POWER AMPLIFIERS 3.

Class B operation is provided when the

dc bias leaves the transistor biased just off,
1. This is an example of the output swing the transistor turning on when the ac signal
for a class ________ amplifier. is applied.

A. True
B. False
Answer: Option A

4. The main features of a large-signal

amplifier is the circuit's ________.
A. A
A. power efficiency
B. B
B. maximum power limitations
C. AB
C. impedance matching to the output
D. C
device
E. D
D. All of the above
Answer: Option B
Answer: Option D
2. Calculate VB2.
5. The principal advantage(s) of BJTs over
MOSFETs is (are) that

A. voltage drop across the transistor is

important.
B. they are not as prone to ESD.
C. both of the above
D. none of the above
Answer: Option C

6. A silicon power transistor is operated

with a heat sink (ϴSA = 1.5ºC/W). The
transistor, rated at 150 W (25ºC), has ϴJC =
0.5º C/W, and the mounting insulation has
ϴCS = 0.6 ºC/W. What is the maximum
power that can be dissipated if the ambient
temperature is 50ºC and TJmax = 200 ºC?
A. 0V
B. 0.7 V A. 61.5 W
C. 9.3 V B. 60.0 W
D. 10.7 V C. 57.7 W
Answer: Option C D. 55.5 W
Answer: Option C
7. Refer to this figure. The dc voltage on the
collector, VC, is
10. You find that there is an input signal on
the base of Q1 and Q2. However, there is no
output signal. You then measure the dc
voltages on Q2 and find them to be all 0 V.
The possible trouble might be

A. 5.4 V.
B. 6.6 V.
C. 12 V.
D. 0 V.
Answer: Option A
A. C3 is shorted.
8. What is the ratio of the secondary voltage B. C1 is open.
to the primary voltage with the turn ratio in C. RL is shorted.
the windings? D. VCC is 0 V.
Answer: Option D
A. N2/N1
B. (N1/N2)2 11. Which type of power amplifier is biased
C. (N1/N2)1/3 for operation at less than 180º of the cycle?
D. N1 × N2
Answer: Option A A. Class A
B. Class B or AB
9. Class ________ amplifiers are normally C. Class C
operated in a push-pull configuration in D. Class D
order to produce an output that is a replica Answer: Option C
of the input.
12. Class AB operation is ________
A. A operation.
B. B
C. C A. similar to class A
D. AB B. similar to class B
Answer: Option D C. similar to class C
D. None of the above 17. What is the maximum efficiency of a
Answer: Option D class A circuit with a direct or series-fed
load connection?
13. The principal advantage(s) of MOSFETs
over BJTs is (are) A. 90%
B. 78.5%
A. their biasing networks are simpler. C. 50%
B. their drive requirements are simpler. D. 25%
C. they can be connected in parallel for Answer: Option D
added drive capability.
D. all of the above 18. You have an oscilloscope across RL and
Answer: Option D it shows a zero signal voltage. The problem
might be that

14. Which of the following instruments

allows more precise measurement of the
harmonic components of a distorted signal?

A. Digital multimeter
B. Spectrum analyzer
C. Oscilloscope
D. Wave analyzer
Answer: Option D

15. In class B operation, at what fraction of

VCC should the level of VL(p) be to achieve
the maximum power dissipated by the
output transistor?

A. 0.5
B. 0.636 A. C3 is open.
C. 0.707 B. BE1 is open.
D. 1 C. BE2 is open.
Answer: Option B D. R1 is open.
Answer: Option A
16. What is the maximum temperature
rating for silicon power transistors? 19. Which class of amplifier operates in the
linear region for only a small part of the
A. 50º to 80º input cycle?
B. 100º to 110º A. A
C. 150º to 200º B. B
D. 250º to 300º C. C
Answer: Option C D. AB
Answer: Option C
 24. Which of the following is (are) power
20. The Q-point is at cutoff for class amplifiers?
________ operation.
A. Class A
A. A B. Class B or AB
B. B C. Class C or D
C. C D. All of the above
D. AB Answer: Option D
Answer: Option B
25. Refer to the figure. The maximum
21. Determine what maximum dissipation efficiency of this amplifier is
will be allowed for a 70-W silicon transistor
(rated at 25ºC) if derating is required above
25ºC by a derating factor of 0.6 W/ºC at a
case temperature of 100º.

