100 Electronics Interview Questions & Answers
1. Diodes & Applications
1. Q1. What is a diode?
A diode is a semiconductor device that allows current to flow in one direction only, blocking
it in the opposite direction.
2. Q2. What is the main application of a diode?
The most common application is rectification—converting AC to DC.
3. Q3. What is a Zener diode?
A Zener diode is designed to allow current to flow in reverse when voltage exceeds its
breakdown voltage, used for voltage regulation.
4. Q4. What is a light-emitting diode (LED)?
A diode that emits light when forward-biased, converting electrical energy into light.
5. Q5. What is reverse recovery time?
The time taken for a diode to stop conducting when switching from forward to reverse bias.
6. Q6. What is the difference between Schottky and PN junction diode?
Schottky diode has a metal–semiconductor junction, faster switching, and lower forward
voltage drop than a PN junction diode.
7. Q7. What is a photodiode?
A diode that generates current when exposed to light, used in sensors and solar cells.
8. Q8. What is avalanche breakdown in diodes?
When reverse voltage exceeds a critical value, causing a large reverse current due to impact
ionization.
9. Q9. What is the typical forward voltage drop of a silicon diode?
Around 0.7 V for silicon, 0.3 V for germanium.
10. Q10. What is a rectifier circuit?
A circuit using diodes to convert AC into DC, e.g., half-wave, full-wave, bridge rectifiers.
11. Q11. What is clamping in diodes?
A process of shifting a waveform’s voltage level using diodes and capacitors.
12. Q12. What is clipping in diodes?
A process of removing parts of an input signal beyond a certain level using diodes.
13. Q13. What is the difference between ideal and practical diode?
Ideal diode has zero resistance in forward bias and infinite in reverse; practical diode has
small forward drop and leakage current.
14. Q14. What is the peak inverse voltage (PIV) rating of a diode?
The maximum reverse voltage a diode can withstand without breaking down.
15. Q15. What is the role of a diode in a flyback circuit?
It protects the switching device from voltage spikes caused by inductive loads.
2. Transistors & Biasing
16. Q16. What is a transistor?
A semiconductor device used for amplification and switching.
17. Q17. What are the three terminals of a BJT?
Emitter, Base, Collector.
18. Q18. What is transistor biasing?
The process of setting a transistor’s operating point by applying external voltages or
currents.
19. Q19. Why is biasing important?
To ensure the transistor operates in the correct region for amplification without distortion.
20. Q20. What is the difference between NPN and PNP transistors?
In NPN, current flows from collector to emitter when base is positive; in PNP, current flows
when base is negative relative to emitter.
21. Q21. What is hFE in transistors?
The DC current gain, ratio of collector current to base current.
22. Q22. What is saturation region in a transistor?
Region where both junctions are forward biased, allowing maximum current flow.
23. Q23. What is cut-off region?
Region where both junctions are reverse biased, no significant current flows.
24. Q24. What is active region?
Region where the transistor amplifies; base-emitter is forward biased, base-collector is
reverse biased.
25. Q25. What is a Darlington pair?
Two transistors connected to provide very high current gain.
26. Q26. What is thermal runaway?
Uncontrolled increase in transistor current due to temperature rise, leading to device
failure.
27. Q27. How do you prevent thermal runaway?
By using negative feedback, heat sinks, and proper biasing.
28. Q28. What is the difference between BJT and FET?
BJT is current-controlled, FET is voltage-controlled.
29. Q29. What is a switching transistor?
A transistor optimized for fast switching applications.
30. Q30. What is a load line in transistor analysis?
A graphical representation of possible operating points for given load conditions.
