EC6304 ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS I QUESTION BANK

K.S.K COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
TWO MARK WITH ANSWER
Subject code/Name: EC6304/ Electronics-I Year/Sem/Branch: II/III/ECE
Staff Name : N.G.SENTHILMURUGAN Department : ECE

Part A 2 Marks

UNIT I

1. Why do we choose Q point at the center of the load line?

The operating point of a transistor is kept fixed usually at the center of the active region in
order that the input signal is well amplified. If the point is fixed in the saturation region or the
cut off region the positive and negative half cycle gets clipped off respectively.
2. Name the two techniques used in the stability of the Q point .
Stabilization technique: This refers to the use of resistive biasing circuit which allows IB to
vary so as to keep IC relatively constant with variations in Ico and VBE.
Compensation techniques: This refers to the use of temperature sensitive devices such as
thermistors diodes. They provide compensating voltages & currents to maintain operating
point constant.
3. List out the different types of biasing.
Voltage divider bias
Base bias
Emitter feedback bias
Collector feedback bias
4. Define current amplification factor?
It is defined as the ratio of change in output current to the change in input current at constant
other side voltage.
5. What are the requirements for biasing circuits?
The q point must be taken at the Centre of the active region of the output characteristics.
Stabilize the collector current against the temperature variations.
Make the q point independent of the transistor parameters.
When the transistor is replaced, it must be of same type.
6. What is biasing?
To use the transistor in any application it is necessary to provide sufficient voltage and
current to operate the transistor. This is called biasing.
7. What is operating point?
For the proper operation of the transistor a fixed level of current and voltages are required.
This values of currents and voltages defined at a point at which the transistor operate is called
operating point.

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8. What is stability factor?

Stability factor is defined as the rate of change of collector current with respect to the rate of
change of reverse saturation current.
9. What is d.c load line?
The d.c load line is defined as a line on the output characteristics of the transistor which gives
the value of Ic & Vce corresponding to zero signal condition.
10. What are the advantages of fixed bias circuit?
This is simple circuit which uses a few components. The operating point can be fixed any
where on the Centre of the active region
11. Explain about the characteristics of a transistor?
Input characteristics: it is drawn between input voltage & input current while keeping output
voltage as constant. Output characteristics: It is drawn between the output voltage &output
current while keeping input current as constant.
12. What is the necessary of the coupling capacitor?
It is used to block the c signal to the transistor amplifier. It allows a c &blocks the d c.
13. What is reverse saturation current?
The current due to the minority carriers is called the reverse saturation current.
14. What are the basic rules of an operating point in an amplifier?
The operating point should be fixed on the load line. The upper end of the load line lies on
the saturation region &lower end lies on the cutoff region.
15. How transistors do amplification?
Passing the input current signal from a region of low resistance to a region of high resistance.
This concept of transfer of resistance has given the name TRANSfer-resISTOR (Transistor)
16. Why CE configuration is widely used in amplifier circuit?
Voltage gain and current gain greater than unity
Ratio of output resistance to input resistance small 10 to 100 .
Coupling is ideal between various transistor stages.
17. Write down the operating regions and bias conditions of a transistor?

Si.no Region Emitter-Base junction Collector-Base junction

1 Cut-off Reverse bias Reverse bias

2 Active Forward bias Reverse bias
3 Saturation Forward bias Forward bias
18. List the typical junction voltage of NPN transistor

Si.no Transistor VCE (sat) VBE (sat) VBE (active) VBE (cut-in) VBE (cut-off)

1 Si 0.2v 0.8v 0.7v 0.5v 0v

2 Ge 0.1V 0.3V 0.2V 0.1V 0.1V

PNP- transistor only polarities will change.

19. Define thermal runaway?
The increase in the collector current increases the power dissipated at the collector junction.
This is turn further increases the temperature of the junction and hence increases the collector
current. The process is cumulative. The excess heat produced at the collector base junction
may even burn and destroy the transistor. This situation is called thermal runaway.

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20. What is the advantage of using emitter resistance in the context of biasing?
Better stability factor S we have to keep ratio RB/RE as small as possible. Emitter resistance
RE is one parameter we can use to decrease ratio RB/RE by increasing RE we can make
RB/RE small.But as we increase RE, drop IERE will also increase and since VCC is
constant, drop across RC will reduce. This shifts the operating point Q which is not desirable
and hence there is limit for increasing RE.
21. Why thermal runaway is not there in FETs?
FET is temperature dependent. In FET, as temperature increases drain resistance also
increases, reducing the drain current. So thermal runaway does not occur in FET.
22. Why is it necessary to stabilize the operating point of transistor?
Stabilization techniques refer to the use of resistive biasing circuits which allow IB to vary so
as to keep IC relatively constant with variations in IC0 , and VBE. To maintain the
operating point stable. So that the transistor will always work in active region.
23. Why BJT needs temperature compensation against VBE Changes?
ICBO increases with increase in temperature, IB reduces due to reduction in VBE,
maintaining IC fairly constant.
PART B
1. In an N-channel JFET, biased by potential divider method, the operating point has to be at
IDSS = 12mA. If VDD = 12V, R1 = 20K and R2 = 10K , RD =1.2K and VP= -4V. Find
the values of ID, VGS, VG, VDS and VS. (16)
2. i)Calculate the operating point for the following circuit. (6)
Vcc=15V

