6.1 Describe the term stabilisation with reference to amplifiers - NSC Electrical Technology Electronics - Question 6 - 2024 - Paper 1
Question 6
6.1 Describe the term stabilisation with reference to amplifiers.
6.2 State ONE advantage of class AB push-pull amplifiers.
6.3 Refer to FIGURE 6.3 and answer the ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6.1 Describe the term stabilisation with reference to amplifiers - NSC Electrical Technology Electronics - Question 6 - 2024 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe the term stabilisation with reference to amplifiers.
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Answer
Stabilisation is the process of making the operating point of the transistor independent of variations in temperature and other parameters. This ensures consistent performance and prevents issues like thermal runaway that may lead to amplification failure.
Step 2
State ONE advantage of class AB push-pull amplifiers.
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Answer
One advantage of class AB push-pull amplifiers is that they reduce cross-over distortion, thereby allowing for more linear amplification and better overall sound quality.
Step 3
Determine the quiescent collector current if the base current is 20 μA.
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To find the quiescent collector current (Ic) when the base current (Ib) is given as 20 μA, we use the formula:
I_C = eta imes I_B
Assuming a typical current gain (β) of around 20, the calculation is:
IC=20imes20μA=400μA
Step 4
Determine the quiescent voltage.
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The quiescent voltage (Vce) can be determined from the load line of the transistor circuit. Given the Vcc of 20V and calculated Ic, we can find Vce at the quiescent point to be approximately 10V.
Step 5
Name TWO undesirable effects of incorrect biasing of the transistor in FIGURE 6.3 above.
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Distortion of the output waveform may occur, leading to reduced sound fidelity.
The transistor may be subjected to thermal runaway, which could ultimately damage the component.
Step 6
Name ONE disadvantage of the RC-coupled amplifier.
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One disadvantage of the RC-coupled amplifier is that it is unsuitable for low-frequency amplification, as it tends to block or attenuate lower frequency signals.
Step 7
Briefly describe the effect when the temperature of a transistor increases beyond its normal operating point.
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When the temperature of a transistor rises beyond its normal operating point, increased leakage current can cause the device to enter thermal runaway, potentially damaging the transistor due to excess power dissipation.
Step 8
Explain why the RC-coupled amplifier can be regarded as a low-frequency filter.
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The RC-coupled network allows higher frequency signals to pass while blocking DC (low frequency) signals, effectively functioning as a low-pass filter.
Step 9
Draw, on the ANSWER SHEET for QUESTION 6.4.4, a fully labelled frequency response curve of the RC-coupled amplifier.
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A typical frequency response curve of an RC-coupled amplifier shows a gain plateau at mid frequencies, a roll-off at both high and low frequencies, indicating its bandwidth.
Step 10
State ONE disadvantage of the amplifier in FIGURE 6.5 above, besides the cost and the size of the transformer.
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One disadvantage is the poor frequency response at high audio frequencies, where the amplifier may struggle to accurately reproduce sounds.
Step 11
State the importance of the impedance matching transformer in FIGURE 6.5 above.
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The impedance matching transformer is crucial because it maximizes power transfer from the amplifier to the speaker by matching their impedance levels.
Step 12
State TWO functions of capacitor C1.
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C1 allows AC signals to pass through while blocking DC signals.
It helps filter out unwanted noise and fluctuations in the signal.
Step 13
Show why the output waveform in FIGURE 6.5 is inverted and amplified.
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The output waveform is inverted due to the phase shift introduced by the transistor configuration, and it is amplified due to the gain characteristics of the circuit components.
Step 14
Name ONE advantage of the amplifier in FIGURE 6.6 above.
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One advantage of the amplifier in FIGURE 6.6 is that it produces a much larger output signal than a single Class A biased transistor amplifier.
Step 15
State NOW cross-over distortion can be eliminated during the operation of the circuit in FIGURE 6.6 above.
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Cross-over distortion can be minimized by biasing the two push-pull transistors into class AB mode, allowing both transistors to conduct slightly during the transition.
Step 16
Describe the operation of the circuit during the negative half cycle of the input signal.
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During the negative half cycle, the transistor Q2 turns ON while Q1 turns OFF, allowing the current to discharge through Q2 and generating an output pulse.
Step 17
Identify the amplifier circuit from which the frequency response curve in FIGURE 6.7 above is derived.
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The frequency response curve is derived from a radio-frequency amplifier circuit.
Step 18
Explain the term bandwidth? filter with reference to the frequency response curve in FIGURE 6.7 above.
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Bandwidth is the range of frequencies within which the amplifier functions effectively, defined as the difference between the upper and lower cutoff frequencies, f1 and f2.
Step 19
Briefly describe how resonant frequency can be changed.
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The resonant frequency can be altered by varying the values of the capacitor or inductor in the tank circuit, which directly influences the oscillation frequency.
Step 20
Name ONE application of the Colpitts oscillator.
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One application of the Colpitts oscillator is in receivers for radio and television transmission.
Step 21
State the purpose of the tank circuit in FIGURE 6.8 above.
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The tank circuit is responsible for determining the frequency of oscillations in the oscillator.
Step 22
Calculate the oscillating frequency of the circuit in FIGURE 6.8 above when the total capacitance of the tank circuit is 150 µF and the value of the inductor is 200 mH.
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The oscillation frequency (f0) can be calculated using the formula:
f_0 = rac{1}{2 ext{π} imes ext{sqrt}(L imes C)}
Plugging in values, we have:
f_0 = rac{1}{2 ext{π} imes ext{sqrt}(200 imes 10^{-3} imes 150 imes 10^{-6})} = 29.06 ext{ Hz}
Step 23
State the type of feedback used in FIGURE 6.9 above.
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The type of feedback used is positive feedback.
Step 24
State the value of the phase shift each RC combination produces.
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Each RC combination produces a phase shift of 60 degrees.
Step 25
Calculate the frequency of oscillation if R1 = R2 = R3 = 10 kΩ and C1 = C2 = C3 = 0.001 µF.
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The frequency of oscillation can be calculated using:
f_0 = rac{1}{2 ext{π} imes ext{sqrt}(R_1 imes R_2 imes R_3 imes C_1 imes C_2 imes C_3)}
Substituting the known values:
f_0 = rac{1}{2 ext{π} imes ext{sqrt}(2*10^{4} (10^{-3})^2)} = 20.54 ext{ Hz}
Step 26
Explain the term attenuation.
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Attenuation refers to the decrease in the output voltage compared to the input voltage. It describes the loss of signal strength as it passes through an amplifier or other circuit elements.