CENTRE FOR MEDICAL AND RADIATION

PHYSICS
NISER BHUBANESWAR

LABORATORY REPORT
Study of common emitter transistor amplifier
circuit

Submitted By: Satya Prabodh Nayak

Roll No: 241126004
2nd Semester, Session: 2024-25

Date of Experiment:23th January 2024

Date of Submission:29th January 2024

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Contents
1 Aim 3

2 Apparatus Required 3

3 Theory 3

4 Circuit Diagram 5

5 Observation 5
5.1 DC Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5.2 AC Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.2.1 Graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.2.2 Bandwidth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.2.3 Error in Midfrequency Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

6 Conclusion 12

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1 Aim
To design an NPN common-emitter transistor amplifier circuit, analyze its frequency response, and
determine its mid-frequency gain (Amid ) along with its lower and upper cut-off frequencies.

2 Apparatus Required
• Transistor: BC547
• Resistors
• Capacitors
• Power Supply

• Oscilloscope
• Function Generator
• Breadboard

• Connecting wires

Figure 1: Function Generator and Multimeter

Figure 2: DC Power Supply

3 Theory
A Resistance-Capacitance (RC) coupled amplifier is a multi-stage amplification system widely uti-
lized in electronic circuits. Each amplification stage is linked to the next using a resistor-capacitor
network, which is the defining characteristic of this configuration. The individual sections of this
amplifier operate as common-emitter stages, where the resistors in the base circuit form the neces-
sary biasing arrangement, while the emitter resistor contributes to the stabilization of the operating
point.

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 In this design, a bypass capacitor is introduced in parallel with the emitter resistor to allow
AC signals to pass while blocking DC components. This ensures that DC voltage drops exclusively
across the emitter resistor, while the amplified AC signal is transmitted to the next stage. Addi-
tionally, a coupling capacitor is placed between stages to enhance circuit stability by obstructing
DC flow while offering minimal impedance to AC signals. This prevents unwanted interference in
biasing between successive stages. The voltage across the collector-emitter junction is maintained
at approximately half the supply voltage to achieve optimal operating conditions.

As the input signal is applied to the base of the first transistor, it undergoes amplification
and appears at the collector terminal with a phase shift of 180 degrees. The AC component then
propagates through the coupling capacitor to the subsequent amplification stage, where further
amplification takes place, resulting in another 180-degree phase shift. This cumulative phase shift
ensures that when an even number of stages are cascaded, the output signal remains in-phase with
the input, while an odd number of stages yield an out-of-phase output.

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 The frequency response of an RC coupled amplifier is characterized by a stable gain in the mid-
frequency range, with significant attenuation at both the lower and upper ends of the spectrum. At
lower frequencies, the high reactance of the coupling capacitor restricts the passage of AC signals,
leading to reduced gain. The emitter capacitor also exhibits high reactance, failing to effectively
bypass the emitter resistor, further diminishing voltage gain. Conversely, at higher frequencies,
the reactance of the coupling capacitor decreases significantly, increasing loading effects on the
subsequent stage and thereby reducing gain. Additionally, reduced base-emitter junction reactance
increases the base current, lowering the overall current gain. Despite these variations, the gain
remains relatively stable in the mid-frequency range due to a balance between decreasing reactance
and increasing loading effects.

4 Circuit Diagram
The circuit diagram is

5 Observation
5.1 DC Analysis
To analyze the DC operating point of the RC-coupled common emitter amplifier, we apply Kirch-
hoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) to the base-emitter and collector-emitter loops. The DC analysis helps
determine the quiescent operating point (Q-point) of the transistor.

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Selection of Biasing Circuit
A voltage divider biasing network is used to provide stable operating conditions. The resistors R1
and R2 form a potential divider that sets the base voltage VB .