1 k ohm
200 ohm

=50
100 ohm

ii)Derive the expression of stability factor for collector feedback amplifier. (10)
3. i)Explain the circuit that uses a diode to compensate the changes in VBE and in ICO. (12)
ii)Explain the operation of thermistor compensation. (4)
4. Explain the various techniques of stabilization of Q-point in a transistor. (16)
Base bias circuit
Collector to base bias circuit
Voltage divider bias
5. With the help of neat diagram, explain the methods used in biasing the FET and
MOSFET (16)
6. (i) Draw the circuit of a voltage divider bias circuit. Explain its operation and discuss
how it stabilizes against VBE changes. (8)
(ii) Derive the stability factor of the voltage divider bias circuit.Compare the stability factor
of fixed bias and voltage divider bias circuits with hFE 100, Re = I Kohm,
R1 = 33Kohm and R2 = 12 Kohms. (8)

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UNIT II

PART A
1. Define small signal equivalent circuit.
The analysis of a non-linear device is complex.signal that takes up a relatively
small percentage of an amplifiers operational range. With small input singles the
transistor can be replaced with small signal linear model. This Model is also called
small signal equivalent model.
2. Draw a CE amplifier & its hybrid equivalent circuit

3. Draw a CC amplifier & its hybrid equivalent circuit

4. Draw a CB amplifier & its hybrid equivalent circuit

5. What are the techniques used to improve input impedance.

Using direct coupling (Darlington connection)
Using Bootstrap techniques
6. Define Darlington connection
Cascaded connection of two emitter followers is called Darlington connection.
7. Why the Darlington connection is not possible for more number of stages?
In Darlington connection of two transistors, emitter of the first transistor is
directly connected to the base of the second transistor. Because of direct coupling
dc output current of the first stage is (1+hfe)Ib1. If Darlington connection for n
stage is (1+hfe)n times Ib1. Due to very large amplification factor even tow stage
Darlington connection has large output current and output stage may have to be a
power stage. As power amplifiers are not used in the amplifier circuits it is not

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possible to use more than two transistors in the Darlington connection.

8. Why bootstrapping technique is called so?
When AV tends to 1, is called bootstrapping. The name arises from the fact that, if
one end of the resistor R3 changes in voltage, the other end of R3 moves through the same
potential difference; it is as if R3 is pulling itself up by its bootstraps.
9. What is the need for bootstrapped Darlington circuit?
Resistance between base and collector of transistor is given as 1/hob, which is of
the order of 2MK.to overcome this problem, same bootstrapping technique can be
used with Darlington circuit.
10. List the Methods of coupling multistage amplifiers.
RC coupling
Transformer coupling
Direct coupling
11. Define RC coupling
The output signal of first stage is coupled to input of the next stage through
coupling capacitor and resistive load at the output terminal of first stage.
12. Define Transformer coupling
The output signal of first stage is coupled to input of the next stage through an
impedance matching transformer.
13. Define Direct coupling
The output signal of first stage is directly connected to the input of the next stage.
14. Define cascade.
The cascode amplifier consists of a common emitter amplifier stage in series with
a common base amplifier stage.
15. Define differential gain.
The Ad is the gain with which differential amplifier amplifies the difference
between two input signals. Hence it is called differential gain of the
amplifier.V0=Ad (V1-V2)
16. Define common mode gain.
The gain with which it amplifies the average level of the two input signals to
produce the output is called common mode gain AC.V0=AC (VC)&VC= (V1+V2)/2
17. List the configuration of differential amplifiers.
Dual input, balanced output differential amplifier
Dual input, unbalanced output differential amplifier
Single input, balanced output differential amplifier
Single input, unbalanced output differential amplifier
18. . What is meant by CMRR of a differential amplifier?
The ability of a differential amplifier to reject a common mode signal is expressed
by a ratio called common mode rejection ratio denoted as CMRR. It is defined as
the ratio of the differential voltage gain Ad to common mode voltage gain Ac
19. What are the other methods to improve CMRR without RE?
Constant current bias method
Current mirror circuit.
20. Define current mirror circuit
The circuit in which the output current is forced to equal the input current is
called as current mirror circuit. In a current mirror circuit, the output current is the
mirror image of input current.

