CH 1

Question 1

What is a solid-state device?

Answer 1

An electronic device that operates by virtue of the movement of electrons within a solid piece of
semiconductor material.

Question 2

Define the term negative temperature coefficient.

Answer 2

It is the decrease in a semiconductor’s resistance as temperature rises.

Question 3

Name three of the largest users of semiconductor devices.

Answer 3

Space systems, computers, and data processing equipment.

Question 4

State one requirement of an electron tube, which does not exist for semiconductors, that makes the tube less efficient than the semiconductor.

Answer 4

The electron tube requires filament or heater voltage, whereas the semiconductor device does not;
consequently, no power input is spent by the semiconductor for conduction.

Question 5

Define matter and list its three different states.

Answer 5

Anything that occupies space and has weight. Solid, liquid, and gas.

Question 6

What is the smallest particle into which an element can be broken down and still retain all it’s original properties?

Answer 6

The atom

Question 7

What are the three particles that comprise an atom and state the type of charge they hold?

Answer 7

Electrons-negative, protons-positive, and neutrons-neutral.

Question 8

What is the outer shell of an atom called?

Answer 8

The valence shell.

Question 9

What term is used to describe the definite discrete amounts of energy required to move an electron from a low shell to a higher shell?

Answer 9

Quanta.

Question 10

What is a negative ion?

Answer 10

A negatively charged atom having more than its normal amount of electrons.

Question 11

What is the main difference in the energy arrangement between an isolated atom and the atom in a solid?

Answer 11

The energy levels of an atom in a solid group together to form energy bands, whereas the isolated
atom does not.

Question 12

What determines, in terms of energy bands, whether a substance is a good insulator, semiconductor, or conductor?

Answer 12

The width of the forbidden band.

Question 13

What determines the chemical activity of an atom?

Answer 13

The number of electrons in the valence shell.

Question 14

What is the term used to describe the sharing of valence electrons between two or more atoms?

Answer 14

Covalent bonding.

Question 15

Name the two types of current flow in a semiconductor.

Answer 15

Electron flow and hole flow.

Question 16

What is the name given to a piece of pure semiconductor material that has an equal number of electrons and holes?

Answer 16

Intrinsic.

Question 17

What is the name given to a doped germanium crystal with an excess of free holes?

Answer 17

P-type crystal.

Question 18

What are the majority carriers in an N-type semiconductor?

Answer 18

Electrons.

Question 19

What is the purpose of a PN junction diode?

Answer 19

To convert alternating current into direct current.

Question 20

In reference to the schematic symbol for a diode, do electrons flow toward or away from the arrow?

Answer 20

Toward the arrow.

Question 21

What type of PN diode is formed by using a fine metal wire and a section of N-type semiconductor material?

Answer 21

Point-contact.

Question 22

What are the majority carriers in a P-type semiconductor?

Answer 22

Holes.

Question 23

Conduction in which type of semiconductor material is similar to conduction in a copper wire?

Answer 23

N-type material.

Question 24

What is the name of the area in a PN junction that has a shortage of electrons and holes?

Answer 24

Depletion region.

Question 25

In order to reverse bias in a PN junction, what terminal of a battery is connected to the P material?

Answer 25

Negative.

Question 26

What type of bias opposes the PN junction barrier?

Answer 26

Forward.

Question 27

What is a load?

Answer 27

Any device that draws current.

Question 28

What is the output of a half-wave rectifier?

Answer 28

A pulsating dc voltage.

Question 29

What type of rectifier is constructed by sandwiching a section of semiconductor material between two metal plates?

Answer 29

Metallic rectifier.

Question 30

What type of bias makes a diode act as a closed switch?

Answer 30

Forward bias.

Question 31

What is used to show how diode parameters vary over a full operating range?

Answer 31

A characteristic curve.

Question 32

What is meant by diode ratings?

Answer 32

They are the limiting values of operating conditions outside which operations could cause diode
damage.

Question 33

What does the letter “N” indicate in the semiconductor identification system?

Answer 33

A semiconductor.

Question 34

What type of diode has orange, blue, and gray bands?

Answer 34

1N368.

Question 35

What is the greatest threat to a diode?

Answer 35

Heat.

Question 36

When checking a diode with an ohmmeter, what is indicated by two high resistance
measurements?

Answer 36

The diode is open or has a high-forward resistance.