Transistor as an Amplifier

Arun Naren GR

School of Physics , IISER Thiruvananthapuram

Abstract The present work focuses on designing and constructing a single stage CE amplifier
using transistor BC 107 and studying its frequency response using an oscilloscope for a constant
AC source voltage. The bandwidth of the amplifier is then evaluated.
Keywords CE Amplifier : Voltage Divider network

1 Theory

1.1 Voltage Divider Network

We use the most common voltage divider

network to amplify the AC signal.The capac-
itors are used to block ac signal and to allow
dc current.In Fig(1),when Kirchoff’s currrent
law(KCL) and Kirchoff’s voltage law are ap-
plied, we get the following relations,

Fig.1. RC Coupled phase shift oscillator.

IE = IC + IB
From these equations te following information
is inferred:
1)When VBE is increased IB and IC (βIB ) in-
creases.But VCC decreases and a π phase shift
V CE = V CC − I C RC is observed in output ac signal.We introduce
RC ladders to reverse the phase shift.
2)Bandwidth of an amplifier is defined as
the range of frequency over which the gain is
constant.Out of this band, the gain experiences
2 Transistor as an Amplifier
a change.Practically speaking, the bandwidth
of an amplifier is the range of frequency over
which the gain is greater than 70.7percent of
the maximum gain possible.Bandwidth of the
amplifier is also calculated.
1.2 Load line analysis
1.2.1 Finding Q-point
Fig.2. Plotting the load line and the characteristic
curve of the circuit.
Plotting the load line and the characteris-
tic curve,an intersection point(Q-point) is ob-
tained.Since our aim is to amplify the ac signal
at minimum distortion,we get
V CC
V CE =
2 single frequency, or over a whole range of differ-
Once the Q-point is fixed through dc bias, an
ac signal is applied at the input using coupling
capacitor C1. During positive half cycle of the
signal VBE increases leading to increased IB .
Therefore IC increases by β times leading to de-
crease in the output voltage, VCE . Thus the CE
amplifier produces an amplified output with a
phase reversal. The voltage gain(∆V) of the
common emitter amplifier is equal to the ra-
tio of the change in the output voltage to the
change in the input voltage.
∆V CE
∆V =
∆V BE
1.2.2 Frequency Response Curve
Fig.3. Ideal frequency response curve.
Frequency Response of an electric circuit allows
us to see exactly how the output gain (known as
the magnitude response) and the phase (known
as the phase response) changes at a particular
ent frequencies from 0Hz, (d.c.) to many thou-
sands of mega-hertz, (MHz) depending upon
the design characteristics of the circuit.
The frequency response of a given fre-
quency dependent circuit can be displayed as
a graphical sketch of magnitude(gain) against
Transistor as an Amplifier 3

frequency(f).The horizontal frequency axis is

usually plotted on a logarithmic scale while the
vertical axis representing the voltage output or
gain, is usually drawn as a linear scale.
The frequency response begins with the
lower frequency range designated between 0
Hz and lower cut off frequency. At lower cut
off frequency, fL , the gain is equal to 0.707
Amid . Amid is a constant mid-band gain ob-
tained from the mid-frequency range. The
third, the higher frequency range covers fre-
quency between upper cutoff frequency and Fig.4. frequency response curve.
above.Similarly, at higher cutoff frequency, fH ,
Bandwidth=antilog(4.778)-antilog(4.579)=62kHz
the gain is equal to 0.707 Amid. Beyond this
Theoretical bandwidth=60.56kHz
the gaindecreases with frequency increases and
Error percentage=2.3
dies off eventually.

3 Acknowledgement
BW = f H − f L
I am greatly thankful to IISER and
Dr.Rajeev Kini for providing me an opportu-
2 Observations nity to perform this experiment.

Vinput = References
VCC = IC = β= VBE = 0.7 V [1] https://www.electronics-
tutorials.ws/amplifier/frequency-response.html
[2] Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory, R L
Boylestad and Louis.
4 Transistor as an Amplifier

Table 1

Frequency f(kHz) Voutput =V0 (V) logf log(Vi )/log(V0 )

2 1.1 3.30103 27.5
4 1.9 3.602 47.5
6 2.3 3.778 57.5
8 2.5 3.9 62.5
10 2.6 4 65
12 2.8 4.07 70
15 2.9 4.17 72.5
18 3 4.225 75
20 3 4.301 75
23 3 4.361 75
38 3.1 4.579 77.5
50 3.1 4.698 77.5
60 3.1 9.429 77.5
100 3.1 4.778 77.5
110 3 5 75
120 3 5.041 75
140 3 5.079 75
150 3 5.146 75
170 2.9 5.230 72.5
195 2.85 5.29 71.25
200 2.8 5.301 70
220 2.8 5.324 70
240 2.7 5.38 67.5
270 2.65 5.431 66.25
300 2.6 5.477 65
400 2.3 5.602 57.5
500 2 5.698 50
Transistor as an Amplifier 5