Activity 12
Activity 12
Activity 12
College of Engineering
ECE Department
ACTIVITY 12
CURRENT GAINS IN TRANSISTOR
Score
ACTIVITY 12: CURRENT GAINS IN TRANSISTORS
OBJECTIVES
To observe the effect on IC of varying IE and to determine the current
amplification alpha.
To observe the effect on I C of varying IB and to determine the current
amplification factor beta.
INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
ALPHA (α). In the common base circuit, control of collector current is
affected by variations in emitter current. This fact was established in the last
experiment where measurement revealed that an increase or decrease in the
emitter current resulted in an increase or decrease respectively in the collector
current. This led us to one important control parameter alpha of a transistor in the
common base arrangement. Alpha is the ratio of the change in collector current
ΔIC to the change in the emitter current I E, with the collector to the base voltage
held constant. Thus α = ΔIC / ΔIE and is called the forward-current-transfer ratio
and is designated as hfb.
BETA (β). In the grounded-emitter configuration, the input signal is now
applied to the base. Current gain is now designated by β = ΔI C / ΔIB with VCE
constant.
There is an important relationship between alpha and beta in a junction
transistor.
Since IE = IC + IB, a small change in the emitter current would result in a
corresponding change in the collector current and base current. That is
ΔIE = ΔIC + ΔIB
Or ΔIB = ΔIE - ΔIC
The ratio
∆ IE ∆ Ic
=
∆ I B ( ∆ I E−∆ I C )
where VCE is constant. ΔIC / ΔIB equals β with VCB constant and ΔIC / ΔIE equals α.
The last question can be resolved into
α β
β=
1−α
; α=
1−β
MATERIALS
Transistor Module
DC Meter Module
VOM Module
Power Supply Module
Resistor Module
Potentiometer Module
PROCEDURES
2. Check the circuit for proper battery and meter polarity. Vary R2 from maximum
to minimum resistance, thus increasing the emitter current I E from its
minimum to its maximum value in the circuit. Adjust R 4 to maintain 4V at the
collector. Observe the minimum and maximum value of I E, corresponding
values of IC, and effects on IC as IE is increased. Record these values.
3. Adjust R2 for 2mA of emitter current. Adjust R4 for 4V. Measure and record the
base current IB. compute and record IC using IC =IE – IB.
4. Record the data.
5. Adjust R5 for 2.4mA of emitter current. Adjust R4 to maintain 4V in the
collector. Measure and record the base current, and compute for the collector
current.
6. Compute and record alpha (hfb).
Effect on IC of
STEP IE, mA IC, mA increasing IE
3
3
STEP IE, mA IB, µA IC, mA Collector Volts
4
6
5 R1 ≠ R2 =
7 α = ΔIC / ΔIE =
Effect on IC of
STEP IB, µA IC, mA increasing IE
11
STEP 10
12
13
14
QUESTIONS
1. Define β.
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES