Problems on Semiconductor Diode

Q1. An a.c. voltage of peak value 20 V is connected in series with a silicon diode and load
resistance of 500 Ω. If the forward resistance of diode is 10 Ω, find :
(i)peak current through diode (ii)peak output voltage
What will be these values if the diode is assumed to be ideal ?

Q3. Calculate the current through 48 Ω resistor in the circuit shown in Fig. 3 (i).
Assume the diodes to be of silicon and forward resistance of each diode is 1 Ω.

Fig. 3

Q4. Determine the current I in the circuit shown in Fig. 4 (i). Assume the diodes to
be of silicon and forward resistance of diodes to be zero.

Fig. 4

Q5. Find the voltage VA in the circuit shown in Fig. 5 (i). Use simplified model.
 Fig. 5

Q6. Find VQ and ID in the network shown in Fig. 6(i). Use simplified model.

Fig. 6

Q7. Determine current through each diode in the circuit shown in Fig. 7 (i). Use
simplified model. Assume diodes to be similar.

Fig.7

Q8. Determine the currents I1, I2 and I3 for the network shown in Fig. 8(i). Use
simplified model for the diodes.

Fig. 8

Q9. Determine if the diode (ideal) in Fig. 9 (i) is forward biased or reverse biased.
Fig. 9

Q10. Determine the state of diode for the circuit shown in Fig. 10 (i) and find ID and VD . Assume
simplified model for the diode.

Fig. 10

Q11. The applied input a.c. power to a half-wave rectifier is 100 watts. The d.c. output
power obtained is 40 watts.
(i) What is the rectification efficiency ?
(ii) What happens to remaining 60 watts ?

Q12. An a.c. supply of 230 V is applied to a half-wave rectifier circuit through

Q14. A half-wave rectifier is used to supply 50V d.c. to a resistive load of 800 Ω. The diode
has a resistance of 25 Ω. Calculate a.c. voltage required.

Q15. A full-wave rectifier uses two diodes, the internal resistance of each diode may be
assumed constant at 20 Ω. The transformer r.m.s. secondary voltage from centre tap to
each end of secondary is 50 V and load resistance is 980 Ω. Find : (i) the mean load current
(ii) the r.m.s. value of load current.

Q16. In the centre-tap circuit shown in Fig. 2, the diodes are assumed to be ideal i.e. having
zero internal resistance. Find :(i) d.c. output voltage(ii) peak inverse voltage (iii)
rectification efficiency.

Fig. 2

Q17. In the bridge type circuit shown in Fig. 3, the diodes are assumed to be ideal. Find : (i)
d.c. output voltage (ii) peak inverse voltage (iii) output frequency. Assume primary to
secondary turns to be 4.

Fig.3
Q18. Fig. 4(i) and Fig. 4 (ii) show the centre-tap and bridge type circuits having the same
load resistance and transformer turn ratio. The primary of each is connected to 230V, 50
Hz supply. (i) Find the d.c. voltage in each case. (ii) PIV for each case for the same d.c.
output. Assume the diodes to be ideal.

Fig. 4

Q19. The four diodes used in a bridge rectifier circuit have forward resistances which may
be considered constant at 1Ω and infinite reverse resistance. The alternating supply voltage
is 240 V r.m.s. and load resistance is 480 Ω. Calculate (i) mean load current and (ii) power
dissipated in each diode.

Q20. The bridge rectifier shown in Fig. 6 uses silicon diodes. Find (i) d.c. output voltage (ii)
d.c. output current. Use simplified model for the diodes

Fig.6.

Q21. A power supply A delivers 10 V dc with a ripple of 0.5 V r.m.s. while the
power supply B delivers 25 V dc with a ripple of 1 mV r.m.s. Which is better power supply
?

Q22. For the circuit shown in Fig.7, find the output d.c. voltage.
Fig.7

Q23. The choke of Fig.8 has a d.c. resistance of 25 Ω. What is the d.c. voltage if the full-
wave signal into the choke has a peak value of 25.7 V ?

Fig.8

Solved Problems On Zener Diode

Q25. For the circuit shown in Fig. 2 (i),find the maximum and minimum values of zener
diode current.

