Students read about the operation of the zener diode. This activity includes the ideal zener, the breakdown operation, the calculation of series, and zener and load current.

In this animated and interactive object, learners examine how changes in applied voltage affect the current and voltages in a zener diode voltage regulation circuit. A short assessment completes the activity.

Students complete 10 practice problems. These deal with the determination of series current, zener current, and load current, and if the zener diode is operating in the breakdown region.

The learner will understand how a zener diode maintains a constant voltage as the resistance values of a load change.