LESSON 3

Understanding transistors






Introduction
A transistor consists of a crystal of one type of doped semiconductor sandwiched between two crystals of
the opposite type.
A transistor is a semiconductor device capable of amplification in addition to rectification.
It is the basic unit radio, television and computer.

Types of transistor
There are two types of transistor
(1) npn transistor
(2) pnp transistor

Structure ,schematic diagram and symbol of transistor
A transistor has tree leads; the leads are labelled
(1) Base (B) - Control the flow of charge carriers from
E to C
(2) Collector (C) - Receive charge carriers from E
(3) Emitter (E) Supply charge carriers to C






Transistor circuit
A transistor cannot be working without combinining with others electronic devices such as resistance and
power supply (cell). The combination of thre transistor , resistor and cell produced transistor circuit.
There are two types of the transistor circuits:
(1) Transistor circuit I (need two cells)



BE: Base circuit (input)
CE: Collector circuitl(output)
Ib: base current
Ic: collector current
R1: to limit the base current
R2: to limit the collector current
E1: to supply energy to the base circuit
E2: to supply energy to the collector circuit

(2) Transistor circuit II (need one cell)

Rx and RY : Voltage divider


VRx = Rx x V
( Rx + Ry)

VRY = Ry x V
( Rx + Ry)


Example 1

The figure shows a transistor circuit. Resistor P has a resistance of 10 k. In order to light the bulb , the
potential difference across resistor P must be at least 2V.

What is the maximum value of resistor Q when the bulb lights?

Solution






















Working principle of a transistor

(1) The base current is very small (in A) when it
compare with the collector current (in mA).
( Ib <<< Ic )
Current amplification = Ic
Ib

(2) A small change in base current, Ib will cause a big change in the collector current, Ic

( Ib <<< Ic)

(3) Ie = Ib + Ic
From the working principles above , we conclude that a transistor functions as a current amplifier by
allowing a small current to control a larger current.



(4) When R1 = 0 , the base voltage VR1 = 0. The base current does not flow and the
collector current als does not flow.
Ib = 0 and IC = 0
(5) When the resistance of R1 is increased, the base voltage will increase until the base
voltage exceeds a certain minimum value, the base current flows and cause a large collector
current flows.
From the working principles above , we conclude that a transistor functions as an automatic switch,so
that the transistor turned ON or OFF.

(6) When there is no Ic flowing in the collector circuit , Ib still flows in the collector
circuit.
(Ic = 0 hence Ib 0 )

(7) A transistor has not its own energy. The energy in a transistor is supplied by the
power supply , such as cell.

Applications of transistors

(1) The transistor as an amplifier



When a person speaks into a microphone, sound waves are converted into an alternating current .
The small changes in the base circuits cause the base current flows.
A small change in base current, will cause a big change in the collector current.
The earphone thus receives a large alternating current from the collector circuit and converts it into a
loud sound.
The capacitor blocks a steady current (direct current) from flowing into the transistor and microphone.




(2) The transistor as a light controlled switch

In bright light, the light-dependent resistor(LDR) has a very low resistance. Therefore the potential
diference across LDR is low and hence the potential difference across resistor R is high. The base
current flows
and cause a large collector current flows. The bulb lights up
In darkness , the light-dependent resistor(LDR) has a very high resistance. Therefore the potential
diference across LDR is high and hence the potential difference across resistor R is low. The base current
does not flow and cause the collector current does not flow. The bulb not lights up.
If the positions of the LDR and R are interchanged, the bulb is switched on in the dark and off in the bright
light.

(3) The transistor as a tempearture controlled switch



When the thermistor is cold, it has a larger resistance than R. Therefore the potential diference across
thermistor is high and hence the potential difference across resistor R is low. The base current does not
flow and cause the collector current does not flow.
The bulb not lights up.
When the temperature rises,the resistance of thermistor falls and the bulb lights up.


TUTORIAL 3



1 The figure shows the symbol for a npn transistor.

Which of the following show the correct names of the electrodes P,Q and R?

P Q R
A Base Emitter Colletor
B Base Colletor Emitter
C Colletor Base Emitter
D Emitter Base Colletor

2 Which of the following show the correct symbol of the pnp transistor?



3 The diagram shows the symbol for a transistor.


Which of the following shows the correct name of the electrode P and the type of the transistor?




Electrode P Type of transistor

A Emitter pnp
B Collector pnp
C Emitter npn
D Collector npn


4 The figure shows a transistor circuit.


Which of the following components are required to place in box P and Q?

