MCQEasyJEE 2025Diodes & Rectifiers

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

Which of the following circuits represents a forward biased diode?

Five circuits labeled A to E showing diode orientation and node voltages: A has -10 V and 0 V, B has -10 V and -15 V, C has 4 V and 2 V, D has -5 V and -10 V, E has ground and 2 V.
  • A

    (B), (D) and (E) only

  • B

    (A) and (D) only

  • C

    (B), (C) and (E) only

  • D

    (C) and (E) only

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Five diode circuits (A) to (E) are shown with different polarities and node voltages.

Find: Which circuits have the diode in forward bias.

A diode is forward biased when the anode is at a higher potential than the cathode. In that case, current can flow through the diode.

Check each circuit one by one using the shown polarity and diode orientation:

  • (A): anode is at lower potential than cathode, so it is reverse biased.
  • (B): anode is at higher potential than cathode, so it is forward biased.
  • (C): anode is at higher potential than cathode, so it is forward biased.
  • (D): polarity is opposite, so it is reverse biased.
  • (E): anode is at higher potential than cathode, so it is forward biased.

Therefore, the circuits representing forward biased diode are (B), (C) and (E) only. Hence, the correct option is C.

Circuit-wise Check

Given: Forward bias condition for a diode.

Find: The correct set among the given options.

Condition for forward bias: the diode conducts only when the anode is connected to a higher potential and the cathode is connected to a lower potential. This reduces the barrier and allows current through the diode.

Applying this condition:

  1. Option (A): anode at lower potential \Rightarrow reverse bias.
  2. Option (B): anode at higher potential \Rightarrow forward bias.
  3. Option (C): anode at higher potential \Rightarrow forward bias.
  4. Option (D): opposite polarity \Rightarrow reverse bias.
  5. Option (E): anode more positive than cathode \Rightarrow forward bias.

So the forward biased diodes are B, C, and E only. Thus, the correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Judging forward bias only from the battery symbol direction without checking which side is anode and which is cathode. Why wrong: diode bias depends on potential difference across its terminals, not just visual orientation. Do instead: identify the diode bar side as cathode and compare terminal potentials.

  • Mistake: Assuming the side with a positive numerical value is always forward biased. Why wrong: even negative voltages can produce forward bias if the anode is at a higher potential than the cathode, for example 10V-10 \, \text{V} is higher than 15V-15 \, \text{V}. Do instead: compare the two potentials numerically.

  • Mistake: Ignoring diode orientation in circuits (D) and (E) and treating similar voltage labels as identical cases. Why wrong: reversing the diode flips anode and cathode, changing forward bias to reverse bias or vice versa. Do instead: first mark anode and cathode from the symbol, then compare potentials.

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