A circuit consists of an ideal 9.0 V battery, a 100 Ω resistor, a single silicon diode, and ideal connecting wires arranged in series. Walking clockwise from the negative battery terminal, the electric potential versus position graph is described below.
• Segment AB: vertical rise of +9.0 V.
• Segment BC: vertical drop of 0.65 V.
• Segment CD: linear drop from +8.35 V to 0 V.
• Segment DA: horizontal segment at 0 V returning to the start.
(a) Identify which circuit element corresponds to each of the three non-horizontal graph segments and justify each identification based on the geometry of the segment.
(b) Using the graph and the given resistor value, calculate the current in the circuit.
(c) State whether the diode is forward-biased or reverse-biased and explain how the graph supports your conclusion.
(d) The battery is now reversed while all other components remain unchanged. Qualitatively describe (no numerical values required) how the potential–position graph would change for one complete clockwise loop and explain the physical basis for your description.