Simple Electric Circuit Simulation showing the work of a diode in a circuit
Diode Circuit Simulation
This interactive simulation shows how a diode controls the direction of current flow in a circuit containing a battery and a lamp.
Forward Bias — the battery is connected with positive to the anode and negative to the cathode. The diode allows current to flow, the lamp lights up, and the I–V curve dot moves to the steep conducting region, showing a large current at low voltage.
Reverse Bias — the battery polarity is flipped. The diode blocks current completely, the lamp goes off, and the I–V curve dot sits flat on the near-zero reverse region, showing that almost no current flows regardless of voltage.
The I–V curve on the right shows the diode’s characteristic behaviour — it only conducts significantly once the forward voltage exceeds the 0.7 V threshold, and it blocks current in the reverse direction.