What is the purpose of connecting Zener diodes between a MOSFET gate and its source or drain?
To provide a voltage reference for the correct amount of reverse-bias gate voltage
To protect the substrate from excessive voltages
To keep the gate voltage within specifications and prevent the device from overheating
To protect the gate from static damage✓Correct answer
Explanation
The insulating oxide under a MOSFET gate is only a few tens of nanometers thick and a static discharge punches straight through it; Zener diodes from gate to source or drain clamp such transients at a safe voltage and shunt the charge away. They are not there to set the operating bias, to protect the substrate, or to manage device temperature.