AdvancedA-002-002-001
What is the principal characteristic of a Zener diode?
D
Answer
Circuit design and power supplies
Type
A
A constant current under conditions of varying voltage
B
An internal capacitance that varies with the applied voltage
C
A negative resistance region
D
A constant voltage under conditions of varying current
Answer Notes
A Zener diode is heavily doped so that it can safely and continuously operate in its reverse-breakdown region. When reverse-biased at its specific Zener voltage, it begins to conduct, maintaining a very stable voltage drop across its terminals even if the current flowing through it fluctuates widely.
This exact characteristic makes Zener diodes the standard choice for simple voltage regulator circuits. The distractors describe entirely different components: a varactor diode changes internal capacitance with varying voltage, and a tunnel diode exhibits a negative resistance region.
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What type of semiconductor diode varies its internal capacitance as the voltage applied to its terminals varies?