Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

1. In a pure metal the collisions that are characterized by the mean free time
for the resistivity are chiey between:
A. electrons and other electrons
B. electrons with energy about equal to the Fermi energy and atoms
C. all electrons and atoms
D. electrons with energy much less than the Fermi energy and atoms
E. atoms and other atoms
ans: B

in the expression

2. A certain metal has 5.3 1029 conduction electrons/m3 and an electrical resistivity of 1.9
109 m. The average time between collisions of electrons with atoms in the metal is:
A. 5.6 1033 s
B. 1.3 1031 s
C. 9.9 1022 s
D. 4.6 1015 s
E. 3.5 1014 s
ans: C
3. Which one of the following statements concerning electron energy bands in solids is true?
A. The bands occur as a direct consequence of the Fermi-Dirac occupancy probability function
B. Electrical conduction arises from the motion of electrons in completely lled bands
C. Within a given band, all electron energy levels are equal to each other
D. An insulator has a large energy separation between the highest lled band and the lowest
empty band
E. Only insulators have energy bands
ans: D
4. If E0 and ET are the average energies of the free electrons in a metal at 0 K and room
temperature, respectively, then the ratio ET /E0 is approximately:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 100
D. 106
E. innity
ans: B
5. The energy gap (in eV) between the valence and conduction bands of an insulator is of the
order of:
A. 1019
B. 0.001
C. 0.1
D. 10
E. 1000
ans: D

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Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

6. The energy level diagram shown applies to:

.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
....................

..........................................................
.......................................
.......................................
....................

unlled:

.......
.......
.......
.......

lled:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

a conductor
an insulator
a semiconductor
an isolated molecule
an isolated atom
ans: A

7. The energy level diagram shown applies to:

.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
....................

|
10 eV
|

unlled:

.......
.......
.......
.......

lled:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

a conductor
an insulator
a semiconductor
an isolated atom
a free-electron gas
ans: B

Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

613

8. The energy level diagram shown applies to:

...
...
...
...
.
........
.

1 eV
...
.......
...
..
....
...

.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................

unlled:

.......
.......
.......
.......

lled:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

a conductor
an insulator
a semiconductor
an isolated molecule
an isolated atom
ans: C

9. Possible units for the density of states function N (E) are:

A. J/m3
B. 1/J
C. m3
D. J1 m3
E. kg/m3
ans: D
10. The density of states for a metal depends primarily on:
A. the temperature
B. the energy
C. the density of the metal
D. the volume of the sample
E. none of these
ans: B
11. The Fermi-Dirac occupancy probability P (E) varies between:
A. 0 and 1
B. 0 and innity
C. 1 and innity
D. 1 and 1
E. 0 and EF
ans: A

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Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

12. For a metal at absolute temperature T , with Fermi energy EF , the occupancy probability is
given by:
A. e(EEF )/kT
B. e(EEF )/kT
1
C. (EE )/kT
F
e
+1
1
D. (EE )/kT
F
e
+1
1
E. (EE )/kT
F
e
1
ans: C
13. In a metal at 0 K, the Fermi energy is:
A. the highest energy of any electron
B. the lowest energy of any electron
C. the mean thermal energy of the electrons
D. the energy of the top of the valence band
E. the energy at the bottom of the conduction band
ans: A
14. The occupancy probability for a state with energy equal to the Fermi energy is:
A. 0
B. 0.5
C. 1
D. 1.5
E. 2
ans: B
15. The Fermi energy of a metal depends primarily on:
A. the temperature
B. the volume of the sample
C. the mass density of the metal
D. the size of the sample
E. the number density of conduction electrons
ans: E
16. The speed of an electron with energy equal to the Fermi energy for copper is on the order of:
A. 106 m/s
B. 106 m/s
C. 10 m/s
D. 101 m/s
E. 109 m/s
ans: A

Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

615

17. At
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

T = 0 K the probability that a state 0.50 eV below the Fermi level is occupied is about:
0
5.0 109
5.0 106
5.0 103
1
ans: E

18. At
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

T = 0 K the probability that a state 0.50 eV above the Fermi level is occupied is about:
0
5.0 109
5.0 106
5.0 103
1
ans: A

