Final answer:
To determine the input impedance Zᵢₙ of a transistor circuit, the voltage drop across a known resistor is measured and Ohm's law is applied. The current gain β of the transistor can then be calculated and compared with the data sheet's specifications, ensuring the consistency of results by comparing power supplied and power dissipated.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine Zᵢₙ, or the input impedance of the transistor circuit, one should measure the voltage drop across a known resistor (in this case, the 10kΩ resistor) in the circuit. This is typically done using a multimeter set to the appropriate DC voltage measurement range. After measuring the voltage drop, you can apply Ohm's law (V = IR) to find the current through the resistor and subsequently the input impedance Zᵢₙ.
The transistor's current gain β can then be deduced from Zᵢₙ using the given formula Zᵢₙ ≈ βRₑ where Rₑ is the emitter resistance (3.3kΩ for this example). Comparing the calculated value of β with the range provided in the 2N3904 data sheet allows for verification of the results against the manufacturer's specifications.
Power dissipation in resistors is a critical aspect of circuit analysis. It can be calculated as P = I²R, where P is the power dissipated, I is the current through the resistor, and R is the resistance. Ensuring that the power dissipated by the resistors equals the power supplied by the voltage source is essential for validating the accuracy of the circuit analysis.