A. 25 W
B. 30 W
C. 35 W
D. 40 W
Answer: Option A

22. How many transistors must be used in a

class B power amplifier to obtain the output A. about 25%.
for the full cycle of the signal? B. about 78%.
C. about 70%.
A. 0 D. about 100%.
B. 1 Answer: Option B
C. 2
D. 3 26. Quiescent power is the power
Answer: Option C dissipation of a transistor

23. What transformer turns ratio is required A. with no signal input.

to match an 8- speaker load so that the B. with no load.
effective load resistance seen at the primary C. under full load.
is 12.8 k? D. along the dc load line.
Answer: Option A
A. 20:1
B. 40:1 27. Which of the power amplifiers is not
C. 50:1 intended primarily for large-signal or
D. 60:1 power amplification?
Answer: Option B
A. Class A
B. Class B or AB 31. Which of the push-pull amplifiers is
C. Class C presently the most popular form of the class
D. Class D B power amplifier?
Answer: Option C
A. Quasi-complementary
28. Refer to this figure. This amplifier is B. Transformer-coupled
operating as a ________ amplifier. C. Complementary-symmetry
D. None of the above
Answer: Option A

32. Refer to this figure. The approximate

voltages on the base, collector, and emitter,
respectively, are

A. class A
B. class B
C. class AB
D. class C
Answer: Option C

29. By how much does the output signal A. 0.7 V, 6.8 V, 0 V.

vary for a class AB power amplifier? B. 0 V, 0 V, 0 V.
C. 0.7 V, 15 V, 0 V.
A. 360º D. 0.7 V, 0 V, 15 V.
B. 180º Answer: Option C
C. Between 180º and 360º
D. Less than 180º 33. Calculate the harmonic distortion
Answer: Option C component for an output signal having a
fundamental amplitude of 3 V and a second
30. Which type of amplifier uses pulse harmonic amplitude of 0.25 V.
(digital) signals in its operation?
A. 3.83%
A. Class A B. 38.3%
B. Class B or AB C. 83.3%
C. Class C D. 8.33%
D. Class D Answer: Option D
Answer: Option D
34. Which amplifier is commonly used as a Answer: Option C
frequency multiplier?
37. Which of the following instruments
A. class A displays the harmonics of a distorted
B. class B signal?
C. class C
D. all of the above A. Digital multimeter
Answer: Option C B. Spectrum analyzer
C. Oscilloscope
35. You find that there is no output signal. D. Wave analyzer
You measure the dc voltage of Q1 emitter Answer: Option B
and find it equal to 0 V. The trouble might
be 38. Calculate the efficiency of a transformer-
coupled class A amplifier for a supply of 15
V and an output of V(p) = 10 V.

A. 25%
B. 33.3%
C. 50%
D. 78.5%
Answer: Option B

39. ________ amplifiers primarily provide

sufficient power to an output load to drive a
speaker from a few watts to tens of watts.

A. Small-signal
B. Power
A. D1 is shorted.
C. None of the above
B. D2 is shorted.
Answer: Option B
C. R1 is open.
D. no trouble, everything is normal.
40. You have an application for a power
Answer: Option C
amplifier to operate on FM radio
frequencies. The most likely choice would
36. A class B amplifier operates in the linear
be a ________ amplifier.
region for

A. class A
A. slightly more than 180° of the input
B. class B
cycle.
C. class C
B. 360° of the input cycle.
D. class AB
C. slightly less than 180° of the input
Answer: Option C
cycle.
D. much less than 180° of the input
cycle.
41. B. class A.
Which of the following describe(s) a power C. class AB.
amplifier? D. class C.
Answer: Option B
A. It can handle large power.
B. It can handle large current. 46. In practice, the efficiency of a
C. It does not provide much voltage capacitively coupled class A amplifier is
gain. about ________%.
D. All of the above
Answer: Option D A. 25
B. 40
42. Categorize the power efficiency of each C. 70
class of amplifier, from worst to best. D. 10
Answer: Option D
A. A, B, AB, D
B. A, AB, D, B 47. This is an example of the output swing
C. A, AB, B, D for a class ________ amplifier.
Answer: Option C

