Zener Diode On: Understanding Current Flow in a Circuit

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pushoam
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Diode
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
4 replies · 2K views · last reply
Pushoam
Messages
961
Reaction score
53

Homework Statement


Circuit schematic labelled Fig. 6.79 with a 14 V cell in the left branch, a 1 kΩ resistor on the top wire, a zener diode marked Vz = 10 V in the middle branch, and a 3 kΩ resistor in the right branch, with corners labelled A, B, C and D.


Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I assume that the zener diode is on.
For this the current flowing through 1k##\Omega ~~i.e. ~~I_1## should be grater than the 3k##\Omega## i.e.##I_3##.
##I_3= 10/3~ mA
\\I_1 = 4 ~mA##
Clearly,##I_1 > I_3##. So, there is some current going through the zener diode. Hence, the zener diode is on.
Is this correct?
 
Attachments
  • Textbook problem text: "14. In the circuit shown in Fig. 6.79, is zener diode in the on or off state ?"
    upload_2017-9-15_13-27-25.png
    3.9 KB · Views: 571
  • Circuit schematic Fig. 6.79: 14 V battery in the left branch with a 1 kΩ resistor on top, a Zener diode marked VZ = 10 V in the middle branch, and a 3 kΩ resistor on the right, with nodes labelled A, B, C and D.
    upload_2017-9-15_13-31-4.png
    7.5 KB · Views: 589
Physics news on Phys.org