Base Voltage (VB ) Calculation

Using the voltage divider rule, the base voltage is given by:
R2
VB = VCC × (1)
R1 + R2
In my experiment

• VCC = 10V
• R1 = 32.35kΩ

• R2 = 4.6kΩ
Substituting the given values:
4.6
VB = 10 × (2)
32.35 + 4.6
4.6
VB = 10 × (3)
36.95
VB = 1.245V (4)
Error Calculation
Given measured value:
• VBmeasured = 1.23V

The percentage error between the calculated and measured value is given by:

Measured Value − Calculated Value

Error Percentage = × 100 (5)
Calculated Value

Substituting the values:

1.23 − 1.245
Error Percentage = × 100 (6)
1.245
−0.015
Error Percentage = × 100 (7)
1.245
Error Percentage ≈ 1.2% (8)

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Emitter Voltage (VE )
The emitter voltage is given by:
VE = VB − VBE (9)
where VBE is typically 0.7V for a silicon transistor. And

• VB = 1.245V

• VBE = 0.7V
Substituting the values:
VE = 1.245 − 0.7 (10)
VE = 0.545V (11)

Error Calculation for VE

Given measured value:
• VEmeasured = 0.55V
The percentage error is given by:

Measured Value − Calculated Value

Error Percentage = × 100 (12)
Calculated Value

Substituting the values:

0.55 − 0.545
Error Percentage = × 100 (13)
0.545
0.005
Error Percentage = × 100 (14)
0.545
Error Percentage ≈ 0.9% (15)

Collector Current (IE )

By applying Ohm’s law, the emitter current is:
VE
IE = (16)
RE
Since IC ≈ IE (neglecting base current IB ), we assume IE ≈ IC .

We have taken RE = 560.2Ω Substituting the values:

0.545
Ic = (17)
560.2
Ic = 0.97mA (18)

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Error Calculation for IC
Given measured value:
• ICmeasured = 1mA
The percentage error is given by:
Measured Value − Calculated Value
Error Percentage = × 100 (19)
Calculated Value
Substituting the values:
1 − 0.97
Error Percentage = × 100 (20)
0.97
0.03
Error Percentage = × 100 (21)
0.97
Error Percentage ≈ 3% (22)

Collector Voltage (VC )

Applying Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) to the collector circuit:
VC = VCC − IC (RC + RE ) (23)
AND

• Rc = 3.91KΩ
Substituting the values:

VCE = 10V − 0.97mA(3910Ω + 560.7Ω) (24)

VCE = 5.66V (25)

Error Calculation for IC

Given measured value:
• VCEmeasured = 5.21mA
The percentage error is given by:
Measured Value − Calculated Value
Error Percentage = × 100 (26)
Calculated Value
Substituting the values:
5.21 − 5.66
Error Percentage = × 100 (27)
5.66
0.45
Error Percentage = × 100 (28)
5.66
Error Percentage ≈ 8% (29)

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5.2 AC Analysis
In the AC analysis of an RC coupled common-emitter amplifier, the capacitors are treated as short
circuits for AC signals, and the voltage gain is determined by the load resistance and the transistor’s
internal parameters, while the frequency response is shaped by the reactances of the coupling and
bypass capacitors.

Oscilloscope Reading

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5.2.1 Graph
When we plotted the curve of frequency response from the data of above table we got

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 and when we took gain in db form the curve became

5.2.2 Bandwidth
We determined the bandwidth in the curve

From the above curve

lower cutoff frquency is 9Hz and higher cutoff frequency is 350kHz.
so

Bandwidth = 350KHz − 9Hz (30)

Bandwidth = 349.991KHZ (31)

5.2.3 Error in Midfrequency Gain

Calculated value of gain
The voltage gain AV of the amplifier can be approximated as:

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 RC
AV =
RE + re
so using this formula AV = 6.6

6.6 − 4.56
Error Percentage = × 100 (32)
6.6

2.04
Error Percentage = × 100 (33)
6.6
Error Percentage ≈ 30% (34)

6 Conclusion
In this experiment, we successfully designed and analyzed an NPN common-emitter transistor
amplifier circuit. The frequency response curve of the amplifier was obtained, and the mid-frequency
gain (Amid ) was determined. Additionally, the lower and higher cut-off frequencies were calculated,
demonstrating the amplifier’s behavior across different frequency ranges. This analysis provides
valuable insights into the performance characteristics of the amplifier, including its stability and
frequency response.

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