43. Which operation class is generally used

in radio or communications? A. A
B. B
A. A C. AB
B. B D. C
C. AB E. D
D. C Answer: Option A
E. D
Answer: Option D 48. For BJT power transistors, the collector
terminal is always connected to the
44. In a class AB amplifier, if the VBE drops transistor's case
are not matched to the diode drops or if the
diodes are not in thermal equilibrium with A. for easy circuit connection.
the transistors, this can result in B. to prevent shorts.
C. because the collector terminal is the
A. a current mirror. critical terminal for heat dissipation.
B. diode separation. D. because the collector terminal is
C. crossover distortion. located nearest the case.
D. thermal runaway. Answer: Option C
Answer: Option D

45. The least efficient amplifier among all

classes is

A. class B.
49. A class A amplifier has a voltage gain of Which of the power amplifiers has the
30 and a current gain of 25. What is the lowest overall efficiency?
power gain?
A. Class A
A. 30 B. Class B or AB
B. 25 C. Class C
C. 1.2 D. Class D
D. 750 Answer: Option A
Answer: Option D
54. Calculate the efficiency of a class B
50. Which of the following transistors has amplifier for a supply voltage of VCC = 20
been quite popular as the driver device for V with peak output voltage of VL(p) = 18 V.
class D amplification? Assume RL = 16.

A. BJT A. 78.54%
B. FET B. 75%
C. UJT C. 70.69%
D. MOSFET D. 50%
Answer: Option D Answer: Option C

51. A class A amplifier with RC = 3.3 k and 55. You find that this amplifier only shows
RE = 1.2 k has a VCC = 20 V. Find IC(sat). the negative alternation at the output. The
possible trouble might be that
A. 4.4 mA
B. 6.1 mA
C. 16.7 mA
D. 20 mA
Answer: Option A

52. Which of the following is (are) the

disadvantage(s) of a class B
complementary-symmetry circuit?

A. It needs two separate voltage

sources.
B. There is crossover distortion in the
output signal.
C. It does not provide exact switching
of one transistor off and the other on at the A. C3 is shorted.
zero-voltage condition. B. BE1 is open.
D. All of the above C. BE2 is open.
Answer: Option D D. R1 is open.
Answer: Option B
53.
56. The maximum efficiency of a class B 61. nMOS and pMOS transistors can be
amplifier is ________ percent. used for class B.
A. 50 A. True
B. 25 B. False
C. 70 Answer: Option A
D. 79
Answer: Option D 62. Determine VB1.

57. Calculate the effective resistance seen

looking into the primary of a 20:1
transformer connected to an 8- load.
A. 3.2 k
B. 3.0 k
C. 2.8 k
D. 1.8 k
Answer: Option A

58. The maximum efficiency of a

transformer-coupled class A amplifier is
________.
A. 25% A. 0V
B. 50% B. 0.7 V
C. 78.5% C. 9.3 V
D. 63.6% D. 10.7 V
Answer: Option B Answer: Option D

59. A class ________ amplifier is biased 63. A class C amplifier has a tank circuit in
slightly above cutoff and operates in the the output. The amplifier is conducting only
linear region for slightly more than 180º of 28°. The output voltage is
the input cycle. A. 0 V.
A. A B. a dc value equal to VCC.
B. B C. a sine wave.
C. C D. a square wave with a frequency
D. AB determined by the tank.
Answer: Option D Answer: Option C

60. The class ________ amplifier is biased 64. What is the maximum efficiency of a
below cutoff. class B circuit?
A. A A. 90%
B. AB B. 78.5%
C. B C. 50%
D. C D. 25%
Answer: Option D Answer: Option B