Fig.2

Q26. A 7.2 V zener is used in the circuit shown in Fig. 3 and the load current is to vary
from 12 to 100 mA. Find the value of series resistance R to maintain a voltage of 7.2 V
across the load. The input voltage is constant at 12V and the minimum zener current is 10
mA.
Fig. 3

Q27. The zener diode shown in Fig. 4 has VZ = 18 V. The voltage across the load stays at 18
V as long as IZ is maintained between 200 mA and 2 A. Find the value of series resistance
R so that E0 remains 18 V while input voltage Ei is free to vary between 22 V to 28V.

Fig. 4

Q28. A 10-V zener diode is used to regulate the voltage across a variable load resistor [See
fig.5]. The input voltage varies between 13 V and 16 V and the load current varies between
10 mA and 85 mA. The minimum zener current is 15 mA. Calculate the value of series
resistance R.

Fig. 5

Q29. The circuit of Fig. 6 uses two zener diodes, each rated at 15 V, 200 mA. If the circuit is
connected to a 45-volt unregulated supply, determine :(i) The regulated output voltage (ii)
The value of series resistance R.
Fig. 6

Q30. What value of series resistance is required when three 10-watt, 10-volt, 1000 mA
zener diodes are connected in series to obtain a 30-volt regulated output from a 45 volt d.c.
power source ?

Q31. Over what range of input voltage will the zener circuit shown in Fig. 8 maintain 30 V
across 2000 Ω load, assuming that series resistance R = 200 Ω and zener current
rating is 25 mA ?

Fig. 8

Q32. In the circuit shown in Fig.9,the voltage across the load is to be maintained at 12 V as
load current varies from 0 to 200 mA. Design the regulator. Also find the maximum
wattage rating of zener diode.

Fig. 9

Q33. Fig. 10 shows the basic zener diode circuits. What will be the circuit behaviour if the
zener is (i) working properly (ii) shorted (iii) open-circuited?
 Fig. 10

Q34. Fig. 11 shows regulated power supply using a zener diode. What will be the circuit
behaviour if (i) filter capacitor shorts (ii) filter capacitor opens?

Fig. 11

P Problems on Transistor

EQ35. A common base transistor amplifier has an input resistance of 20 Ω and output resistance
of 100 kΩ. The collector load is 1 kΩ. If a signal of 500 mV is applied between emitter and
base, find the voltage amplification. Assume αac to be nearly one.

Q36. In a common base connection, IE = 1mA, IC = 0.95mA. Calculate the value of IB .

Q37. In a common base connection, current amplification factor is 0.9. If the emitter current is
1mA, determine the value of base current.

Q38. In a common base connection, IC = 0.95 mA and IB = 0.05 mA. Find the value of α.

Q39. In a common base connection, the emitter current is 1mA. If the emitter circuit is open, the
collector current is 50 μA. Find the total collector current. Given that α = 0.92.
Q40. In a common base connection, α = 0.95. The voltage drop across 2 kΩ resistance
which is connected in the collector is 2V. Find the base current.

Q41. For the common base circuit shown in Fig. 3, determine IC and VCB . Assume the transistor
to be of silicon.

Fig. 3

Q42. Find the value of β if (i) α = 0.9 (ii) α = 0.98 (iii) α = 0.99.

Q43. Calculate IE in a transistor for which β = 50 and IB = 20 μA.

Q44. Find the α rating of the transistor shown in Fig. 4. Hence determine the value of IC using
both α and β rating of the transistor.

Fig. 4

Q45. For a transistor, β = 45 and voltage drop across 1kΩ which is connected in the collector
circuit is 1 volt. Find the base current for common emitter connection.

Q46. A transistor is connected in common emitter (CE) configuration in which collector supply
is 8 V and the voltage drop across resistance RC connected in the collector circuit is 0.5 V. The
value of RC = 800 Ω. If α = 0.96, determine : (i) collector-emitter voltage (ii) base current.

Q47. An n-p-n transistor at room temperature has its emitter disconnected. A voltage of 5 V is
applied between collector and base. With collector positive, a current of 0.2 μA flows. When the
base is disconnected and the same voltage is applied between collector and emitter, the current is
found to be 20 μA. Find α, IE and IB when collector current is 1 mA.

Q48. The collector leakage current in a transistor is 300 μA in CE arrangement. If now

Q49. For a certain transistor, IB = 20 μA; IC = 2 mA and β = 80. Calculate ICBO.

