# Basic diode analysis problem

1. Mar 10, 2014

### Saitama

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Determine $V_0$ and $I$ for the network shown in attachment 1.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
I can replace Si diode with a battery of emf of 0.7 V and Ge diode with that of 0.3 V.

If I take Path-1 (orange) in attachment 2, I get:
$$V_0=10-0.3=9.7 V$$
which is correct but if I take Path-2 (blue), I get:
$$V_0=10-0.7=9.3 V$$
Why do I get two different answers?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

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2. Mar 10, 2014

### mr_pavlo

Voltage across Ge diode will be always smaller than Si treshold so Si diode will never open so you can omit it from circuit and calculate series combination of Ge diode and resistor. There is small current through Si diode but it is negligibly smaller than current through Ge diode.

3. Mar 10, 2014

### NoPoke

You can model a silicon diode as a 0.7V battery in series with a "perfect" diode. A little more care is required when modelling a germanium diode as a 0.3V battery and a "perfect" diode as germanium diodes leak a lot more than silicon under reverse bias. Leakage won't be an issue for this circuit.

4. Mar 10, 2014

### BvU

Only approximately, and only when they are in a "conducting state". Diodes have a I-V relationship that is a bit more continuous than this step function approximation. (Vd is your 0.3 or 0.7).

Don't worry about the precise exponential shape for the answer to this exercise (unless you were given a lot more details on these two particular diodes). Electronics is a coarse science compared to real physics .

5. Mar 10, 2014

### Saitama

Hello everyone! :)

Welcome to PF, mr_pavlo!

Yes, agreed.
Why?

@BvU: Yes, I am aware of the I-V relationship but since most of the solved examples in the book replaced the diode with an "equivalent" battery of emf I have shown above, I thought I should also solve the problem the same way.

...but how does that answer my question?

6. Mar 10, 2014

### NoPoke

You dont get two answers if you use a better model. In particular the model that you are using of a diode equals a battery is insufficient for this problem.

Batteries can both source and sink current. Batteries have finite internal resistance. Adding a perfect diode in series with the battery can prevent it from sourcing current. Adding a finite internal resistance will avoid the infinite loop current which you currently have.

7. Mar 10, 2014

### mr_pavlo

Thanks for welcome,

because Ge diode will not allow voltage across Si diode to rise to more than 0.3V and Si diode starts conducting when voltage across it is around 0.7V. It is like when you connect Blue LED to circuit and it shines and then you connect Red LED parallel to Blue one and the Blue goes off. It's because blue LED has higher forvard voltage drop than red so red takes over all current.
Of course in real, there would be small current through Si diode compared to that through Ge diode but you would have to know exactly the type of diodes (1N4148, ... ) for precise calculations but it would have no practical relevance as the result would be almost the same with or without Si diode. That is just my practical experience and I can be wrong .

8. Mar 11, 2014

### Saitama

Hi again! Sorry for the delay in reply.

I think this clears my doubt, thanks a lot mr_pavlo!
Yep, I have seen this when I made a circuit involving differently coloured LEDs.

I hope you spend a great time at PF. :)

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