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Diodes
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a) Diode with d.c. supply.
 

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  Try reversing the battery connections. This show that a diode is a component which only conducts one way.
b) Diode with a.c. supply.
 

 

Note what happens when you put a short circuit round the diode (that is; when you connect B directly to C).

Connect the "earth" or "ground" connection of an oscilloscope to A. Connect the 'scope input first to B then to C. (This will allow you to compare the voltage produced by the supply with the voltage across the bulb.)

c) Some special diodes

A light emitting diode must always have a resistor in series with it.

Try the zener diode circuit first with one battery, then with two batteries in series, then three …

This should show you why a zener diode is called a voltage regulator diode

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