Name
Date Class
v, 
Experiment  5 BJT AC Anatysis
Reading
Boylestad  and  Nashelsky,  Electronic  Devices  and  Circuit  Theory,Ninth Edition,
Chapter  5
Key Objectives
Part 1: Compute  the dc and  ac parameters  for a common-emitter (CE) amplifier.
Build  the amplifier and measure  these parameters.
Part2: Compute  the dc and  ac parameters for a common-collector  (CC) amplifier
using  a  pnp  transistor.  Build the amplifier and measure  these  parameters.
Part 3: Direct  couple  a CC  amplifier  to a CE amplifier and measure  both  the dc and  ac
parameters  for the overall circuit.
Components  Needed
Part  1: The  Common-Emitter Amplifier
Resistors:  one  100 f), one  330 O, two 1.0 kf), one 4.7 kt 
,two 
10 kf)
Capacitors:  two 1.0  pF, one 47 pF
One  10 kf) potentiometer
One  2N3904 npn  transistor
35
Part 2: The  Common-Collector 
Amplifier
Resistors: two 1.0  kO, one  l0 kO, one  33 kO
Capacitors:  one 1.0 pF, one  10 pF
One 10 kf) potentiometer
One  2N3906 pnp  transistor
Part  3: A Direct-Coupled  Two-stage  Amptifier
Resistors:  one  100 f), three 330  e), one  1.0 kc), one 4.7 kt1,one  10  kf)
Capacitors:  one  1.0 pF, one  10 pF, one  47 
Sfi
One  2N3904  npn transistor
One 2N3906 pnp  transistor
Part 1: The Common-Emitter 
Amplifier
1.  Measure  and record  the values of the resistors listed  in Table  5-1.
Calculate  all 5 dc quantities  listed in Table  5-2 for  the CE  amplifier in Figure 5-1.
Because 
PRe 
2 10R2,  you can use the approximate  analysis method  given in the  text.
use the sum ofRsl  and  Rp2times  1B to compute  the dc emitter  voltage,  zs. Compute
vcby subtracting vpg from vgg. Enter your computed  values in Table  5-2.
V,,
+12 v
&
1.01()
V,
300  mV*
1.0 kHz
1.0  pF
2.
Table 5-1
Table  5-2
RF, 
L9
lr"  T47 
PF
36
3.
4.
Construct  the amplifier shown in Figure 5-1. The  signal  generator should be
turned  off. Measure  and record  the dc voltages  listed in Table  5-2.
Calculate  the four  acparameters  listed in the first column of Table  5-3. The input
signal,  V;n,  is given as 300 mVpp.  This is both  Vin  and the ac base voltage, V6.
Multiply Vinby  the computed  voltage  gain to calculate  the ac voltage  at the
collector;  this is both  V" and  Vo6.
Turn  on the signal  generator and  set Vin  for 300  mV*  at 1.0  kHz with the
generator connected  to the circuit.  Use the oscilloscope  to set the  proper  voltage
and  check the frequency.  Measure the ac signal voltage  at the transistor's  emitter
and at the collector. Note that the signal atthe emitter is less than at the  base. Use
Vin  afid  the ac collector voltage  (V,") to determine  the measured  voltage  gain, A,.
The measurement  of R;,6og  and 
Bu" 
is explained  in step  6. Record  the  measured
values of Vin, Ve,  Vout,  and  A, in Table  5-3.
l'- 4.,, 
-l
9r lo*, 1
V,
300  mV*
1.0  kHz
1.0  pF 
-16 
rcr
Figure 5-2 Measurement  of ft211og.
The measurement  of R;nilog is done  indirectly  because  it is an ac resistance  that cannot
be measured  with  an ohmmeter.  The output signal  (V*) is measured  with  an
oscilloscope  and recorded with the amplifier operating  normally  (no clipping or
distortion).  A rheostat (Rr"u) is then inserted  in series with the source  as shown  in
Figure 5-2. The rheostat is varied nntil Vout  drops to one-half  the value prior to
inserting  ftt"rt.  With this condition,  Vir: Vrc*  and  R;n11o1y  must be equal  to R1ss1.  R1gs1  c&n
then  be removed  and measured  with  an ohmmeter.  Using this  method,  measure R;,(tot)
and record  the result  in Table  5-3.
You can obtain  an estimate of 
0u" 
from R;,6og and the known bias resistor  values.
