Diode
Diode is an interactive experiment in Electronic Components, a free simulation from StudyFi Lab that runs right in your browser.
A diode lets current flow in one direction only — from the anode to the cathode. In forward bias the current starts once the voltage passes about 0.6–0.7 V (the knee of the characteristic); then it rises steeply while the diode voltage hardly changes, and the rest of the voltage drops across the resistor: I = (U − U_D)/R. In reverse bias the diode blocks the current.
Try this: Raise the source voltage from 0 V: up to 0.5 V almost no current flows, around 0.65 V the diode “opens”. Then turn the source to negative values.
Frequently asked questions
What does the “Diode” experiment show?
A diode lets current flow in one direction only — from the anode to the cathode. In forward bias the current starts once the voltage passes about 0.6–0.7 V (the knee of the characteristic); then it rises steeply while the diode voltage hardly changes, and the rest of the voltage drops across the resistor: I = (U − U_D)/R. In reverse bias the diode blocks the current.
How do I try “Diode”?
Raise the source voltage from 0 V: up to 0.5 V almost no current flows, around 0.65 V the diode “opens”. Then turn the source to negative values.
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