Hello all. I'm having some trouble with analyzing this circuit containing diodes.

Our professor told us that we have to trial and error analysis of every possible combination between the two diodes. (i.e. whether one is conducting and the other is cut off etc...)

First question, is there a better, more intuitive way of determining what each diode is actually doing? (i.e. either conducting or cut off)

Secondly, even after my trial and error analysis in this problem, I'm still not sure how to determine which combination is correct? (i.e. what the diodes are actually doing, either conducting or cut off)

Thanks again!

 

Could you please post a schematic of the original problem, showing the two diodes?

 

Could you please post a schematic of the original problem, showing the two diodes?

Here you are.

 

Here you must consider all the possible permutations of diodes conducting or not conducting, as you have done.

An acceptable solution requires a forward current in any diode or diodes assumed to be conducting, and cannot have a forward voltage across any diode or diodes assumed to be non-conducting. You will see that only one of your four possible solutions meets these conditions.

Sometimes it may appear more or less obvious what should be conducting, but using a method helps to get around our assumptions, which may not always be correct.

Note however that the results from such a simple method assuming zero forward voltages may not always be accurate. Your instructors will probably avoid setting problems where this would be the case

 

Here you must consider all the possible permutations of diodes conducting or not conducting, as you have done.

An acceptable solution requires a forward current in any diode or diodes assumed to be conducting, and cannot have a forward voltage across any diode or diodes assumed to be non-conducting. You will see that only one of your four possible solutions meets these conditions.

Sometimes it may appear more or less obvious what should be conducting, but using a method helps to get around our assumptions, which may not always be correct.

Note however that the results from such a simple method assuming zero forward voltages may not always be accurate. Your instructors will probably avoid setting problems where this would be the case

What do you mean by forward current and forward voltage?

 

What do you mean by forward current and forward voltage?

Forward voltage means voltage applied in the forward bias direction, where the anode is positive with respect to the cathode.

Forward current means "conventional" current flowing from anode to cathode. NB electron flow is in the opposite direction: cathode to anode.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diode

Figure 5 in the Wikipedia article shows a forward-biased diode. The arrow shows the conventional current direction.

 

Forward voltage means voltage applied in the forward bias direction, where the anode is positive with respect to the cathode.

Forward current means "conventional" current flowing from anode to cathode. NB electron flow is in the opposite direction: cathode to anode.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diode

Figure 5 in the Wikipedia article shows a forward-biased diode. The arrow shows the conventional current direction.

So if we assume that voltage across a diode to always be forward then one can state that the voltage across a diode that is none conducting can never be positive, correct?

 

Correct. Let me rephrase Adjuster's words.
Assume that some of your circuit's diodes conduct and that some are cut off. Analyse your circuit. If in the end you fount positive forward voltage greater than 0 (or 0.7V) on the diodes you had assumed to be cut off, your initial assumption was wrong, and you have to start with a different combination of conducting and cut off diodes.
The same goes if you find voltage less than 0 (or 0.7V) on diodes that are supposed to be conducting.

 

So if we assume that voltage across a diode to always be forward then one can state that the voltage across a diode that is none conducting can never be positive, correct?

You have to make a series of different sets of different assumptions (conducting and non-conducting) to cover all the possibilities.

You must reject any set of assumptionsassumption which produces a contradictory result, such as conduction in the reverse direction, or a forward voltage across a diode assumed to be blocking.

Remember however that what is being accepted or rejected is a given set of assumptions. The fact that you may reject one choice because a diode is assumed blocking but actually has forward bias does not necessarily mean tht it will be conducting in the correct solution.

Perhaps you will make more progress by working through some examples than by thinking about it in the abstract.