EEE3100 – Electrical and Electronics Technology Lab 9 – Verification Of Ohm’s Law

On Diode
Objectives
To verify Ohm’s Law

Equipments and Components:

a) Resistors: 1kΩ
b) Diode NI 4001
c) Breadboard
d) DC Voltage Supply
e) Multimeter
f) Connecting wires

Theory

Experiment Procedures
To verify Ohm’s Law in non-linear device
Forward bias diode
1. The circuit is assembled on a breadboard as in Figure 9.2.

V R
+ -

1k
Is
0.2 V

Figure 9.2: Circuit connection

2. The voltage power supply, E is switched on and is set to 0.2V.

3. The voltage value across pn-junction diode is measured using a voltmeter.
4. The current value, Is is measured using an ammeter.
5. The resistance value of the pn-junction diode, Rdiode is calculated.
6. Steps 2-5 are repeated with different sets of value.
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EEE3100 – Electrical and Electronics Technology Lab 9 – Verification Of Ohm’s Law
On Diode
7. Graph of I versus V for Vmeasured and Imeasured is plotted.

Reverse-bias diode
1. Circuit as in Figure 9.3 is assembled on breadboard.

V R
- +

1k
Is
0.2 V

Figure 9.3: Circuit connection

2. The voltage power supply, E is switched on and is set to 0.2 V.

3. The voltage value across pn-junction diode is measured using a voltmeter.
4. The current value, Is is measured using an ammeter.
5. The resistance of a pn-junction diode, Rdiode is calculated.
6. Steps 2-5 are repeated by setting the voltage power supply, E using different sets
of values.
7. Graph of I versus V for Vmeasured (in V) and Imeasured (in mA).

Results & Discussion:

Forward-bias diode
Rdiode=VmeasuredImeasured
Let E = 0.8,
Rdiode=0.500.15x10-3
=3.333x103Ω

Table 9.1
V measured I measured R diode
E (V) (V) (mA) (kΩ)

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EEE3100 – Electrical and Electronics Technology Lab 9 – Verification Of Ohm’s Law
On Diode
0.2 0.20 0 ∞
0.4 0.35 0 ∞
0.6 0.50 0 ∞
0.7 0.50 0.15 3.333
0.8 0.50 0.25 2.000
1.0 0.55 0.45 1.222
1.5 0.55 0.80 0.688
2.0 0.60 1.30 0.462
2.5 0.60 1.70 0.353
3.0 0.60 2.30 0.261
3.5 0.60 3.00 0.200
4.0 0.60 3.50 0.171
4.5 0.65 4.00 0.163
5.0 0.65 5.00 0.130

Graph 1: Graph of Imeasured against Vmeasured for forward-bias diode

From Table 1 and Graph 1, we can see that the Imeasured is zero when the Vmeasured is small,
that is from 0.20V to 0.50V. Then, the Imeasured increases exponentially with increment in
Vmeasured. There is current flowing in the diode only when the Vmeasured is about 0.50V and
the voltage from the power supply is 0.70V. This means that a minimum voltage value of
0.70V must be supplied by the power supply to the diode in order for it to work. This is
known as the threshold voltage.

Reverse-bias diode
Table 9.2
V measured I measured R diode
E (V) (V) (mA) (kΩ)
0.2 0.20 0 ∞
0.4 0.40 0 ∞
0.6 0.60 0 ∞
0.7 0.70 0 ∞
0.8 0.75 0 ∞
1.0 1.00 0 ∞
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EEE3100 – Electrical and Electronics Technology Lab 9 – Verification Of Ohm’s Law
On Diode
1.5 1.50 0 ∞
2.0 2.00 0 ∞
2.5 2.45 0 ∞

Graph 2: Graph of Imeasured against Vmeasured for reverse-bias diode

From Table 9.2 and Graph 2, we can see that for all values of Vmeasured, the value of Imeasured
is zero. This means that no current is flowing through the diode no matter what is the
voltage flowing across it. The zero current reading has proven that diode has polarity,
where one side of this component is anode while the other side is cathode. The anode
must be connected to the positive terminal of the power supply while the cathode to the
negative terminal in order for the current to flow through diode in the correct direction.
There is no current flow in this case because the diode has been connected in the opposite
direction to the positive and negative terminals of the power supply. A reverse-bias
occurs.

Conclusion

A diode must be connected in the correct direction to the power supply where the anode
of the diode is to be connected to the positive terminal of the power supply and the
cathode to be connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. It is called to be in
forward-biased. When it is in the correct orientation, there must also be a minimum
voltage called the threshold voltage supplied to the diode in order for current to flow
through it. If the diode is connected wrongly to the power supply, then it is in reverse-
biased and no current will flow through it.

References

[1] Edward Hughes Electrical and Electronic Technology Ninth Edition(Publisher

PEARSON Prentice Hall, Year 2005, Page 222-241)

[2] J.J DeFrance Electrical Fundamental (PRENTICE HALL INC, Year 1996, Page465-

485)

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EEE3100 – Electrical and Electronics Technology Lab 9 – Verification Of Ohm’s Law
On Diode
[3] Giorgio Rizzoni Principles and Applications of Electrical Engineering, 2nd edition

(Publisher Tom Casson , Year 1996, Page 119-171)