CBSE Class 12 · 2004 · SemiconductorsVery Short Answer

Draw the voltage-current characteristic of a zener diode.

Solution

A zener diode behaves like an ordinary diode in forward bias (current rises after the knee voltage).
In reverse bias the current stays small until the reverse voltage reaches the zener breakdown voltage

V_{z}

, where the reverse current increases sharply while the voltage across the diode remains almost constant at

V_{z}

Sharp reverse breakdown at V_{z} is the key feature.

CBSE Class 12 Board · 2004 · Subjective

Practise more: all CBSE board PYQs on Semiconductors →

More board questions on Semiconductors

A pure Si crystal having $5 \times 1 0^{28}$ atoms $m^{- 3}$ is doped with 1 ppm concentration of antimony. If the concentration of holes in the doped crystal is found to be $4.5 \times 1 0^{9} m^{- 3}$ , the concentration (in $m^{- 3}$ ) of intrinsic charge carr …
CBSE 2024View solution →
(a) Explain the characteristics of a p-n junction diode that makes it suitable for its use as a rectifier.
(b) With the help of a circuit diagram, explain the working of a full wave rectifier.
CBSE 2024View solution →
Explain the following, giving reasons.
(a) A doped semiconductor is electrically neutral.
(b) In a p-n junction under equilibrium, there is no net current.
(c) In a diode, the reverse current is practically independent of the applied voltage.
CBSE 2024View solution →
In an extrinsic semiconductor, the number density of holes is $4 \times 1 0^{20} m^{- 3}$ . If the number density of intrinsic carriers is $1.2 \times 1 0^{15} m^{- 3}$ , the number density of electrons in it is
CBSE 2023View solution →
Pieces of copper and of silicon are initially at room temperature. Both are heated to temperature T. The conductivity of
CBSE 2023View solution →
The formation of depletion region in a p-n junction diode is due to
CBSE 2023View solution →