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21. List the advantage of current mirror circuit

Provides very high emitter resistance RE.
Requires fewer components than the constant current bias.
Simple to design
Easy to fabricate.
With properly matched transistors, collector current thermal stability is achieved.
22. Write the CE amplifier Current gain, Voltage gain, Input Impedance, Output
Impedance in terms of h-parameters.
Current gain Ai = -hfe
Voltage gain Av = ( - hfeRL)/hie
Input Impedance Zi = hie
Output Impedance Zo = ( hfe+Rs)/(hoeRs + h)

PART B
1. Draw the small signal hybrid model of CE amplifier and derive the expression for its AI, AV,
RI, RO. (16)
2. For the CC transistor amplifier circuit, find the expressions for input impedance and voltage
gain. Assume suitable model for the transistor. (16)
3. Explain the operation of a Darlington emitter follower and also derive an expression for its
performance measures. (16)
4. i)Explain the operation of emitter coupled differential amplifier. (12)
ii) Explain the transfer characteristics of the differential amplifier. (4)
5. Draw the circuit of a emitter coupled BJT differential amplifier and explain the
operation of the circuit. Explain how the differential amplifier with a constant current stage
improves the CMRR. (16)
6. Explain the operation of cascade amplifier and derive gain, input and output impedance. (16)

UNIT III

PART A

1. List the three basic JFET circuit configurations.

Common source
Common drain
Common gate
2. What do you mean by BiCMOS technology?
Combining bipolar and MOS transistor on the same substrate, such a technology is known
as BiCMOS technology.
3. State the advantages of bipolar cascade configuration
The output resistance of cascade circuit is very high
The input resistance looking into the emitter of Q2 is very low. Thereby minimizing
the miller multiplication effect.
4. State the advantages of BiCMOS cascade configuration.
Infinite input resistance of M1.
The frequency response of a BICMOS cascade circuit is superior to that of an all
MOSFET cacode circuit because the equivalent resistance looking into the emitter of

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a bipolar transistor is much less than the resistance looking into the source of the
MOSFET.
5. Define drain resistance and transconductance.
DRAIN RESISTANCE: It is the reciprocal of the slope of the drain characteristics and is
defined as ratio between Vds and Id.
TRANCONDUCTANCE:It is the slope of the transfer characteristics curves and is defined
as the ratio between Id and Vgs.
6. What are the parameters of JFET?
AC drain resistance
Transconductance
Amplification factor
7. Why the input impedance in FET is very high in comparison with BJT?
JFET have very high input impedance because of the reverse biased gate source PN junction.
8. Mention the operating modes of MOSFET.
Enhancement mode
Depletion mode
9. Write down the relationship between various FET parameters.
Amplification factor=drain resistance*transconductance
10. What is meant by gate source threshold voltage of a FET?
The voltage at which the channel is completely cut off and the drain current becomes zero is
called as gate source threshold voltage.
11. What are the operating regions of a JFET?
Ohmic region
Pinch off region
Breakdown region
12. List the advantages of FET.
Input impedance is very high.
Current carriers are not crossing the junctions , so noise is low
Small size
13. Define the amplification factor in the JFET.
Amplification factor is the negative of rate of change of drain voltage with gate voltage with
keeping Id as constant.
14. What are the main drawbacks of FET?
It has small gain bandwidth product in comparison with that which can be obtained with a
conventional transistor.

PART B
1. Derive gain, input and output impedance of common source JFET amplifier with neat
circuit diagram and equivalent circuit. (16)
2. Derive gain, input and output impedance of MOSFET source follower with neat circuit
diagram and equivalent circuit. (16)
3. Draw the small signal hybrid model of common drain MOSFET amplifier and derive the
expression for Ai,Av,Ri,Rv. (16)
4. With the neat sketch explain the principle of operation of cascode amplifier and also derive
an expression for its performance measures (16)
5. i)Write short notes on voltage swing limitations. (8)
ii) Briefly explain about the small signal analysis of JFET. (8)