Recall  that  R;n6o11:  (Fu" (ftBr + rJ) 
ll 
Rr 
ll 
.R2. Starting  with the  parallel resistor
formula, you can reaffange  it and use it to calculate 
Bu" 
indirectly. The equation  is:
I
Yac 
(R", +t) 
_(Ru, 
+e)_(Ru,  +t)
Ri,(,o,) 
4 
R2
5.
6.
7.
Table 5-3
37
8.
Enter  the  result  as the measured  value  of 
Fu. 
in Table  5-3.  The  result
approximation 
of 
Bu", 
which  is also  equal  to the hybrid  parameter 
hy".
From the  measured  ac quantities  in Table  5-3, determine  the values of the hybrid
parameters 
in Table  5-4 (See equations 5.19 to 5.22)Inthe  space  provided, 
tomplete
the equivalent  circuit  by showing  the values for the components. The transistor  is
represented  by the shaded box.
Troubleshooting
9.  Remove  the bypass  capacitor,  C2, fromthe circuit, simulating  an open  capacitor.
Measure the ac signal  voltage  at the transistor's 
base,  emifferl  and collector. Measure
the voltage  gain  of the amplifier.  What conclusion  can you make about the amplifier',  f'
performance 
with C2 open?
Equivalent circuit:
Replace C2 and reduce  R1  to 1.0  ke), simulating  a change  in load  conditions. Observe
the ac signal  voltage  at the transistor's  base, emitt.r,  urf, colector.  Measure the
voltage  gain  of the amplifier.  What conclusion  can you make about  the amplifier's
performance 
with  R1 reduced  to 1.0 ke?
10.
11. Replace  Rr with the original  10 ko resistor  and  open Rp1.  Measure the dc
the  base, emitter,  and  collector.  Is the transistor  in cutoff or in saturation?
voltages  at
Explain.
12' Replace  RB1  and  open R2. Measure  the dc voltages  atthebase, emitter  and  collector.
Is the  transistor  in cutoff or safuration? Explain
Table 5-4
38
Conclusion:  Part I
Questions: 
Part 1
1.  In step 6, you were  instructed  to measure  the input resistance  while monitoring  the output
voltage.  Why  is this  procedure  better than monitoring  the  base  voltage?
2.  What is the purpose  of the unbypassed  emitter  resistor Rer? What design advantage  does
it offer?
3.  When  the bypass  capacitor,  C2,  is open,  you found  that the gain  is affected.  Explain  why.
Part 2: The Common-Collector  Amplifier
1.  Test a CC  amplifier (also called  an emitter-follower)  constructed  withapnp  transistor.
Measure  and record  the values of the resistors listed in Table  5-5.
VEE
+t2 Y
Compute  the dc quantities  listed in Table  5-6 for the CC  amplifier shown in Figure 5-3.
Remember that the emitter  voltage  is 0.7  V larger than  Va for the pnp transistor.  Enter
your  computed  dc quantities  in Table  5-6.
2.
Table  5-5
PJ;
v, 
L 
1.0 pF
l.o vmty'
39
Table  5-6
Table 5-7
J.
4.
5.
Construct  the amplifier shown  in Figure 5-3. The signal  generator should be turned  off.
With the power supply  on, measure  and record  the dc voltages  listed in Table  5-6. 
your
measured  and  computed  values should  agree within 10%.
Compute  and record  the ac quantities  listed in Table  5-7.  The emitter  resistance  is found
using  Equation 5.1 in the  text.  Assume Vt is the  same  as the source  voltage,  2". If you do
not  know  the 
Bu. 
for your transistor,  you can  still  obtain  reasonable  results if you assume
it is 100.
Turn on the signal  generator and  set  Y, for 1.0 Vpp at 1.0  kHz. Use the oscillos"op" to f
the proper  voltage  and  check the frequency.  Measure the input ac signal voltage at the
base,  V6,  and the output  signal  voltage  at the emitter,  V",to determini the  voltage  gain,
,'4,.  Measure  Rin$ot)using  the  method  employed  for the CE amplifier describeO in 
part 
t
(step  6). To calculate  power, substitute the measured  R;,11og  and measured  Rr value  from
Table  5-5 into the  power formula f ln 
6tserms 
voltages  to calculate power). Record  the
measured acparumeters  in Table 5-7.