Q50. Using diagrams, explain the correctness of the relation ICEO = (β + 1)ICBO.

Fig. 8

Q51. Determine VCB in the transistor circuit shown in Fig. 10 (i). The transistor is of silicon and
has β = 150.

Solution :

Fig.10

Fig. 10 (i) shows the transistor circuit while Fig. 10 (ii) shows the various currents and voltages
along with polarities.
Q52. In a transistor, IB = 68 μA, IE = 30 mA and β = 440. Determine the α rating of the transistor.
Then determine the value of IC using both the α rating and β rating of the transistor.

Q53. A transistor has the following ratings : IC (max) = 500 mA and βmax = 300.
Determine the maximum allowable value of IB for the device.

Q54. Fig. 11 shows the open circuit failures in a transistor. What will be the circuit behaviour in
each case ?

Solution :

Fig. 11

Fig 11 shows the open circuit failures in a transistor. We shall discuss the circuit behaviour in
each case.

Q55. For the circuit shown in Fig. 12 , draw the d.c. load line.

Fig.12

Q56. In the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 14, if VCC = 12V and RC = 6 kΩ, draw the d.c. load
line. What will be the Q point if zero signal base current is 20μA and β = 50 ?
 Fig.14

Q57. In a transistor circuit, collector load is 4 kΩ whereas quiescent current (zero signal collector
current) is 1 mA. (i) What is the operating point if VCC = 10 V ? (ii) What will be the operating
point if RC = 5 kΩ ?

Q58. Determine the Q point of the transistor circuit shown in Fig. 16. Also draw the d.c. load
line. Given β = 200 and VBE = 0.7V.

Fig. 16

Q59. Determine the Q point of the transistor circuit shown in Fig. 18. Also draw the d.c. load
line. Given β = 100 and VBE = 0.7V.

Fig.18
Q60. In the above example, find (i) emitter voltage w.r.t. ground (ii) base voltage w.r.t. ground
(iii) collector voltage w.r.t. ground.

Fig.20

Q61. If the collector current changes from 2 mA to 3mA in a transistor when collector-
emitter voltage is increased from 2V to 10V, what is the output resistance ?

Q62. A change of 200 mV in base-emitter voltage causes a change of 100 μA in the

Q63. For a single stage transistor amplifier, the collector load is RC = 2kΩ and the input
resistance Ri = 1kΩ. If the current gain is 50, calculate the voltage gain of the amplifier.

Q64. Find IC(sat) and VCE(cutoff) for the circuit shown in Fig. 21.

Fig.21
Q64. Determine the values of VCE(off) and IC(sat) for the circuit shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 23

Q65. Determine whether or not the transistor in Fig. 24 is in stauration. Assume Vknee = 0.2V.

Fig.24

value corresponding to IC(sat) is increased, the collector current remains at the saturated value
(= 9.8 mA).

Q66. Is the transistor in Fig. 25 operating in saturated state ?

Fig.25
Q67. For the circuit in Fig. 27, find the base supply voltage ( VBB) that just puts the transistor
into saturation. Assume β = 200.

Fig.27 ,

Q35. Determine the state of the transistor in Fig. 28 for the following values of collector resistor
: (i) RC = 2 kΩ (ii) RC = 4 kΩ (iii) RC = 8 kΩ.

Fig. 28

Q68. In the circuit shown in Fig. 29, VBB is set equal to the following values:
(i) VBB = 0.5V (ii) VBB = 1.5V (iii) VBB = 3V. Determine the state of the transistor for each value
of the base supply voltage VBB.
Fig.29

Q69. The maximum power dissipation of a transistor is 100mW. If VCE = 20V, what is the
maximum collector current that can be allowed without destruction of the transistor?

Q70. For the circuit shown in Fig. 30, find the transistor power dissipation. Assume that β = 200.

Fig.30

Q71. For the circuit shown in Fig. 31, find the power dissipated in the transistor. Assume β =
100.
 Fig. 31

Q72. The transistor in Fig.32 has the following maximum ratings : PD (max) = 800 mW ;
VCE(max) = 15V ; IC(max) = 100 mA. Determine the maximum value to which VCC can be adjusted
without exceeding any rating. Which rating would be exceeded first ?

Fig.32