Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Type of Transistor
CHAPTER 9 : ELECTRONIC 1. There is two-type of transistor:
9.3 Transistor (a) npn transistor
(b) pnp transistor

Transistor
1. A transistor is a double p-n junction semiconductor with three terminals,
a. the emitter (e),
b. the base (b)
c. the collector (c).

2. Figure 1 below shows the illustration of a transistor. It looks like a

combination of 2 p-n junction diodes.

Terminal Function
Emitter, E Emits or sends charge carriers(free electrons or holes)
through the thin base layer to be collected by the collector,
C

Collector,C Receives charge carrier from emitter,E

2. The arrow in transistor represents the direction of allowed current
Base, B Control the flow of charge carriers from emitter,E to flowing.
collector,C
3. Take note that, for the emitter and base, the current always flow from
the positive terminal to the negative terminal.

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

How Transistor Works ? 4. Current will flow in collector circuit only when the base circuit is closed.

1. In the Figure 4 above, there are 2 circuits in the connection:

a. the base circuit
b. the collector circuit

2. The base circuit is forward bias whereas the collector circuit is reverse
bias. (This will be discuss in "The Connection of a Transistor").

3. Table below shows the response of bulb 1 (B1) and bulb 2 (B2) when
switch 1 (S1) and switch 2 (S2) are closed.

S1 S2 B1 B2
Open Open Does not light up Does not light up

Close Open Light up Does not light up

 From the figure above, junction BE is forward-biased. Electron being
Open Close Does not light up Does not light up the majority charge carrier in the semiconductor type – n flow from
emitter, E to the base, B.
Close Clos Light up Light up
 Due to the reason the base layer, B very narrow, so number of majority
charge carrier that is holes in p-type are very limited.
3. From the table, we can see that, the collector circuit is controlled by the
base circuit.

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

 Only a few electrons that flowing through the junction BE will combine
with holes in the semiconductor layer type – p.
 The small number of electrons flow out of the base, B as valence
electron. Here, the base current, IB will be produced.
 To connect a pnp transistor, the positive terminal of battery is connected
to the emitter, E and the negative terminal of the battery is connected to
the collector, C.

 Most of the electrons from emitter, E will be attracted to the collector, C

through the thin base layer, B due to potential difference at collector, C
is more positive.

 The flow of electrons to the collector, C will produce collector current,

I C.

How Dry Cells Are Connected to The Transistor ?

 The terminals of a transistor must be connected to the terminals of a
cell correctly to avoid damaging the transistor.  Transistor should be connected in such a way that
a. the emitter-base circuit is forward bias
 Transistors should be connected to correct terminals of dry cell based b. the collector-base circuit is reverse bias.
on type of transistor.
EXAMPLE 1
 To connect a npn transistor, the positive terminal of battery should be
connected to the collector C and the negative terminal of battery should
be connected to emitter, E.

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 4

EXAMPLE 3

Principle of Transistor
1. Base current, Ib is smaller than the collector current, Ic. Emitter current, Ie
is equal the sum of base current, Ib and collector current Ic

Ib < Ic < Ie and Ie = Ib + Ic

2. Although collector current, Ic is bigger than the base current, Ib, but the
collector current is depends on the base current, Ic. If there is no
current flowing in base circuit, then there will be no current flowing in
the collector circuit.

If Ib = 0, then Ic = 0

3. A small change in the base current, results in a big change in the

collector current, Ic

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Transistor As Current Amplifier 7. Figure 3 below shows another amplification circuit. In this case
1. The major application of a transistor is as a current amplifier. however, the base current is varying because of the small alternating
voltage produced by the microphone.
2. A transistor can be used to amplify ('magnify') current changes because
a small change in base current produces a large change in collector
current.

3. A simple transistor amplifier circuit is shown in Figure 1 below.

Ib ( Ic
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0

5. Since the small change in the base current IB results in a big change in
the collector current, IC, the transistor therefore function as a current
amplifier.

6. The ratio IC/IB is called the amplification factor.

7. Transistor can be used as an amplifier to strengthen weak signals so

that they produce a stronger or bigger output.

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

8. The small changes in base current cause much larger changes in

collector current.

9. When a sound reached the microphone, the sound energy causes the
microphone’s diaphragm to vibrate and an alternating current produced.

10. The input capacitor allows the current to alternate from microphone but
blocks the steady current (dc from battery) which might otherwise flow
through the microphone from the potential divider. Such a current would
upset the biasing effect of the potential divider

11. The alternating current then causes changes to base current, Ib. A small
change in the base current Ib, results in a big change in the collector
current,Ic

12. The collector current which is alternating will flow into loud speaker and
the sound waves of same frequency as original sound but with greater
amplitude will be produced.

