POTENTIAL DIVIDER

The transistor as an amplifier

 When a person speaks into a microphone, sound waves are converted into
an alternating current.
 The small changes in the base circuits cause the base current flows.
 A small change in base current, will cause a big change in the collector
current.
Question  The earphone thus receives a large alternating current from the collector
circuit and converts it into a loud sound.
 The capacitor blocks a steady current (direct current) from flowing into the
transistor and microphone.

The transistor as a light controlled switch

Characteristic of LDR
LDR Dark : High resistance
Bright : Low resistance

RQ = 10 k
R
RP = 10 k

Determine VQ, VP, IQ and IP.

APPLICATIONS OF TRANSISTORS  In bright light, the light-dependent resistor (LDR) has a very low resistance.
  Therefore, the potential difference across LDR is low and hence the potential Characteristic of thermistor
difference across resistor R is high.
 The base current flows and cause a large collector current flow. Cold : High resistance
 The bulb lights up Hot : Low resistance
 In darkness, the light-dependent resistor (LDR) has a very high resistance.
 Therefore, the potential difference across LDR is high and hence the potential
difference across resistor R is low.
 The base current does not flow and cause the collector current does not flow.
 The bulb not lights up.

 If the positions of the LDR and R are interchanged, the bulb is switched on in the  When the thermistor is cold, it has a larger resistance than R.
dark and off in the bright light.  Therefore, the potential difference across thermistor is high and hence the
potential difference across resistor R is low.
 The base current does not flow and cause the collector current does not flow.
 The bulb not lights up.
R  When the temperature rises, the resistance of thermistor falls
 The resistance of R is higher than the thermistor
 The potential difference across R is higher
 The base current flow and cause the collector current flow.
LDR  The bulb lights up.

 In bright light, the light-dependent resistor (LDR) has a very low resistance.
 Therefore, the potential difference across LDR is low.
 The base current does not flow and cause the collector current does not flow.
 The bulb not lights up.
 The base current flows and cause a large collector current flow.
 The bulb lights up
 In darkness, the light-dependent resistor (LDR) has a very high resistance.
 Therefore, the potential difference across LDR is high
 The base current flows and cause a large collector current flow.
 The bulb lights up

The transistor as a temperature-controlled switch