Physical Sciences Solid State Physics Virtual Lab Experiments

Zener Diode as Voltage Regulator

Assignment

  1. Study how the characteristic curve of a 24 V zener diode (as plotted by a curve tracer) differs from that of a normal rectifying diode.

    2. zener

  2. Describe how a zener diode is able to maintain a regulated (nearly constant) voltage across the load.

    3. zener1

  3. Consider a 5.6 V zener diode used in the figure (2). Find the currents through the series resistance (RS), the zener diode (IZ) and the load resistance (RL).

    4. zener2

  4. Calculate the voltage across RS and RL, and the currents IRS, IZ, IRL for a power supply of 10 V (zener voltage = 7.5 V, load resistance = 5 kΩ).
  5. Construct a voltage regulator circuit using a zener diode that provides a regulated output of 10 V (maximum source voltage = 20 V).