13. Thus, the output at loud speaker is greater than the input from
microphone.

POP QUIZ 1
Fill in the blank with correct terminologies.

Limit the collector Collector current Potential divider

current
Supply energy to Base circuit Limit the base
circuit. current
Base current Collector circuit Supply energy to
the base circuit

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Transistor - As An Automatic Switch

 If the variable resistor, R2 = 0, base voltage,V2 = 0 and the transistor

remains off.
 If the variable resistor, R2 is increased, the base voltageV2 increases.
 When the base voltage,V2 reaches certain minimum value, the base
current, Ib switches the transistor on.
 The large collector current, Ic flows through the transistor causing the
bulb to light up.

1. In the diagram above, the bulb is off when the collector current is off or
very small. It is switched on when the collector current become large. POP QUIZ 2

2. We have learned that in a transistor, the collector current is controlled

by the base current, or the base voltage.

3. The greater the base voltage is, the greater the base current, and hence
the greater the collector current.

4. Therefore the bulb can be switched on and off by varying the voltage
supplied to the base.

5. The voltage across the base can be controlled a potential divider.

6. According to the potential divider rule, the voltages across the resistor
R1 and R2 are given by the following equations:

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) and Thermistor Light Operating Switch

1. In a light operating switch, we connect an LDR to the potential divider.

2. As a result, the voltage across the base vary according to the presence
or absence of light.

3. Example 5 and 6 below shows how the resistance of the LDR, the base
voltage, the base current and the collector current change in different
conditions.

EXAMPLE 5
1. A light-dependent resistor (LDR), or photoresistor, is a resistor
sensitive to light.

2. In darkness, the LDR has a very high resistance about 1 million

Ohm.

3. In bright light however, the resistance of the LDR falls to only a few
hundred Ohms.

Bright Situation Dark Situation

RLDR vs RR
VB vs VR
4. Thermistor is a resistor where the resistance depends on IB
surrounding temperature. IC
Transistor
5. At high temperature, the resistance is lower while at lower
temperature, the resistance is higher. Bulb

Conclusion : The bulb will be switched on when the surrounding is

bright and switched off when the surrounding is dark.

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

EXAMPLE 6 3. There are 2 types of thermistor:

a. The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor
b. The negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor

4. For the PTC thermistor, the resistance of the thermistor increases as

the temperature increases whereas for the NTC thermistor, the
resistance of the thermistor decreases as the temperature increases.

5. In SPM, we assume all the thermistor used is the NTC thermistor,

unless it is stated otherwise.

EXAMPLE 7 (Fire Alarm System)

Function of a diode
To protect the
Bright Situation Dark Situation transistor from being
RLDR vs RR damaged by the large
VB vs VR induced e.m.f in the
relay coil when the
IB collector current, Ic
IC drops to zero
Transistor
Bulb
High Temperature Low Temperature
Conclusion : The bulb will be switched on when the surrounding is dark
and switched off when the surrounding is bright. RLDR vs RR
VB vs VR
IB
IC
Heat Operating Switch
Transistor
1. In a heat operated switch, the LDR is replaced by a thermistor. Alarm

2. A thermistor is a resistor which its resistance changes as the Conclusion : The alarm will be triggered when the temperature is high
temperature changes. and not triggered when the temperature is low.

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Sound Operating Switch

1. Figure above shows the circuit design of a sound controlled switch.

2. The microphone is used to convert sound to electric current.

3. The variable resistor is adjusted as such that the transistor is switched

on when sound is detected by the microphone.

4. The function of the capacitor is to prevent the direct current from the cell
to flow in the base circuit.

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

14. Diagram 3 shows the symbol of a 16. Which circuit will not light up the bulb? 17. Diagram 14 shows a transistor circuit with a
transistor. thermistor and a light bulb.
A
Q
Thermistor

Termistor
Diagram 3/ Rajah 3

What are the type of the transistor and B

name part Q?

Type of Transistor Part of Q

A pnp Collector Diagram 14
B pnp Emitter
C npn Collector What happens to the resistance of the
D npn Emitter thermistor and the light bulb when the
temperature surrounding the thermistor
C increases?
15. Which of the following circuits can function
?

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

PAPER 2  SUBJECTIVE
Q1 : SPM 2012

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Q2 : SPM 2006

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PAPER 2  ESSAY
Q1 : SPM 2007

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Q2 : SPM 2013

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Q3 : SPM 2015

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 Physic Form 5 – Chapter 4 : Electronic

Q4 : SPM 2017

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