Electronics and Semiconductor Practice Quiz Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary-style flashcards based on electronic components, semiconductor physics, and power supply circuitry quiz questions.

Photodiode (non-photovoltaic)

A component that has reverse bias when not used as a photovoltaic cell.

Rectifier Output

The output of this device is pulsating dc.

Full-wave Bridge Rectification

An advantage of this rectification is that it uses the whole transformer secondary for the entire ac input cycle.

High Power, Low Voltage Rectifier Design

The best rectifier design for providing high power at low voltage is full-wave, center-tap.

Power Supply Filter

The part of a power supply immediately preceding the regulator.

Half-wave Rectifier Average Output (117-V rms ac)

If house mains are used, the average dc output voltage is about $52.7\,V$.

Full-wave Bridge PIV (50-V rms secondary)

The peak inverse voltage (PIV) across the diodes is about $70\,V$.

Voltage Multiplier Disadvantage

The principal disadvantage of this circuit is poor regulation.

Voltage-doubler Output (10-V rms input)

The dc output voltage is about $28\,V$ if the transformer secondary provides $10\,V$ rms.

Full-wave Ripple Frequency

The ripple frequency from this circuit is twice that from a half-wave circuit.

Ideal Power Supply Filter

A filter consisting of a capacitor in parallel and a choke in series.

Superior Ripple Filtering

The best approach is to use two capacitor/choke sections one after the other.

Zener Diode Voltage Regulation

Regulation is accomplished by connecting a Zener diode in parallel with the filter output, reverse-biased.

Current Surge

A phenomenon that takes place when a power supply is first turned on because the filter capacitor(s) must be initially charged.

Transient Suppression

A technique used to minimize the chance of diode failure.

Bleeder Resistors

Resistors connected in parallel with filter capacitors.

Bipolar Transistor Structure

A transistor that consists of three semiconductor layers.

PNP Transistor Collector

In this circuit, the collector is negative with respect to the emitter.

PNP and NPN Replacement

A PNP transistor can often be replaced by an NPN device provided the supply polarity is reversed.

NPN Dual-diode Model Emitter

In this model, the emitter corresponds to either of the diode cathodes.

Saturation

The state when a transistor is conducting as much as it possibly can.

Gain Bandwidth Product

In a common-emitter circuit, this is the frequency at which the gain is $1$.

Common-collector Circuit

The configuration most often used for matching a high input impedance to a low output impedance, putting signal ground at the collector.

Greatest Possible Amplification

This level of amplification is obtained in a common-emitter circuit.

Pinchoff (N-channel JFET)

This condition occurs when the gate bias is very negative.

P-channel JFET Charge Carriers

The current consists mainly of holes in this device.

JFET Gate Impedance

The gate of a JFET has high impedance.

Transconductance (Transcript Definition)

The ratio of a change in drain current to a change in drain voltage.

JFET Characteristic Curves

These generally show drain current as a function of drain voltage.

MOS Component Disadvantage

It is easily damaged by static electricity.

MOSFET Input Impedance

The input impedance of this component is extremely high.

MOSFET vs. JFET Advantage

MOSFETs can handle a wider range of gate voltages.

Zero-biased JFET Channel

The channel is normally all the way open.

Enhancement-mode MOSFET Zero Bias

At this bias level, the drain current is zero with no signal.

Enhancement-mode MOSFET Schematic Identification

Recognized by a broken vertical line inside the circle.

Source Follower Input Signal

The input signal is received by the gate electrode.

Phase Inversion Circuit

A common source circuit has an output $180$ degrees out of phase with its input.

Class B Amplifier

An FET amplifier type where drain current flows for $50$ percent of the signal cycle.

Integrated Circuit (IC) Switching Speeds

Higher switching speeds are attainable because of the small size of ICs compared with discrete components.

IC Practicality (Inductors)

Inductors are generally not practical for fabrication in an IC.

Operational Amplifier Gain Control

An op amp usually employs negative feedback to control the gain.

Comparator IC

An IC used to determine whether voltage levels are the same or not.

Transistor-transistor Logic (TTL)

The type of digital IC least susceptible to noise.

CMOS Limit

The inability to handle high power levels.

Absolute IC Density Limit

The size of the semiconductor atoms.

Triode vs. N-channel FET

A triode requires more voltage than an N-channel FET.

Beta

The current amplification factor of a bipolar transistor.

Minority Carriers (N-type Semiconductor)

Holes.

Gunn Diode

An example of a device that commonly oscillates.

Voltage-doubler Power Supply Application

Best for use in circuits that need low current at high voltage.

Optoisolator

A device consisting of an LED and a photodiode.

Avalanche Effect

The reason a reverse-biased semiconductor conducts when large voltage is applied.

Step-up Power Transformer

A transformer where the secondary voltage is more than the primary voltage.

Midrange Audio Frequencies

Frequencies between approximately $0.2$ and $2\,kHz$.

Woofer

A device designed to reproduce low-frequency sounds.

Laser Diode

A device that produces coherent radiation.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an element.

Ion

A charged atom.

Peak Values

Values that are always greater than or equal to average values.

Static Charge

A charge that builds up without a flow of current.

Insulator

A material that has extremely high electrical resistance.

Sine Wave pk-pk Value

Twice the peak value.

Germanium Diode

The material that allows the lowest forward voltage drop in a diode.

Doping

The process of adding impurities to give a semiconductor material certain properties.

Hole Flow

Flow movement from plus to minus.

Zener Voltage

Also known as avalanche voltage.

Silicon Diode Forward Breakover Voltage

About $0.7\,V$.