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The graph shown is the V-I characteristic of a semiconductor device. Which one of the following statements about it is correct?

Asked in NEET 2014 · Photodiode and solar cell

Figure: Photodiode and solar cell
Answer: (1) It is the characteristic of a solar cell, where the point A is the open circuit voltage and the point B the short circuit current

Step-by-step solution

Idea: each intercept of a V-I curve names a standard quantity, so read the two of them off first.

At A the curve meets the voltage axis, so the current there is zero. Zero current means the terminals are effectively open, and A is the open circuit voltage V_OC.

At B the curve meets the current axis, so the voltage there is zero. Zero voltage means the terminals are effectively shorted, and B is the short circuit current I_SC.

Between the two intercepts the voltage is positive while the current is negative, so the product VI is negative: the device is delivering power, not absorbing it.

Of the four devices named, only the solar cell generates power, so the curve is a solar cell's, with A=V_OC and B=I_SC.

Why the other options are wrong

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