Zener Diode
Question 1: What is a Zener diode?
Answer:
A Zener Diode, otherwise called a breakdown diode, is a highly doped diode that is intended to work in reverse bias cndition.
Question 2: Why is Zener Diode used as a regulator?
Answer:
The voltage across Zener Diode always remains constant and thus Zener diode is used as a voltage regulator. Zener diode also works in reverse bias conditions.
Question 3: Who was the first person to describe the electrical properties of the Zener diode?
Answer:
The first person to describe the electrical properties of the Zener diode was an American scientist Clarence Melvin Zener working at Bell Labs. Zener diode is named in his honour.
Question 4: What are the types of breakdowns for a Zener Diode?
Answer:
The two types of breakdowns for a Zener Diode are,
- Avalanche Breakdown
- Zener Breakdown
Question 5: What is the other name of the Zener diode?
Answer:
The other name of the Zener diode is Breakdown Diode.
Question 6: What is the difference between a Zener diode and a normal diode?
Answer:
The difference Zener diode and an normal diode is that a normal diode allows to flow the current in one direcrtion whereas the zener diode allow the current to flow in both directions.
Question 7: What is the voltage tolerance of a Zener diode?
Answer:
The voltage tolerance of a Zener diode is close to ±5%.
Question 8: What is Avalanche Breakdown in the Zener diode?
Answer:
Avalanche breakdown happens in presence of a high electric field. In a reverse biased condition if a high electric field is applied, the electrons start to gain high kinetic energy. These energised electrons breaks other covalent bonds and creates electron-hole pairs which cause a sudden surge in current this is called Avalanche Breakdown.
Question 9: What are the Applications of the Zener diode?
Answer:
Following are the applications of Zener diode:
- Zener diode is used as a voltage regulator
- Zener diode in over-voltage protection
- Zener diode in clipping circuits
Zener Diode
Zener Diode is one of the most important semiconductor diodes used in our daily life. It is a specific diode that works in reverse bias conditions. It allows current to flow from anode to cathode and it also works in the reverse direction. Let’s learn about Zener Diodes their function, and their construction, in detail in this article.