PRACTICE QUESTIONS - SEMICONDUCTORS

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

Solution :
Zener diodes cannot be tested individually with a multimeter. It is because
multimeters usually do not have enough input voltage to put the zener into
breakdown region.
(i) If the zener diode is working properly, the voltage V0 across the load (= 5
kΩ) will be nearly 6V [See Fig. 10 (i)].
(ii) If the zener diode is short [See Fig. 10 (ii)], you will measure V0 as 0V.
The same problem could also be caused by a shorted load resistor (= 5kΩ) or
an opened source resistor (= 1 kΩ). The only way to tell which device has
failed is to remove the resistors and check them with an ohmmeter. If the
resistors are good, then zener diode is bad.
(iii) If the zener diode is open-circuited, the voltage V0 across the load (= 5
kΩ) will be 10V.
2.In the circuit shown in Figure, 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.

Solution :

By designing the regulator here means to find the values of VZ and R. Since
the load voltage is to be maintained at 12 V, we will use a zener diode of
zener voltage 12 V i.e.,

The voltage across R is to remain constant at 16 − 12 = 4 V as the load

current changes from 0 to 200 mA. The minimum zener current will occur
when the load current is maximum.

Maximum power rating of zener is

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

Solution :
The minimum input voltage required will be when IZ = 0. Under this
condition,
4. 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 ?

Solution :
Fig shows the desired circuit. The worst case is at no load because then
zeners carry the maximum current.

5. For the circuit shown in Fig. (i), find : (i) the output voltage (ii) the
voltage drop across series resistance (iii) the current through zener
diode.
Solution :
If you remove the zener diode in Fig. 1, the voltage V across the open-circuit
is given by :

Since voltage across zener diode is greater than VZ (= 50 V), the zener is in
the “on” state. It can, therefore, be represented by a battery of 50 V as
shown in Fig. 1 (ii).

Fig. (ii)

(i) Referring to Fig. 1 (ii),

(ii)

(iii)
6.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.

Solution :

The voltage across R is to remain constant at 12 − 7.2 = 4.8 V as the load

current changes from 12 to 100 mA. The minimum zener current will occur
when the load current is maximum.

If R = 43.5 Ω is inserted in the circuit, the output voltage will remain

constant over the regulating range. As the load current IL decreases, the
zener current IZ will increase to such a value that IZ + IL = 110 mA.
Note that if load resistance is open-circuited, then IL = 0 and zener current
becomes 110 mA.

7. 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.
Solution :
The zener current will be minimum (i.e. 200 mA) when the input voltage is
minimum (i.e. 22 V). The load current stays at constant value IL = VZ / RL =
18 V/18 Ω = 1 A = 1000 mA.

8.A 10-V zener diode is used to regulate the voltage across a variable
load resistor [See fig.]. 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.

Solution :
The zener will conduct minimum current (i.e. 15 mA) when input voltage is
minimum (i.e. 13 V).

9. Figure shows regulated power supply using a zener diode. What will
be the circuit behaviour if (i) filter capacitor shorts (ii) filter capacitor
opens?
Solution :
The common faults in a zener voltage regulator are shorted filter capacitor or
opened filter capacitor.

(i) When filter capacitor shorts :

When the filter capacitor shorts, the primary fuse will blow. The reason for
this is illustrated in Fig. When the filter capacitor shorts, it shorts out the
load resistance RL. This has the same effect as wiring the two sides of the
bridge together (See Fig.).

If you trace from the high side of the bridge to the low side, you will see that
the only resistance across the secondary of the transformer is the forward
resistance of the two ON diodes. This effectively shorts out the transformer
secondary. The result is that excessive current flows in the secondary and
hence in the primary. Consequently, the primary fuse will blow.

(ii) When filter capacitor opens:

When the filter capacitor opens, it will cause the ripple in the power supply
output to increase drastically. At the same time, the d.c. output voltage will
show a significant drop. Since an open filter capacitor is the only fault that
will cause both of these symptoms, no further testing is necessary. If both
symptoms appear, replace the filter capacitor.

10.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 ?

