Class 12 Physics simulations · Semiconductor Electronics

Transistor as a switch

Drive a transistor through a base resistor and see when a collector load is fully switched on.

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What to notice

Once saturated, extra base current does not significantly increase load current.

Key relation

IC ≈ min(βIB, (VCC − Vsat)/RC)

Try this

Lower the base resistance until the transistor saturates.

What you can change

• Input voltage: 0 to 5 V
• Base resistance: 1 to 100 kΩ
• Current gain β: 20 to 200

More in Semiconductor Electronics

• Electrons and holes in doped silicon
• P–N junction diode
• Diode I–V characteristic
• LED colour and band gap
• Logic gates
• Half-wave rectifier
• Rectifier with a smoothing capacitor
• Solar cell: I–V curve and maximum power
• Zener voltage regulator

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