Applied Physics Lab Manual Institute of Business Management

Collage of Engineering and Sciences

LAB SESSION # 6
Assessment Rubrics for GSC-103 Applied Physics
Method: Lab reports and instructor observation during Lab sessions
Outcome Assessed:
a. Ability to conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data (P).
b. Ability to function in teams (A).
c. Ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice (P).
Performance Exceeds expectation Meets expectation Does not meet expectation Marks
(5-4) (3-2) (1-0)
1. Realization of Able to fully or moderately Able to somewhat understand Able to slightly or unable to
Experiment [a, c] understand the concepts related the concepts related to the understand the concepts related to
to the experiment and provide experiment and provide results the experiment and does not
excellent results. with minor errors. provide excellent results.
2. Teamwork [b] Able to fully or moderately Able to somewhat produce Able to slightly or unable to
produce end results and proper end results and improper produce end results and no
delegation of tasks. All delegation of tasks. Few delegation of tasks. One member is
members show responsibility members show responsibility working or no member show
and work for the part they are and work for the part they are responsibility or work for the part
assigned to do. assigned to do. they are assigned to do.
3. Procedural Able to fully or moderately Able to somewhat understands Able to slightly or unable to
Skills and understands lab work procedure lab work procedure and understands lab work procedure
Laboratory Safety and perform lab work. Displays perform lab work. Somewhat and perform lab work. Slightly
Rules [a, c] skills to act upon sequence of displays skills to act upon displays or does not displays skills
steps in lab work. Always or sequence of steps in lab work. to act upon sequence of steps in lab
often take precautions or use Occasionally take precautions work. Rarely or does not take
equipment with care. or use equipment with care. precautions or use equipment with
care.
4. Conducting Able to fully or moderately Able to somewhat initiate lab Able to slightly or unable to initiate
Experiment with initiate lab work. Capable to work. Somewhat capable to lab work. Slightly capable or
own initiative [a, c] perform experiment using perform experiment using incapable to perform experiment
procedural skills on his own. procedural skills on his own. using procedural skills on his own.
5. Use of Able to fully or moderately use Able to somewhat use lab Able to slightly or unable to use lab
Observation [a] lab work observation for work observation for analysis work observation for analysis and
analysis and calculations. and calculations. Somewhat calculations. Slightly displays or
Displays skills to perform displays skills to perform does not displays skills to perform
related analysis and calculations related analysis and related analysis and calculations
using the observation from lab calculations using the using the observation from lab
work. observation from lab work. work.
6. Modern Tool Able to fully or moderately Able to somewhat Able to slightly or unable to
Use [a, c] demonstrate the use of relevant demonstrate the use of demonstrate the use of relevant
tool. Displays skills to relevant tool. Somewhat tool. Slightly displays or does not
demonstrate the use of relevant displays skills to demonstrate displays skills to demonstrate the
tool for the lab work. the use of relevant tool for the use of relevant tool for the lab
lab work. work.
7. Ability to Able to fully or moderately Able to somewhat Able to slightly or unable to
troubleshoot troubleshoot experimental troubleshoot experimental troubleshoot experimental errors
errors and Resolve errors and resolve them without errors and somewhat resolve and slightly or unable to resolve
without guidance or supervision. them without guidance or them without guidance or
supervision [a] supervision. supervision.
Total
Applied Physics Lab Manual Institute of Business Management
Collage of Engineering and Sciences

INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & SCIENCES

Applied Physics (GSC: 103)

Semester _____________

EXPERIMENT NO # 6
LAB OBJECTIVE: Study the characteristics of a zener diode

Name of Student :

Student ID :

Date :

Lab Assessment
Total Marks

Marks Obtained

Lab Engineer:
Name: Sir Mukesh Kumar___________
Signature: __________________
Date: __________________

Faculty: Ms Rabia Hassan____________

Name: __________________________
Signature: __________________
Applied Physics Lab Manual Institute of Business Management
Collage of Engineering and Sciences

EXPERIMENT # 6
ZENER DIODE CHARACTERISTICS
Objective: Study the characteristics of a zener diode
Equipment and Materials:
1. DC power supply
2. Digital multimeter (DMM)
3. Bread bord
4. Zener diode (1N753)
5. Resistors 180Ω
Basic Concepts:

A Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor device that permits current to flow in either a
forward or reverse direction. The diode consists of a special, heavily doped p -n junction,
designed to conduct in the reverse direction when a certain specified voltage is reached.

The Zener diode has a well-defined reverse-breakdown voltage, at which it starts conducting
current, and continues operating continuously in the reverse-bias mode without getting
damaged. Additionally, the voltage drop across the diode remains constant over a wide range
of voltages, a feature that makes Zener diodes suitable for use in voltage regulation.

Ideally a Zener diode is equivalent to a DC source when operating in the breakdown region.

Figure. 1: Zener Diode Symbol and Static

Applied Physics Lab Manual Institute of Business Management
Collage of Engineering and Sciences

Zener diode operation:

The Zener diode operates just like the normal diode when in the forward-bias mode, and has
a turn-on voltage of between 0.3 and 0.7 V. However, when connected in the reverse mode,
which is usual in most of its applications, a small leakage current may flow. As the reverse
voltage increases to the predetermined breakdown voltage (Vz), a current starts flowing
through the diode. The current increases to a maximum, which is determined by the series
resistor, after which it stabilizes and remains constant over a wide range of applied voltage.

Figure. 2: Zener diode characteristics

Zener diode specifications

Zener diodes vary in specifications such as nominal working voltage, power dissipation,
maximum reverse current, and packaging. Some commonly used specifications include:

• Voltage Vz: The Zener voltage refers to the reverse breakdown voltage—2.4 V to
about 200 V; can go up to 1 kV while the maximum for the surface-mounted device
(SMD) is about 47 V).
• Current Iz (max.): Maximum current at the rated Zener voltage Vz—200 uA to 200
A).
• Current Iz (min.): Minimum current required for the diode to break down—5 mA and
10 mA.
Applied Physics Lab Manual Institute of Business Management
Collage of Engineering and Sciences

• Power rating: The maximum power the Zener diode can dissipate; given by the
product of voltage across the diode and the current flowing through. Typical values
are 400 mW, 500 mW, 1 W, and 5 W; for surface mounted, 200 mW, 350 mW, 500
mW, and 1 W are typical.
• Voltage tolerance: Typically ±5%.
• Temperature stability: Diodes around 5 V have the best stability.
• Package: Leaded devices and the surface mount either as discrete devices or within
integrated circuits.
• Zener resistance (Rz): The diode exhibits some resistance as evident from the IV
characteristics.

Zener diode applications:

Zener diodes are used for voltage regulation, as reference elements, surge suppressors, and in
switching applications and clipper circuits.

Circuit Diagram:

Figure. 3: Circuit Diagram of Zener diode

Applied Physics Lab Manual Institute of Business Management
Collage of Engineering and Sciences

Procedure:

1. Connect the circuit as shown in figure 3. Measure and record the output voltage for
each input voltage of Table 1.
2. Calculate Zener current for each entry in table 1.
3. Calculate Zener resistance for each entry in table 1.

Table. 1:

E (V) 0 2 4 6 8 10

Vz (V)

VR (V)

Iz = VR / Rmean

Rz = Vz / Iz

Conclusion:
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Applied Physics Lab Manual Institute of Business Management
Collage of Engineering and Sciences

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