19. At room temperature kT is about 0.0259 eV. The probability that a state 0.50 eV above the
Fermi level is occupied at room temperature is:
A. 1
B. 0.05
C. 0.025
D. 5.0 106
E. 4.1 109
ans: E
20. At room temperature kT is about 0.0259 eV. The probability that a state 0.50 eV below the
Fermi level is unoccupied at room temperature is:
A. 1
B. 0.05
C. 0.025
D. 5.0 106
E. 4.1 109
ans: E
21. If the density of states is N (E) and the occupancy probability is P (E), then the density of
occupied states is:
A. N (E) + P (E)
B. N (E)/P (E)
C. N (E) P (E)
D. N (E)P (E)
E. P (E)/N (E)
ans: D

616

Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

22. A hole refers to:

A. a proton
B. a positively charged electron
C. an electron that has somehow lost its charge
D. a microscopic defect in a solid
E. the absence of an electron in an otherwise lled band
ans: E
23. Electrons in a full band do not contribute to the current when an electric eld exists in a solid
because:
A. the eld cannot exert a force on them
B. the individual contributions cancel each other
C. they are not moving
D. they make transitions to other bands
E. they leave the solid
ans: B
24. For
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

a pure semiconductor the Fermi level is:

in the conduction band
well above the conduction band
in the valence band
well below the valence band
near the center of the gap between the valence and conduction bands
ans: E

25. The number density n of conduction electrons, the resistivity , and the temperature coe cient
of resistivity are given below for ve materials. Which is a semiconductor?
A. n = 1029 m3 , = 108 m, = +103 K1
B. n = 1028 m3 , = 109 m, = 103 K1
C. n = 1028 m3 , = 109 m, = +103 K1
D. n = 1015 m3 , = 103 m, = 102 K1
E. n = 1015 m3 , = 107 m, = +103 K1
ans: D
26. A pure semiconductor at room temperature has:
A. more electrons/m3 in its conduction band than holes/m3 in its valence band
B. more electrons/m3 in its conduction band than a typical metal
C. more electrons/m3 in its valence band than at T = 0 K
D. more holes/m3 in its valence band than electrons/m3 in its valence band
E. none of the above
ans: E

Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

617

27. For a metal at room temperature the temperature coe cient of resistivity is determined primarily by:
A. the number of electrons in the conduction band
B. the number of impurity atoms
C. the binding energy of outer shell electrons
D. collisions between conduction electrons and atoms
E. none of the above
ans: D
28. For a pure semiconductor at room temperature the temperature coe cient of resistivity is
determined primarily by:
A. the number of electrons in the conduction band
B. the number of replacement atoms
C. the binding energy of outer shell electrons
D. collisions between conduction electrons and atoms
E. none of the above
ans: A
29. A certain material has a resistivity of 7.8 103 m at room temperature and it increases as
the temperature is raised by 100 C. The material is most likely:
A. a metal
B. a pure semiconductor
C. a heavily doped semiconductor
D. an insulator
E. none of the above
ans: C
30. A certain material has a resistivity of 7.8 103 m at room temperature and it decreases as
the temperature is raised by 100 C. The material is most likely:
A. a metal
B. a pure semiconductor
C. a heavily doped semiconductor
D. an insulator
E. none of the above
ans: B
31. A certain material has a resistivity of 7.8 108 m at room temperature and it increases as
the temperature is raised by 100 C. The material is most likely:
A. a metal
B. a pure semiconductor
C. a heavily doped semiconductor
D. an insulator
E. none of the above
ans: A

618

Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

32. Donor atoms introduced into a pure semiconductor at room temperature:

A. increase the number of electrons in the conduction band
B. increase the number of holes in the valence band
C. lower the Fermi level
D. increase the electrical resistivity
E. none of the above
ans: A
33. Acceptor atoms introduced into a pure semiconductor at room temperature:
A. increase the number of electrons in the conduction band
B. increase the number of holes in the valence band
C. raise the Fermi level
D. increase the electrical resistivity
E. none of the above
ans: B
34. An
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

acceptor replacement atom in silicon might have

3
4
5
6
7
ans: A

35. A donor replacement atom in silicon might have

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
ans: E

electrons in its outer shell.

electrons in its outer shell.

