.c. collector current. In case of single stage amplifiers, the effective
collector load is a parallel combination of RC and Ro.

Effective Collector Load, R AC = R C //R o

RC × Ro
= = R AC
RC + Ro

Hence for a single stage amplifier, effective load is equal to collector load RC.

In a multi-stage amplifier (i.e. having more than one amplification stage), the input resistance Ri of the next stage also
comes into picture.

Effective collector load becomes parallel combination of RC, Ro and Ri i.e,

Effective Collector Load, R AC = R C //R o //R i

RC Ri
R C //R i =
RC + Ri

As input resistance Ri is quite small, therefore effective load is reduced.

Current Gain
The gain in terms of current when the changes in input and output currents are observed, is called as Current gain.
By definition, it is the ratio of change in collector current (ΔIC) to the change in base current (ΔIB).

ΔIC
Current gain, β =
ΔIB
The value of β ranges from 20 to 500. The current gain indicates that input current becomes β times in the collector
current.

Voltage Gain
The gain in terms of voltage when the changes in input and output currents are observed, is called as Voltage gain.
By definition, it is the ratio of change in output voltage (ΔVCE) to the change in input voltage (ΔVBE).

ΔVCE
Voltage gain, AV =
ΔVBE

C hange in output current × ef f ective load

ΔIC × R AC ΔIC R AC R AC
= = × = β ×
ΔIB × R i ΔIB Ri Ri

For a single stage, RAC = RC.

However, for Multistage,

RC × Ri
R AC =
RC + Ri

Where Ri is the input resistance of the next stage.

Power Gain
The gain in terms of power when the changes in input and output currents are observed, is called as Power gain.

By definition, it is the ratio of output signal power to the input signal power.

2
(ΔIC ) ×RAC
Power gain, AP =
2
(ΔIB ) ×Ri

ΔIC ΔIC × R AC
= ( ) ×
ΔIB ΔIB × R i

= Current gain × Voltage gain

Hence these are all the important terms which refer the performance of amplifiers.

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