Join 60,000+ competitive exam aspirants
The current amplification factor for a transistor in a common base configuration is 0.75. If the emitter current is 4A, find the base current.
3 A
1 A
5 A
0 A
1 A
In a common base configuration, the current amplification factor (╬▒) is the ratio of collector current (ICтАЛ) to emitter current (IEтАЛ). Given ╬▒=0.75 and IEтАЛ=4┬аA, the collector current is calculated as ICтАЛ=╬▒├ЧIEтАЛ=0.75├Ч4=3┬аA. The base current (IBтАЛ) is then derived using Kirchhoff's Current Law, IBтАЛ=IEтАЛтИТICтАЛ.
In a common base configuration, the current amplification factor (╬▒) is the ratio of collector current (ICтАЛ) to emitter current (IEтАЛ). Given ╬▒=0.75 and IEтАЛ=4┬аA, the collector current is calculated as ICтАЛ=╬▒├ЧIEтАЛ=0.75├Ч4=3┬аA. The base current (IBтАЛ) is then derived using Kirchhoff's Current Law, IBтАЛ=IEтАЛтИТICтАЛ.
╬▒=IEтАЛICтАЛтАЛ тАФ Current amplification factor in common base configuration
IEтАЛ=IBтАЛ+ICтАЛ тАФ Kirchhoff's current law for a transistor
IBтАЛ=IEтАЛ(1тИТ╬▒) тАФ Derived relation for base current
The Bipolar Junction Transistor operates based on the principle that the total emitter current must equal the sum of base and collector currents (IEтАЛ=IBтАЛ+ICтАЛ). In common base mode, most of the charge carriers from the emitter reach the collector, characterized by the factor ╬▒, which is typically slightly less than 1.
The current gain ╬▒ (alpha) is always less than unity for a BJT.
The base current is typically a small fraction of the emitter current.
Common base configuration is often used for high-frequency applications due to low input impedance.
High voltage gain
Excellent high-frequency response
Low current gain
Low input impedance
High-frequency amplifiers
Microphone pre-amplifiers
Calculation: ICтАЛ=0.75├Ч4=3┬аA. Thus, IBтАЛ=4┬аAтИТ3┬аA=1┬аA.
Option A (3 A) represents the collector current (ICтАЛ).
Option C (5 A) is physically impossible as IBтАЛ cannot exceed IEтАЛ in a functional transistor.
B is correct тАФ Using the relation IBтАЛ=IEтАЛ(1тИТ╬▒), we find IBтАЛ=4(1тИТ0.75)=4├Ч0.25=1┬аA.
Always remember that for any transistor, the sum of base and collector currents equals emitter current; if you calculate ICтАЛ correctly, IBтАЛ is just the remaining portion.