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UNIT-IV

PART A

1. What is the Bandwidth of an amplifier?

Band width of an amplifier is defined as the difference between f1 and f2.
Here f2 is in the high frequency region and f1 is in the low frequency region.
These two frequencies are also referred to as the half power frequencies.
2. Give the significance of the coupling and bypass capacitor on bandwidth
of amplifiers.
At high and medium frequencies the coupling capacitors behave as short circuits. A t low
frequency the circuit gain is reduced. As the signal frequency decreases the capacitor
reactance increase and circuit gain continues to fall, reducing the output voltage.
3. Define the frequency response of an amplifier.
The frequency response of an amplifier can be defined as the variation of output of quantity
with respect to input signal frequency. In other words it can be defined as a graph drawn
between the input frequency and the gain of an amplifier.
4. Define lower and upper cut-off frequencies of an amplifier.
Lower cut off frequency:- The frequency (on lower side) at which the voltage gain of the
amplifier is exactly 70.7% of the maximum gain is known as lower cut off frequency.
Upper cut off frequency:- The frequency (on higher side) at which the voltage gain of the
amplifier is exactly 70.7% of the maximum gain is known as upper cut off frequency.
5. Why an NPN transistor has a better high frequency response than the PNP transistor?
An NPN transistor has a better frequency response than the PNP transistor because the
mobility of electron is more and capacitive effect is less.
6. What are the high frequency effects?
At high frequencies the internal capacitances, commonly known as junction capacitances
reducing the circuit gain.
7. Define fT in a high frequency transistor.
The fT is the frequency at which the short circuit current gain becomes unity.
8. Define rise time.
It is the time required for a signal to change from 10% value to 90% of its value.
9. Why is it not possible to use h parameters at high frequencies?
Because h parameters are not constant at high frequencies so at high frequency h parameter
model is not suitable.
10. What is the significance of Octaves and Decades in frequency response?
These are the measures of change in frequency. A ten times change in frequency is called as
decade. An octave corresponds to a doubling or halving the frequency.
11. Define coupling capacitor.
The coupling capacitor Cs couples the output of the amplifier to the load or to the
next stage of the amplifier. It blocks dc and passes only ac part of the amplified
signal.
12. Define benefits of h-parameter.
Real numbers at audio frequencies
Easy to measure

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Can be obtained from the transistor static characteristic curves

Convenient to use in circuit analysis and design.
13. State Millers Theorem.
Millers theorem states that, the effect of resistance Z on the input circuit is a ratio
of input voltage Vi to the current I which flows from the input to the output.
Millers theorem states that, the effect of resistance Z on the output circuit is a
ratio of output voltage Vo to the current I which flows from the output to the input.

PART B
1. Explain the low frequency response and the high frequency response of an amplifier. (16)
2. i)Draw the high frequency hybrid model for a transistor in the CE configuration and
explain the significance of each component. (12)
ii) Define alpha cutoff frequency. (4)
3. Explain in detail with neat diagram frequency response of BJT amplifier. Discuss the
significance of cut off frequencies and band width of the amplifier. (16)
4. Draw the high frequency equivalent circuit of MOSFET amplifier and derive all the
parameters related to its frequency response. (16)
5. Explain the high frequency operation of common source amplifier with its
equivalent circuit. (16)
6. Explain the operation of high frequency common source MOSFET amplifier with
neat diagram. Derive the expression for (a) voltage gain (b) input admittance
(c) input impedance (d) output admittance (16)

UNIT V

PART A

1. Mention the advantages of integrated circuits.

Cost reduction
Improved functional performance
Reduction in power consumption
2. What is active load?
It is the output part of a current mirror and is represented in an idealized manner as a current
source. It is only a constant current resistor that is a part of the whole current source
including a constant voltage source as well.
3. What are the applications of current sources?
Transistor current sources are widely used in analog ICs both as biasing elements and as load
devices for amplifier stages.
4. Define current sterring.
The constant dc current called as reference current is generated at one location and is then
replicated at various other locations for biasing the various stages of amplifier present in the
circuit. This process is known as current steering.
5. State the advantages of current steering process.
The external components such as precision resistors required to generate a predictable
and stable reference current, need not be repeated for every amplifier stage.

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The bias currents of the various stages track each other when there is any change due
to power supply voltage
6. What do you mean by current source and current sink.
If a transistor pulls current from a load then it is called as current sink. If a transistor pushes
its current into a load then its is called as current source.
7. List the various types of active loads.
N channel depletion mode device
N channel enhancement mode device
P channel enhancement mode device
8. State the limitation of the NMOS amplifier with enhancement load.
The voltage gain is related to the size of the transistor with a square root function.
9. State the advantages of CMOS common source amplifier.
CMOS CS amplifier provide large small signal voltage gain.
CMOS amplifier does not suffer from body effect.
10. State the advantages of Wilson current mirror circuit.
The increase in output resistance and hence to increase the stability of output current.

PART B
1. Draw a MOS current steering circuit with two sink and two source terminals. Write the
expression for the terminal currents in terms of reference current. (16)
2. Derive gain, input and output impedance of common source amplifier with NMOS
diode connected active load. (16)
3. Derive the expression of the differential-mode voltage gain, common mode voltage gain and
CMRR for a MOSFET differential amplifier. (16)
4. Explain the design of a PMOS and NMOS current sources to provide a specified bias current
and output resistance. (16)

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