In this laboratory activity, we are asked to observe the effect on IC of varying IE and to determine

the current amplification alpha and to observe the effect on IC of varying IB and to determine the current
amplification factor beta. The tables above show the test data for measuring Alpha (α) and Beta (β).

In the first table, it shows the test data for measuring Alpha. To determine the Alpha, we
measured the maximum and minimum bias current of IE and IC. As we can see above, the maximum bias
IE is 44.409pA while the minimum is -3.997nA. The maximum bias IC is 22.204pA while the minimum is -
3.997nA. Based on the measured value, the increased of IE does not have effect on IC. However, in
computed value, there’s a very small effect on IC, an increase IE resulted in an increase (very small
amount) IC. Thus, the emitter current is greater than the collector current as IE = IB + IC. A change in the
emitter current caused a change in the collector current. For a common base amplifier configuration,
current gain, Alpha is the ratio of the change in collector current ΔIC to the change in the emitter current
IE, with the collector to the base voltage held constant. Thus α = ΔIC / ΔIE. The ΔIC is 0 and the ΔIE is
22.205pA. Since the ΔIC is very small (equal 0) the forward-current-transfer ratio is 0.

In the second table, it shows the test data for measuring Beta. The table reveals that an
increase in the IE resulted in an increase respectively in the IB. In the grounded-emitter configuration, the
input signal is now applied to the base. Current gain is now designated by β = ΔIC / ΔIB with VCE constant.
As we can see above, with 4V in VCE , the ΔIC is 4.95mA and the ΔIB is 37. Thus, the Beta is 130.62. Hence,
the collector current level can cause a variation in the level of β or hFE.

1. Define β.

β is defined as the current gain which is given by the ratio of the collector current to the base current. It
is also the factor that determines the sensitivity level of the device to base current, and the amplification
level at its collector, in bipolar junction transistors.

2. Describe in detail a procedure for getting β.

Beta can be calculated if the currents, IB and either IE or IC are known. If IB and IE are known, then β can
be calculate by the formula: β = (IE/IB)-1. If IB and IB are known, then β can be calculated by the formula,
β = IC/IB or β = ΔIC / ΔIB, where ΔIC is the change in IC and ΔIB is the change in IB, VCE is constant.
CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the laboratory activity succeeded in observing the effect on IC of varying IE and
determining the current amplification alpha. Also, in observing the effect on IC of varying IB and
determining the current amplification factor beta. Moreover, through this experiment I learned that:

• In the common base circuit, control of collector current is affected by variations in

emitter current.
• The basic common base configuration is as follows: the input variables correspond to
the emitter current IE and the base-emitter voltage, VBE, whilst the output variables
correspond to the collector current IC and the collector-base voltage, VCB.
• In a BJT amplifier the emitter current is greater than the collector current as IE = IB + IC.