Saturday, 22 August 2020

popular science - How do Zener diodes maintain the potential across their terminals?


My physics book has a topic about Zener diodes being used as voltage regulators in the reverse bias.


Well, I'm curious to know how does a Zener diode maintain the potential across its terminals after it has undergone avalanche breakdown? Does it start conducting in full offering almost zero resistance? If so, how can there be a potential gradient across it?



Is the principle that for high current change, there is a minimal and negligible change in potential across the Zener? But doesn't it behave as a pure conductor in avalanche breakdown? If so, how is it possible for there to be a drop in potential? After all it allows large amounts of current through it. Finally, can you keep answers somewhat simple?




No comments:

Post a Comment

Understanding Stagnation point in pitot fluid

What is stagnation point in fluid mechanics. At the open end of the pitot tube the velocity of the fluid becomes zero.But that should result...