A fast and accurate way of evaluating the Widlar current using the Newton–Raphson method

The Widlar current source is one of the basic current sources that undergraduate students encounter throughout their learning process on electronics courses. The Widlar current is actually given in terms of a transcendental equation. Although an analytical solution exists in terms of the Lambert W f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics education 2022-05, Vol.57 (3), p.35005
Main Author: Mohamed, Ahmed Obaid
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
College Science
Current sources
Electronic Equipment
Energy
Equations (Mathematics)
Exact solutions
Newton-Raphson method
numerical solution of Widlar current
Physics
Problem Solving
Science Instruction
Students
Undergraduate Study
Widlar current source
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Summary:The Widlar current source is one of the basic current sources that undergraduate students encounter throughout their learning process on electronics courses. The Widlar current is actually given in terms of a transcendental equation. Although an analytical solution exists in terms of the Lambert W function it might not be that useful for students during exams or other practical applications. This paper presents a fast and accurate way to solve the problem numerically using the Newton-Raphson method with a regular scientific calculator, and compares the results with the analytical solution given by the Lambert W function.
ISSN:0031-9120
1361-6552
DOI:10.1088/1361-6552/ac3d3d