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Q.Describe with diagram the working method of p-n-p and n-p-n transistors.

Bihar BsebBihar Board Intermediate 2024Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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Figure — Two labelled schematic diagrams side by side. (1) n-p-n
Figure — Two labelled schematic diagrams side by side. (1) n-p-n

A transistor = two p–n junctions (E–B forward biased, C–B reverse biased). Carriers injected by the emitter cross the thin, lightly-doped base and are collected; a small base current controls a large collector current, with IE=IB+ICI_E = I_B + I_C. In n-p-n electrons carry the current; in p-n-p holes do, with reversed battery polarities.

Structure. A junction transistor has three regions — the heavily-doped Emitter (E), the very thin and lightly-doped Base (B), and the moderately-doped Collector (C) — forming two p–n junctions. Depending on the arrangement it is either n-p-n or p-n-p.

Biasing (common to both). For amplifying action the transistor is biased so that:

  • the Emitter–Base (EB) junction is forward biased, and
  • the Collector–Base (CB) junction is reverse biased.

Working of an n-p-n transistor.

(Diagram: an n-type emitter and n-type collector on either side of a thin p-type base; EB junction forward biased by battery VEBV_{EB}, CB junction reverse biased by battery VCBV_{CB}.)

The forward-biased EB junction makes the n-type emitter inject a large number of electrons into the p-type base. Because the base is very thin and lightly doped, only a small fraction of these electrons combine with holes there (this constitutes the small base current IBI_B); the large majority (about 95–98 %) diffuse across the base and reach the reverse-biased collector junction, where the collector's positive potential sweeps them into the collector, forming the collector current ICI_C. Thus the emitter current divides as

IE=IB+IC,I_E = I_B + I_C,

with IC≈IEI_C \approx I_E and IBI_B very small. A small change in the base current therefore produces a large change in the collector current — the basis of amplification.

Working of a p-n-p transistor. …

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