36. A given doped semiconductor can be identied as p or n type by:

A. measuring its electrical conductivity
B. measuring its magnetic susceptibility
C. measuring its coe cient of resistivity
D. measuring its heat capacity
E. performing a Hall eect experiment
ans: E
37. The contact electric eld in the depletion region of a p-n junction is produced by:
A. electrons in the conduction band alone
B. holes in the valence band alone
C. electrons and holes together
D. charged replacement atoms
E. an applied bias potential dierence
ans: D
Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

619

38. For
is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

an unbiased p-n junction, the energy at the bottom of the conduction band on the n side
higher than the energy at the bottom of the conduction band on the p side
lower than the energy at the bottom of the conduction band on the p side
lower than the energy at the top of the valence band on the n side
lower than the energy at the top of the valence band on the p side
the same as the energy at the bottom of the conduction band on the p side
ans: B

39. In an unbiased p-n junction:

A. the electric potential vanishes everywhere
B. the electric eld vanishes everywhere
C. the drift current vanishes everywhere
D. the diusion current vanishes everywhere
E. the diusion and drift currents cancel each other
ans: E
40. Application of a forward bias to a p-n junction:
A. narrows the depletion zone
B. increases the electric eld in the depletion zone
C. increases the potential dierence across the depletion zone
D. increases the number of donors on the n side
E. decreases the number of donors on the n side
ans: A
41. Application of a forward bias to a p-n junction:
A. increases the drift current in the depletion zone
B. increases the diusion current in the depletion zone
C. decreases the drift current on the p side outside the depletion zone
D. decreases the drift current on the n side outside the depletion zone
E. does not change the current anywhere
ans: B
42. When a forward bias is applied to a p-n junction the concentration of electrons on the p side:
A. increases slightly
B. increases dramatically
C. decreases slightly
D. decreases dramatically
E. does not change
ans: B

620

Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

43. Which of the following is NOT true when a back bias is applied to a p-n junction?
A. Electrons ow from the p to the n side
B. Holes ow from the p to the n side
C. The electric eld in the depletion zone increases
D. The potential dierence across the depletion zone increases
E. The depletion zone narrows
ans: B
44. Switch S is closed to apply a potential dierence V across a p-n junction as shown. Relative to
the energy levels of the n-type material, with the switch open, the electron levels of the p-type
material are:
....
....
....
....
.................................................... ..
...
...
...
...
+ ......
.

..........................................................................
....
...
...
..

p
n..

...
...
...
...
....
...
...
...
..
.
.
.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

unchanged
lowered by the amount eV e/kT
lowered by the amount V e
raised by the amount eV e/kT
raised by the amount V e
ans: C

45. A sinusoidal potential dierence Vin = Vm sin( t) is applied to the p-n junction as shown.
Which graph correctly shows Vout as a function of time?
......
...... ........
.
...
....................................................................................................................................................................................
.
...
....
....................
...
............
.....
............
......
in
............
..........
...
...
.
...............................................................................................................................................................................

....

Vout

..........
...........
.... ...... ... .......
.
.
......
..
..

Vout
t

..........
...... .......... .......
.
.
.
............
....

Vout

Vout
t

.....
.....
...... .... ........... .... ...
.
.
.
.
.
.
........
.........
......

B
Vout

........
........
... ....
... ....
.
.
.. .... ... ....
... .
...
...
....
.......
...
D

C
Vout

..........
... ....
.
.

..........
... ....
.
.

ans: E

Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS

621

46. In normal operation the current in a MOSFIT device is controlled by changing:

A. the number of donors and acceptors
B. the width of the depletion zone
C. the size of the sample
D. the density of electron states
E. the temperature
ans: B
47. LED stands for:
A. Less Energy Donated
B. Light Energy Degrader
C. Luminescent Energy Developer
D. Laser Energy Detonator
E. none of the above
ans: E
48. A light emitting diode emits light when:
A. electrons are excited from the valence to the conduction band
B. electrons from the conduction band recombine with holes from the valence band
C. electrons collide with atoms
D. electrons are accelerated by the electric eld in the depletion region
E. the junction gets hot
ans: B
49. The gap between the valence and conduction bands of a certain semiconductor is 0.85 eV.
When this semiconductor is used to form a light emitting diode, the wavelength of the light
emitted:
A. is in a range above 1.5 106 m
B. is in a range below 1.5 106 m
C. is always 1.5 106 m
D. is in a range centered on 1.5 106 m
E. has nothing to do with the gap
ans: B

622

Chapter 41:

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY IN SOLIDS