Name: Circuits With Logic Gates
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 6 min
Description: Let us learn the concept of logic gates such as AND gate, OR gate, XOR gate, NOR gate, and gate with truth tables and formulae in detail, with examples.

Question

Draw the circuit diagram of a half wave rectifier. Explain its working. What is the frequency of ripple in its output?

Accepted Answer

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction.

If an alternating voltage is applied across a dipole in series with a load, a pulsating voltage will appear across the load only during the half cycles of the AC input during which the diode is forward biased. Such a rectifier circuit is called a half-wave rectifier.

The secondary of a transformer supplies the desired AC voltage across terminals A and B. When the voltage at A is positive, the diode is forward baised and it conducts. When A is negative, the diode is reverse biased and it does not conduct. The reverse saturation current of a diode is negligible and can be considered equal to zero for practical purposes. (The reverse breakdown voltage of the diode must be sufficiently higher than the peak AC voltage at the secondary of the transformer to protect the diode from reverse breakdown). Therefore, in the positive half-cycle of AC, there is a current through the load resistor RL and we get an output voltage, whereas there is no current in the negative half-cycle. In the next positive half-cycle, again we get the output voltage. Thus, the output voltage, through still varying, is restricted to only one direction and is said to be rectified.In a half wave rectifier the output frequency is equal to the input frequency.

Draw the circuit diagram of a half wave rectifier. Explain its working. What is the frequency of ripple in its output?

Important Questions on Semiconductor Devices

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