In the diode-Zener clipper circuit shown in the figure, the input is a sinusoidal voltage varying between +20 V and -20 V, while the observed output is clipped at approximately +5 V and -5 V. Which component arrangement must be connected between terminals X and Y?

Question

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

During the positive half-cycle, the middle branch containing the ideal diode and 5 V Zener diode conducts so that Zener breakdown limits the output to approximately +5 V. For the required clipping action, the component connected between X and Y must not bypass this limiting action during the positive half-cycle. During the negative half-cycle, the middle ideal diode is reverse biased, so the alternate path between X and Y must allow the circuit to produce the corresponding approximately -5 V cl…