Solution :
(i)

(ii) 40% efficiency of rectification does not mean that 60% of power is lost in
the rectifier circuit. In fact, a crystal diode consumes little power due to its
small internal resistance. The 100 W a.c. power is contained as 50 watts in
positive half-cycles and 50 watts in negative half-cycles. The 50 watts in the
negative half-cycles are not supplied at all. Only 50 watts in the positive half-
cycles are converted into 40 watts.

Although 100 watts of a.c. power was supplied, the half-wave rectifier
accepted only 50 watts and converted it into 40 watts d.c. power. Therefore,
it is appropriate to say that efficiency of rectification is 40% and not 80%
which is power efficiency.

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

through a transformer of turn ratio 10 : 1. Find (i) the output d.c.
voltage and (ii) the peak inverse voltage. Assume the diode to be ideal.

Solution :

Primary to secondary turns is

Max. secondary voltage is

(ii) During the negative half-cycle of a.c. supply, the diode is reverse biased
and hence conducts no current. Therefore, the maximum secondary voltage
appears across the diode.

12. A crystal diode having internal resistance rf = 20Ω is used for half-
wave rectification. If the applied voltage v = 50 sin ω t and load
resistance RL= 800 Ω, find :
(i) Im, Idc, Irms (ii) a.c. power input and d.c. power output (iii) d.c.
output voltage (iv) efficiency of rectification.

13. 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.

Solution :
14.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.
Solution :

15. In the centre-tap circuit shown in Fig., 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.
Solution :

Primary to secondary turns, N1 / N2 = 5

(i) Average current, Idc =

ii) The peak inverse voltage is equal to the maximum secondary voltage,
i.e

(iii)
16. In the bridge type circuit shown in Fig, 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.

frequency. Assume primary to secondary turns to be 4.

Fig.3

Solution :
17.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.

Solution

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

Solution :

The conditions of the problem suggest that the a.c voltage across transformer
secondary is 12V r.m.s.
19. 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 ?
Solution :
The lower the ripple factor of a power supply, the better it is.

For power supply A

For power supply B

20. Find the current through the diode in the circuit shown in Fig. (i).
Assume the diode to be ideal
Solution :
We shall use Thevenin’s theorem to find current in the diode. Referring to
Fig (i).

Fig. (ii) shows Thevenin’s equivalent circuit. Since the diode is ideal, it has
zero resistance

21. Calculate the current through 48 Ω resistor in the circuit shown in

Fig (i).Assume the diodes to be of silicon and forward resistance of each
diode is 1 Ω.
Diodes D1 and D3 are forward biased while diodes D2 and D4 are reverse
biased. We can, therefore, consider the branches containing diodes D2 and
D4 as “open”.

Replacing diodes D1 and D3 by their equivalent circuits and making the

branches containing diodes D2 and D4 open, we get the circuit shown in
Fig. (ii). As we know for a silicon diode, the barrier voltage is 0.7 V.

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

Solution :
The applied voltage forward biases each diode so that they conduct current
in the same direction. Fig. (ii) shows the equivalent circuit using simplified
model. Referring to Fig. 7 (ii),
 23. Determine the currents I1, I2 and I3 for the network shown in Fig.
(i). Use simplified model for the diodes.
Solution :

As we can see in Fig. (i) both diodes D1 and D2 are forward biased. Using
simplified model for the diodes, the circuit shown in Fig. 8(i) becomes the
one shown in Fig. (ii).

Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law to loop ABCDA in Fig. 8 (ii), we have,

24.Determine if the diode (ideal) in Fig (i) is forward biased or reversebiased.

Solution :
Let us assume that diode in Fig.9 (i) is OFF i.e. it is reverse biased.
The circuit then becomes as shown in Fig. (ii). Referring to Fig. (ii), we have,

Now V1 – V2 = 2V is enough voltage to make the diode forward biased.

Therefore, our initial assumption was wrong, and diode is forward biased.

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

Solution :
Let us assume that the diode is ON. Therefore, we can replace the diode with
a 0.7V battery as shown in Fig. (ii). Referring to Fig. (ii), we have,

Since the diode current is negative, the diode must be OFF and the true
value of diode current is ID =0 mA. Hence our initial assumption was wrong.
In order to analyse the circuit properly, we should replace the diode in Fig.
10 (i) with an open circuit as shown in Fig.10(iii).