Addis Ababa Institute of Technology

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Addis Ababa University
Laboratory Report
Course: Electrical Engineering Lab II

Course No.: Eceg 2205

Experiment No. : 07

Title: The Frequency Response of a Transistor Amplifier

By: Aisha Abdulahi

Group: 2B

Date of Experiment: December 31, 2010

Date of Submission: January 06, 2011

 Introduction
Frequency response is the measure of any system's output spectrum in response to an input signal. [1] In
the audible range it is usually referred to in connection with electronic amplifiers, microphones and
loudspeakers. Radio spectrum frequency response can refer to measurements of coaxial cables,
category cables, video switchers and wireless communications devices.

Frequency response curves are often used to indicate the accuracy of electronic components or systems.
When a system or component reproduces all desired input signals with no emphasis or attenuation of a
particular frequency band, the system or component is said to be "flat", or to have a flat frequency
response curve.

The frequency response is typically characterized by the magnitude of the system's response, measured
in decibels (dB), and the phase, measured in radians, versus frequency.

Objective
The objective of the following laboratory report is,

 To study the frequency response of an RC coupled common emitter amplifier.

 Equipments Used

No. Description Code/Lab Reference Quantity

1 Regulated DC Power Supply - 1
2 Analogue multimeter - 1
3 Oscilloscope - 1
4 Function Generator - 1

Components Used
No. Description Type Quantity
1 Junction transistor BC-107B 1
2 Decade Resistor - 1
3 Resistor 120KΩ 1
4 Resistor 56KΩ 1
5 Resistor 82KΩ 1
6 Resistor 3.9KΩ 2
7 Resistor 250Ω 1
7 Resistor 1.8KΩ 1
7 Resistor 1KΩ 1
7 Resistor 390KΩ 1
8 Capacitor 10µF 2
9 Capacitor 220µF 1
 Theory
BJT Amplifier Frequency Response
Bandwidth of an Amplifier
Most amplifiers have relatively constant gain over a certain range (band) of frequencies; this is called the
bandwidth (BW) of the amplifier.

As the frequency response curve shows, the gain of an amplifier remains relatively constant across a
band of frequencies.
When the operating frequency starts to go outside this frequency range, the gain begins to drop off.
Two frequencies of interest, f and f are identified as the lower and upper cutoff frequencies.
C1 C2,
The Bandwidth is found as: BW = f – f
C2 C1
The operating frequency of an amplifier is equal to the geometric center frequency fo,
fo = √(f f )
C1 C2
Notice that the ration of fo to f equals the ratio of f to fo , this is:
C1 C2
fo / f = f / fo
C1 C2
Therefore we also have that:
2 2
= fo / f ; f = fo / f
fC1 C2 C2 C1
 For the same reason that h re and hoe are neglected in the hybrid model, the hybrid-pi
model can be simplified by considering r µ and ro as open circuits. For most practical purpose
figure (a) is replaced by (b)

The voltage gain expression for this circuit is highly complex and a derivation of the
complete expression will be avoided.

Fortunately the values of the capacitance shown are such that the circuit can be broken
down into three simpler circuits: one applicable in the low- frequency range where only the
coupling and bypass capacitance (C 1, C2 and CE) need to be considered, a second applicaple in
the mid-frequency range where all the capacitance have negligible effects, and a third
applicable at high frequency where only the inter-electorde and wiring capacitances (Cπ, Cµ
and Cw) are considered.
 Procedure
Step One: A circuit that looks like a figure below was set up using the respective values for the
components as R1=120K, R2=56K, RS=3.9K, RC=1.8K, RL=27K, C1=10µF, C2=4.7 µF and CE=220 µF.

Step Two: The VCC was set at 9V and the amplifier was biased. (VCEQ=3.5 and ICQ=2mA).

Step Three: A sinusoidal input of 1KHz and 10mVpp was connected on the input. The output voltage was
recorded by connecting an oscilloscope across the load. The output voltage was again measured for an
es=20mVpp.

Step Four: The gain was recorded for various values of frequency (10Hz-1MHz) keeping e S constant at
10mVpp with and without the capacitor connected between the collector and the base. The cutoff
frequency was determined as the value at which the gain was half the values of maximum gain.

Step Five: The capacitor was disconnected and the phase shift between e S and eo was measured using
the Lissajous figure for the different values of input frequency.
 Result

Step Two:
The circuit was biased at VCE = 3.5v and IC = 2mA

Step Three:
At es = 10mVpp
eo = 1.4 * 0.5v/div = 0.7v
Amid = eo/es = 0.7v/10mV = 70

At es= 20mVpp
eo = 1.4 * 1v/div = 1.4v
Amid = eo/es = 1.4v/20mv = 70

Step Four:
A. Without the capacitor C

Frequency Vs Gain

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4
Gain

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Frequency
Frequency Gain 4.3 0.7
1 0 4.477 0.65
1.602 0.5 4.602 0.6
1.6989 0.55 4.623 0.55
2 0.65 4.6532 0.5
2.3 0.7 4.698 0.45
2.6989 0.7 4.845 0.4
2.845 0.7 5 0.3
3 0.7 5.6989 0.05
4 0.7

B. With the Capacitor connected

Frequency Vs Gain

60

50

40

30
Gain

20

10

0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5
Frequency

Frequency Gain 2.69 48

1 10 2.9 48
1.39 33 3.69 48
1.69 44 4 46
2 48 4 46
2 48 4.47 33
2.3 48 5 10
Step Five:

Phase shift between eS and eO using the Lissajous figure method

ᶲ=sin −1
1.8/2 = 64

−1
sin 1.8/2 = 64
 Discussion and Conclusion

Discussion

The following laboratory experiment was conducted to study the frequency response of an RC

coupled amplifier.

1. The voltage gain in dB is given as, 20log (eo/ei),

Without the Capacitor

With the Capacitor

2. The experimental results is not exactly like the results calculated on the preparation,

this could be due to instrumental error or due to environmental factors like

temperature, internal resistances of measuring devices, in accuracy of the measuring

devices, or the stray capacitance of the wires.

Conclusion

From the above experiment we can conclude that,

 The mid band gain is obtained between the lower cutoff frequency and the upper cutoff

frequency. These cutoff frequencies can be adjusted to a required value by an

introducing a capacitor between the bas and the collector.

 The bandwidth can be increased or decreased by changing the transistor being used.

 There exists a phase shift between the input and the output voltage.