Physics - 12th Science Activity-5
AIM: - To identify a diode, an led, a resistor & capacitor from mixed collection of such items.
Requirement: - Multimeter, battery eliminator reversing key and the above components.
Theory: - If we have to identify these items, the appearance and working of each item will have to be
considered. Let us discuss each one separately.
(i) Diode: - It is a two terminal device, it conducts when forward biased and does not conduct
when reverse biased.
(ii) LED : (Light emitting diode) – It is also has two terminals and conducts when forward biased
and does not conduct when reverse biased. It emits light when conducting. It is a similar to
diode in that conducts only in one direction and then it emits light.
(iii) Resistor : It is two terminal device and conducts under any condition and even when
operated with a.c. voltage.
(iv) Capacitor : It is also a two terminal device. It does not conduct when d.c. voltage is applied.
However, it conducts when a.c. voltage is applied across its terminals.
Procedure: - To identify the resistor, capacitor, LED and junction diode, we use a multimetr. Each of
the above devices is a two terminal device. (c) set the mutimeter to resistance measurement
i.e., as ohm –meter.
Connect the two probes of the multimeter to each of the above items and note the deflection.
Interchange the probes and again note the deflection.
(i) If a large deflection is observed in one direction and no deflection in the second case, it is
either a function diode or an LED. The device which emits when forward biased in an LED.
The other item is function diode.
(ii) If the deflection is the same in both cases, it is a resistor.
(iii) If the multimeter shows no deflection either case it is a capacitor. All the items namely diode,
LED, resistor, capacitor have two terminals. Further identification of devices with two
terminals on the basis of the current flow through it as observed using the multimeter.
S. no. Float of current observed using the multimeter Device
1. In both directions Resistor
2. In one direction with emission of light LED
3. In one direction without emission of light Diode
4. No current observed in both direction capacitor
Result: - Different component of circuit like diode, an led, resistor & capacitor are identified from
mixed collection of such items
Precautions: -
(i) All connection must be neat and clean.
(ii) The current should be observed with the reverse polarity every time.
(iii) All precautions regarding the use of multimeter must be observed.