P Q
A Bulb Bulb
B Dry cell Bulb
C Resistor Dry cell
D Bulb Resistor

5 Which of the following circuits can function?

6 In which one of the circuits will the lamp light?


7 In which circuit will the light-emitting diode (LED) light up when the switch is on?


8 The diagram shows a transistor circuit.

Which of the following is true?

A Ie > Ic >Ib B Ie > Ib >Ic
C Ic > Ie >Ib D Ic > Ib >Ie

9 The diagram shows the symbol of an npn transistor.

What is the value of Ie?

A 24 mA B 115 mA
C 125 mA D 600 mA
E 1000 mA

10 Which of the following is not a function of a
transistor?

A As a rectifier
B As an amplifier
C As a light controlled switch
D As a tempearture controlled switch

11 The diagram shows a circuit using a transistor.


What is the function of transistor?

A Switch
B Rectifier
C Amplifier
D Voltage divider

12 The diagram shows an amplifier circuit.


What is the function of the capacitor in the diagram?

A To amplify the sound signal
B To change electrical signal to sound wave
C To change sound signal to electrical signal
D To block the direct current from the cell from flowing into the transistor and
microphone

13 How does the resistance of a thermistor and the resistance of a light-dependent resistor
change when their surroundings become hotter and darker?

Resistance of Resistance of thermistor light-
dependent
as it gets hotter resistor as it gets
darker

A Decreases Decreases
B Decreases Increases
C Increases Decreases
B Increases Increases











14 The diagram shows a transistor circuit.



What is the function of the transistor T?

A Switch
B Heater
C Amplifier
D Voltage divider

15 Which of the following circuit is the bulb lights up when the LDR is illuminated by bright
light?












16 The diagram shows a transistor circuit.

The bulb will light up when the circuit in

A bright light
B a dark room
C low temperature
D high temperaure

17 The figure shows a transistor circuit. Resistor P has a resistance of 10 k. In order to
light the bulb , the potential difference across resistor P must be at least 2V.


What is the maximum value of resistor S when the bulb lights?

A 10 k B 40 k
C 50 k D 60 k
E 100 k


18 Figure shows a light dependent resistor (LDR) , resistors R and S, a light emmiting diode
(LED) , a transistor and a battery that will be connected to form a circuit. The LED emmits lights when
it is in a bright surroundings.

(a) (i) State one function of a transistor.

..
(ii) Complete the circuit in the diagram above so that the LED emits light in a bright
surroundings.
(iii) Give one reason why LED emmits light in a bright surroundings.

..

.
(b) What modification is required to the circuit so that the LED will emmits light when the
surroundings become dark?



.
(c) An alarm is needed which emmits sound when there is a fire. Two modifications have to be
made to the circuit in (a)(ii) by replacing electronic components.
(i) State one electronic component which needs to be replaced . Give a reason for
your answer.

.

.
(ii) Name two electronic components that are needed to replace the unsuitable
components.

.

.
(iii) In the space below, draw a circuit diagram to show the new circuit.























19 The diagram shows a transistor circuit.
In order to trigger alarm X , the potential difference across NO must be at least 1V.


(a) What is the potential difference across
MO ?



(b) When the resistance of resistors P and Q are 500 respectively,
(i) what is the potential diference across MN?



(ii) what happens to alarm X?

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..


(c) When the resistance of resistor Q is 500 and the resistance of resistor P is 4000 ,
determine the potential difference across the resistor Q to show that alarm X is not triggered.








(d) The table shows the variations of the resistance of a thermostat , T with
temperature.
Temperature /
o

C
Thermostat resistance
/
200 1750
100 3500
55 5000
30 6000

When resistor P is replaced by thermostat
T , what is
(i) the resistance of resistor Q if alarm X is triggered at 200o C.



(ii) the temperature is required to trigger alarm X ,when the resistance of resistor is
1000.








20 The diagram shows a transistor circuit. The circuit is used to automatically switch on the
blb at night.


(a) (i) Name component Q

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(ii) What is the function of component Q

....................................................................(b) What is the function of resistor R?

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(c) (i) What happens to potential difference
Vp at night.

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(ii) Explain why the bulb is lighted up at night ?

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(d) Bulb M is labelled 240 V,60 W starts to light up when Vp is 2.0 V and the
resistance of resistor P is 10 k.
Determine the maximum resistance of resistor S.





(e) What happens to the bulb when it is connected directly to the transistor
circuit without using the relay switch. Explain why?.

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