🔍 Key Concepts

• Difference between linear regulators and switching regulators • How a pass transistor operates in its active (linear) region versus fully on/off • What it means to vary conduction proportionally to voltage or current

💭 Think About

• Which type of regulator uses rapid on/off switching and duty-cycle control: linear or switching? • In a linear regulator, is the series/pass element usually operated fully saturated/cutoff, or somewhere in between, to drop excess voltage? • Which choice best describes a device whose resistance (or conduction level) is smoothly adjusted to keep the output voltage steady despite changes in input or load?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which options describe on/off switching with duty cycle control (typical of switching regulators, not linear). • Look for the option that mentions continuous variation of conduction rather than simple on/off behavior. • Eliminate any choice that describes a specific waveform shape (like a ramp) if a regulator’s goal is to provide a stable DC output.