With a two-channel oscilloscope,  compare  the input and  output  waveforms.  What is the
phase  relationship  between  V;, dfid  Vo,l
Troubleshooting
7.  Table  5-8 lists some possible  troubles  with the CC  amplifier.  For each trouble listed,
predict the effect on the dc voltages.  Then insert  the  trouble into the circuit and test your
prediction.  Insert  the open  collector  and  open  emitter  troubles  by removing the transistor
lead and measuring  the voltages  at the circuit.  For  each fault,  describe  thelffect  on the ac
output  waveform  (clipped, no ou@ut,  etc.).
6.
40
Table 5-8
R1 open
R2 open
Rr shorted
RB open
open  collector
open emitter
8. Replace  Rr with  a 10 kO variable  resistor  set to 1.0  kO. Connect  an oscilloscope  probe to
the emitter.  Increase  the signal until you 
just 
begin  to observe  clipping.  If the positive
peaks  are clipped,  you are observing  cutoff clipping because the transistor  is turned  off. If
the  negative peaks  are clipped,  this is called  saturation  clipping  because the transistor  is
fully  conducting.  What  type  of clipping is first observed?
9.  Vary  R1  while observing  the output  waveform.  Describe  your  observations.
Part2
Questions: 
Part2
1.  In step  8, you observed  the effect of clipping  due to saturation  or cutoff of the  transistor.
The statement  was  made  that  if the positive peaks  are clipped,  you are observing  cutoff
clipping  because the  transistor  is turned  off. Is this statement  true  if the CC  circuit  had
been  constructed  with  aL npn transistor?  Why  or why  not?
2.  Common-collector  amplifiers  have  a voltage gain  less  than I but still provide power gain.
Explain  why.
nd
do
ne
ur
br
,ac
4t
Table 5-9
Part  3: A Direct-Coupled 
Two-Stage 
Amplifier
1.  Measure  and record  the values of the iesistors listed  in Table  5-9.
Calculate  and record  the dc quantities  listed in Table  5-10 for the two-stage  amplifier
shown in Figure 5-4. The CE amplifier is identical  to the one in 
part 
I exJept for the
load.  The dc collector voltage  for 
Ql 
is affected  only  slightly by the additio;  of the
CC amplifier  because  of the high input impedance of tn" CC  amplifier.  Therefore,
loading can be ignored  for an approximation of the collector voltage.  (Interestingly,
the addition of 
Qz 
actually increases  the dc collector voltage  or 
Or 
slightly.)
The dc emitter  voltage  for 
Q2is 
0.7 V higher  than  the collectoi  viltage of 
et
because  of the pnp  transistor.  The dc emitter current  can be found  by subtractidfii, 
f'
result fuom Vggand  dividing by the  value  of Rs3.
2.
vc,
+l2Y
I/,
300 mV*
1.0  kHz
-=-  -=-
Figure  5-4
Construct  the  two-stage  amplifier shown in Figure 5-4 but  turn off the function
generator' 
Measure  and record  the dc quantities  listed in Table  5-10;  compare to
your calculated  values.
W
Multisim
J.
Table  5-10
42
4. calculate  and record  the ac quantities  listed in Table  5-11,  assuming  the input
voltage  is set to 300  mvro.  If you constructed  the cE amplifier in 
part 
1, use the
measured  value  in Table  5-3 for Rio(,ot)  as the calculated  value;  otherwise,  you can
estimate it by multiplying  the ac emitter  resistance  of 
elby $u".
Table 5-11
Questions: 
Part  3
1.  How does 
Q2 
obtainbias current?
2.  How  would  you add  a gain control to the amplifier  that would  have  no effect on the
dc quantities?
5.  Turn  on the function  generator 
and  set it for a 300  m\o sine wave  at I kEIz.Measure
and record  the ac quantities  listed  in Table  5-1 1. To obtain  the measured  power gain,
Ap, compute  the rms  power dissipated by load resistor  and divide  it by rms power
dissipated by the input  signal  in R611oq.  Use the  measured  input-and  output  voltages
and resistances  to determine  the  power  using  the relationsnip  f  tAto calculate  po*...
Conclusion:  Part  3
Vin: Vo(et)
Avftot):  Ar@t)  Ave2)
43
M
{w
Multisim
ultisim Simulation
There are  two  Multisim  files for this experiment.  The first file is labeled
Exp_05_BJT_ac.  It has no faults.  It uses a 100  mvrms  input signal. 
you 
can
comparg  yourresults with the computer  simulation.  The second  file is
Exp=05-BJT-ac  troubleshooting  and  contains  a (subtle)  fault.  See  if you c,ao find
tho fault by using  only tho scope.
44