College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
5M10.50 - Principles of a Diode
Hook the positive output of the generator to one end of the diode, the other end of the diode to one end of the resistor, the other end of the resistor to the negative output of the generator. Now you have you basic circuit. Measure across the diode and the resistor as shown using the resistor as a reference. The diode will allow voltage to pass through the circuit when inserted one way and will prevent it or decrease it drastically when inserted the other.
Other types of diodes may be inserted into the circuit to show their unique characteristics.
Connect the bi-color LED to the wave generator. At very low frequencies the alternating AC sine wave will be shown visibly.
A resistor box may be inserted in place of the single resistor shown for circuits using the wave generator.
For circuits using the Variac you must use a power resistor.
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- Howard Hayden, "A Correction", TPT, Vol. 22, #3, Oct. 1984, p. 418.
- James H. Nelson, "Zener Diode Demonstration", TPT, Vol. 22, #3, Mar. 1984, p. 176.
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- Earl R. Feltyberger et al., "Photon Emission By Light-Emitting Diodes (LED's)", Teaching About D. C. Electric Circuits, p. 2.6.
- Mark Davids, et al., "Physics of the Light-Emitting Diode", Teaching about Lightwave Communications, 1994, p. 2-2.
- Yaakov Kraftmakher, "1.4, I-U Characteristics", Experiments and Demonstrations in Physics, ISBN 981-256-602-3, p. 18.
- Donald E. Simanek, "Ode to a Diode", PIRA Newsletter, Vol. 10, #6, June 1996.
- Neil A. Downie, "Gravity Diode", Ink Sandwiches, Electric Worms and 37 Other Experiments for Saturday Science, p. 220.
- "Principles of Vacuum Tubes", Selective Experiments in Physics, CENCO, 1944.
- Keithley Instruments and Richard M. Fuller, "Physics Experiment # 6: The Study of the LED as a Light Detector", Series II.
- Curt Suplee, "To conduct or not to conduct", Everyday Science Explained, National Geographic, p. 92.
- W. Bolton, "The Diode", Book 4 - Electricity, Physics Experiments and Projects, 1968, p. 71 - 72.
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