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QPages 417-418: Q3: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Semiconductors and Semiconductor Devices Pages 417-418: Q3 Solution: Let and be the number of holes and conduction electrons in an…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often think holes are fewer because they are merely the absence of electrons, forgetting that thermal generation creates electron‑hole pairs one‑to‑one; in an intrinsic semiconductor the concentrations are equal ($n_e = n_p$) regardless of the material’s band structure.

Let npn_p and nen_e be the number of holes and conduction electrons in an intrinsic semiconductor.

Multiple Choice Options

  • A np>nen_p > n_e
  • B np=nen_p = n_e
  • C np<nen_p < n_e
  • D np≠nen_p \neq n_e

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** (b) n_p = n_e. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** In an intrinsic semiconductor, the number of holes equals the number of conduction electrons.

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