Basic Electronics

Tutorial: Transistors & FETs

Q1.
a) Name two types of bipolar transistors; draw their circuit
symbols and mark the direction of current flow in each of the
terminals
b) What are the modes of operation of a bipolar transistor?
c) What are the biasing conditions necessary for the two p-n
junctions, to operate the bipolar transistor in the modes
mentioned in part (b)?

Q2.
A common emitter amplifier with fixed bias is to be designed to
operate with a 9V dc power supply. The quiescent point collector
current and C-E voltage are 9.2mA and 4.4 V respectively. The
transistor has a dc current gain of 115 and a B-E voltage of 0.7V.
Estimate the values of collector and base resistors.

Q3.
a) Explain the need to provide biasing currents for transistor
amplifier circuits
b) A Si npn transistor having a static current gain of 60, is connected
as a common emitter amplifier with a single bias resistor
between the base and the supply. The dc supply voltage is 6V,
the load resistor is 1K and the base resistor is 100K.
1) Sketch the circuit diagram for the amplifier
2) Calculate the quiescent base and collector currents
3) Determine the quiescent C-E voltage

Q4.
a) The circuit of a common emitter amplifier has the load line
shown on the family of output characteristics in Figure 1.
Determine the values of Rc and Rb if the power supply voltage
is 9V dc.
b) The base current varies by 40uA when a voltage sine wave of
20mV amplitude is applied to the input terminal. On Fig:1,
draw the waveform of the base current and the resulting
collector current.
c) Comment on the behavior of VCE and IC
d) Modify the circuit to achieve optimum Q point. Calculate new
values for Rc and Rb
e) For the above condition in (d), calculate the amplifier
1) current gain
2) voltage gain

Ic(mA)

100

Ib=110
A
Ib=100
A
Ib=90A
Ib=80A
Ib=70A

Ib=60A
Ib=50A
Ib=40A
Q - point
20

Ib=30A
Ib=20A
Ib=10A
VCE(V)

Figure 1

Q5.
a) Describe with the aid of a labeled diagram the construction of
an N-Channel FET
b) By referring to diagram in (a) explain how the gate voltage
controls the conduction in the channel
c) A JFET has a pinch off voltage of -4V and a saturation current of
6mA. Estimate the drain current for a gate voltage of -1V.

Q6.
Figure 2 shows a family of output characteristics for a FET. The
transistor is used in a resistance loaded common source amplifier.
a) Draw the load line for a 1K load with a drain-source voltage of
10V
b) Show the operating point on the load line for a gate voltage of 2V
c) Estimate the value of drain voltage and the drain current for the
operating point.
d) An input sine wave of 0.5V Pk is applied to the gate
e) Draw the input and output waveforms
f) Estimate the voltage gain of the amplifier

ID(mA)

VGS = 0V
10

VGS = -1V
VGS = -1.5V
VGS = -2V

VGS = -2.5V

2
Pinch off
voltage - Vp

Figure 2

10

VDS(V)