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.

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)

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
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

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Working principle of a transistor

VRx =

Rx
x V
( Rx + Ry)

VRY =

Ry
xV
( 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.

(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.

What is the maximum value of resistor Q when the

bulb lights?
Solution

(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,
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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.

(2) The transistor as a light controlled switch

(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.

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.

Applications of transistors
(1) The transistor as an amplifier

(3) The transistor as a tempearture controlled

switch

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.

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.

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TUTORIAL 3
1

The figure shows the symbol for a npn

transistor.

Electrode P
A
B
C
D
4

Which of the following show the correct names

of the electrodes P,Q and R?
P
A
B
C
D
2

Base
Base
Colletor
Emitter

Q
Emitter
Colletor
Base
Base

Type of transistor

Emitter
Collector
Emitter
Collector

pnp
pnp
npn
npn

The figure shows a transistor circuit.

R
Colletor
Emitter
Emitter
Colletor

Which of the following show the correct symbol

of the pnp transistor?

Which of the following components are required

to place in box P and Q?
A
B
C
D
5

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?

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P
Bulb
Dry cell
Resistor
Bulb

Q
Bulb
Bulb
Dry cell
Resistor

Which of the following circuits can function?

In which one of the circuits will the lamp light?

Which of the following is true?

A
C
9

Ie > Ic >Ib
Ic > Ie >Ib

B
D

Ie > Ib >Ic
Ic > Ib >Ie

The diagram shows the symbol of an npn

transistor.

What is the value of Ie?

A
C
E

In which circuit will the light-emitting diode (LED)

light up when the switch is on?

10

B
D

115 mA
600 mA

Which of the following is not a function of a

transistor?
A
B
C
D

11

24 mA
125 mA
1000 mA

As a rectifier
As an amplifier
As a light controlled switch
As a tempearture controlled switch

The diagram shows a circuit using a transistor.

The diagram shows a transistor circuit.

What is the function of transistor?

A
B
C
D

33

Switch
Rectifier
Amplifier
Voltage divider

12

The diagram shows an amplifier circuit.

14

The diagram shows a transistor circuit.

What is the function of the transistor T?

A
B
C
D

What is the function of the capacitor in the

diagram?
A
B
C
D

13

To amplify the sound signal

To change electrical signal to sound wave
To change sound signal to electrical signal
To block the direct current from the cell
from flowing into the transistor and
microphone

15

How does the resistance of a thermistor and the

resistance of a light-dependent resistor change
when their surroundings become hotter and
darker?

A
B
C
B

Resistance of
thermistor
as it gets hotter

Resistance of
light-dependent
resistor as it gets
darker

Decreases
Decreases
Increases
Increases

Decreases
Increases
Decreases
Increases

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Switch
Heater
Amplifier
Voltage divider

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
B
C
D
17

bright light
a dark room
low temperature
high temperaure

(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.

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.

..
.
(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.

What is the maximum value of resistor S when

the bulb lights?
A
C
E
18

10 k
50 k
100 k

B
D

40 k
60 k

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.

(ii)

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

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(iii) In the space below, draw a circuit

diagram to show the new circuit.

(ii)

what happens to alarm X?

............................................................
..

(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.

19

(d) The table shows the variations of the

resistance of a thermostat , T with
temperature.
Temperature / o
Thermostat
C
resistance /
200
1750
100
3500
55
5000
30
6000

The diagram shows a transistor circuit.

In order to trigger alarm X , the potential
difference across NO must be at least 1V.

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)
(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?

36

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.

(e) What happens to the bulb when it is

connected directly to the transistor circuit
without using the relay switch. Explain
why?.
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................

(a)

(i)

Name component Q

....................................................................
(ii) What is the function of component Q
....................................................................
(b) What is the function of resistor R?
(c)

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

............................................................
Explain why the bulb is lighted up at
night ?
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................
............................................................

............................................................
(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.

37