RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The objective of the experiment is to determine the

output voltage (Voltage of Diode) for forward and
reverse biased PN junction diode using an AC circuit and
the relationship of voltage and current in a diode using a
graph. Lastly, to have an observation to the
behaviour/pattern of the current and voltage of a PN
junction diode in both forward and reverse biased, to
plot and distinguish the type of graph and relationship
of PN junction has.

Forward Biased PN Junction Diode

In the Forward Biased PN Junction Diode, presents the

relationship of the voltage input to the voltage diode and
current of the circuit. In the graph, it can be observed that
the curved line indicates that the current remains zero
until there is a small difference of reading of the current
as well as the voltage diode. From the data collected
from the experiment, it was observed that the voltage
input is directly proportional to the voltage diode and
current of the circuit, whereas the voltage input increases,
the voltage diode and current increases. From this, it can
be inferred that the voltage diode and current was
approximately equal from 0.5 to 1 voltage input and
after this, the changing of the value occurs.

Table 1. Forward Biased PN Junction Diode

Voltage Input (DC) Voltage Diode Current

0V 0V 0A

0.1 V 0.1398 V 0A

0.2 V 0.276 V 0A

0.3 V 0.376 V 0A

0.4 V 0.437 V 0A

0.5 V 0.576 V 0A

0.6 V 0.592 V 0A

0.7 V 0.681 V 0.01 A

0.8 V 0.735 V 0.04 A

0.9 V 0.743 V 0.05 A

1.0 V 0.772 V 0.10 A

1.1 V 0.782 V 0.12 A

1.2 V 0.791 V 0.15 A

1.3 V 0.798 V 0.18 A

1.4 V 0.802 V 0.20 A

1.5 V 0.814 V 0.25 A

2V 0.833 V 0.39 A
Reverse Biased PN Junction Diode

In the Reverse Biased PN Junction Diode, the gathered

data are all negative since the P-type is in the negative
terminal and N-type is in the positive terminal, of the
diode. From the data collected from the experiment, it
was observed that the values of the voltage input
approaches to zero, the voltage diode approaches to
zero as well, having the current of the circuit to have a
zero values since there is no relationship acting to both
voltage diode and voltage input.
Table 2. Reverse Biased PN Junction Diode
Voltage Input (DC) Voltage Diode Current

-1 V 0.993 V 0A

-2 V 2.01 V 0A

-3 V 3.07 V 0A

-4 V 4.07 V 0A

-5 V 5.09 V 0A

-6 V 6.04 V 0A

-7 V 7.05 V 0A

-8 V 8.07 V 0A

-9 V 9.07 V 0A

-10 V 10.07 V 0A
Conclusion

From the given data resulted from the experiment,

several concepts can be established and concluded. The
relationship between the voltage and current in a diode is
directly proportional to the voltage input. Wherein as the
input voltage increases, both the voltage drops and
current also increases. Meanwhile, on a Reverse Bias
Condition, the absolute value of the input voltage is equal
to the voltage drop of the diode.

Error Analysis

In comparison to the other experiments, the

relationship of the error in the PN Diode Junction
experiment comes with the instrument itself wherein
because of the age of the equipment that we had used, its
efficiency varied from time to time. Also, the ammeter
that had used is the analogue one, causing the value to be
inaccurate since we were only ought to estimate the results
given by the tick of the dial.
Application

Diodes are usually seen in switches of different

electronically circuit devices. Since in change the bias
conditions of the diodes, it undergoes a transient
response, the change of the system’s equilibrium and
steady state. The sudden change of the system can affect
the entire circuit resulting the electrical switches of the
electronic appliances to have a recovery time that the
basis of these depends on the bias state of the diode. In
short, the Forward bias can be defined as ON in the switch
and on the other hand, the reverse bias being the OFF
state.

GUIDE QUESTIONS

1. What is the difference between forward biased and

reverse biased operations? What characteristics do
they exhibit?
- The Forward bias decreases the resistance of the
diode whereas the reversed bias increases the
resistance of the diode.
- In forward biasing the current is easily flowing
through the circuit whereas reverse bias does
not allow the current to flow through it.
 - In forward biasing the magnitude of the current
depends on the forward voltage whereas in
reverse bias the magnitude of the current is very
small or negligible.
- In forward biasing the device operates as a
conductor whereas in reverse bias the device act
as an insulator.
2. What is knee voltage? Compare the value of your
measured knee voltage with the actual value.

Knee voltage is the minimum amount of voltage

which is required to operate components. The actual
value of knee voltage for the diode that we used is 0.7
V. As input voltages from 0V to 6V generates negligible
values of the current, whereas current flow only began
having eligible readings at an input voltage of 0.7V.
The measured value for knee voltage is 1.1V, as input
voltages from 0V to 1V constantly generated current
flow that read 0A in the ammeter. Legible amount of
the current only began to read at an input voltage of
1.1 V.
3. Compare the Input Voltage and the Current Values of
the collected data. What mathematical relationship
could you derive from it. Was the data ideal?

The measured values are in close consistency with

the actual values. This means that homogeneity and
consistency in comparison to discussed concepts can be
seen.

The graph formed a horizontal line until voltage

threshold was reached, which then showed positive
current values that are increasing. This proves the
concept that after reaching the certain threshold
value, the applied input voltage is directly
proportional to the current across the diode. This is
visible for forward biased operations.
 0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
Current

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4

Input Voltage

Figure 1. Relationship between the Voltage Input and

Current (forward biased condition)

12
10
8
Voltage Output

6
4
2
0
-15 -10 -5 0 5
Voltage Input

Figure 2. Relationship between Voltage Input and Voltage

Output (reverse biased condition)