CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that "ISHIKA TYAGI" student of class

12th D has successfully completed her
physics Project on "Half wave Rectifier" under the
guidance of
"Mr. Kuldeep".

Mr. Kuldeep

R.P.V.V RAJNIWAS MARG

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude

to my teacher Mr. Kuldeep Sir who gave me the
golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on
the topic “Half wave Rectifier”, which also helped
me in doing a lot of Research and i came to know
about so many new things I am really thankful to
them.
Secondly i would also like to thank my parents and
friends who helped me a lot in finalizing this project
within the limited time frame.
 INTRODUCTION

A rectifier is a simple diode or group of diodes which

converts the Alternating Current (AC) into Direct
Current (DC).
We know that a diode allows electric current in one
direction and blocks electric current in another
direction. We are using this principle to construct
various types of rectifiers.
Rectifiers are classified into different types based on
the number of diodes used in the circuit or
arrangement of diodes in the circuit. The basic types
of rectifies are: half wave rectifier and full wave
rectifier.
A half wave rectifier is the type of rectifier which
converts the positive half cycle ( Positive Current ) of
input signal into pulsating DC ( Direct Current )
output signal. The half wave rectifier is the simplest
form of the rectifier. We use only a single diode to
construct the half wave rectifier.
The half wave rectifier is made up of an AC source,
transformer (step-down), diode, and resistor (load).
The diode is placed between the transformer and
resistor (load).
 THEORY
The half wave rectifier circuit is made by using a
semiconductor diode (D) with a load resistance RL . The
primary of the transformer is connected to the ac supply
mains.
The ac voltage across the secondary winding changes
polarities after every half cycle of input wave . During the
positive half-cycles of the input ac voltage i.e. when upper
end of the secondary winding is positive w.r.t its lower
end, the diode is forward biased and therefore conducts
current. If the forward resistance of the diode is assumed to
be zero ( in practice, however, a small resistance exists) the
input voltage during the positive half cylces is directly
applied to the load resistance RL, making its upper end
positive w.r.t its lower end. The
Waveforms of the output current and output voltage are of
the same shape as that of the input ac voltage.
During the negative half cycles of the input ac voltage i.e.
when the lower end of the secondary winding is positive
w.r.t its upper end, the diode is reverse biased and so does
not conduct. Thus during the negative half cycles of the
input ac voltage, the current through and the voltage
across the load remains zero. The reverse current, being
very small in magnitude, is neglected. Thus for the negative
half cycles no power is delivered to the load.
Thus the output voltage (VL) developed across load
resistance RL is a series of positive half cycles of alternating
voltage, with intervening very small constant negative
voltage levels. It’s obvious from the figure that the output
is not a steady dc, but only a pulsating dc wave. To make
the output wave smooth and useful in a DC power supply,
we have to use a filter across the load. Since only half
cycles of the input waves are used, it is called a half wave
rectifier.
Output of half wave rectifier is not a constant DC voltage.
In real life applications, we need a power supply with
smooth wave form. In other words, we desire a DC power
supply with constant output voltage. A constant output
voltage from the Dc power supply is very important as it
directly impacts the reliability of the electronic device we
connect to the power supply.
We can make the output of half wave rectifier smooth by
using a filter ( a capacitor filter or an inductor filter) across
the diode. In some cases an resistor-capacitor couples filter
(RC) is used.
 EXPERIMENT
MEASURMENT OF CURRENT USING
HALF WAVE RECTIFIER
Aim:
To determine the current by measuring voltage and
resistance using Halfwave Rectifier.

Material required:
 Diode
 Capacitor(50v)
 Voltmeter
 Resistance box
 Ac supply
 Wires for connection
Procedure:
i. Take an ac supply and connect it to switch.
ii. Connect the terminal part of the AC to the p part of
the diode using wire.
iii. Now connect the other part of the AC terminal to the
capacitor.
iv. Connect the n-part of the diode to the capacitor.
v. Connect the both ends of the capacitor to the
resistance box.
vi. Place a connection between voltmeter and resistance
box by joining the terminals of voltmeter.
vii. Now power on the switch and find out the resultant
voltage by changing the resistance box.
viii. Calculate the current by measuring the mean voltage
and resistance using ohm’s law.
OBSERVATION:-

RESISTANCE ( in ohm ) VOLT ( in V )

1 0.7

2 1.1

3 1.4

4 1.6

5 1.8
CALCULATION:-
Mean v = 0.7+1.1+1.4+1.6+1.8 = 1.32 v

Mean R = 1+2+3+4+5 = 3 ohm

Current I = Mean V / Mean R

= 1.32 / 3

= 0.264 Ampere

RESULT:-
The average current produced by the halfwave rectifier =
0.264 Ampere
 CONCLUSION
A half wave rectifier is rarely used in practice. It is
never preferred as the power supply of an audio
circuit because of the very high ripple factor. High
ripple factor will result in noises in input audio signal,
which in turn will affect audio quality.
Advantage of a half wave rectifier is only that it’s
cheap, simple and easy to construct. It is cheap
because of the low number of components involved.
Simple because of the straight forwardness in circuit
design.
Measuring the mean current flow helps us to
understand the amount of AC current passed through
the circuit.
PRECAUTIONS:-
o DO NOT SWITCH ON THE CIRCUIT BEFORE CHECKING
WHETHER IT IS CORRECT OR NOT.

o THE CONNECTONS BETWEEN VOLTMETER AND

RESISTANCE BOX SHOULD BE MADE CORRECTLY.

o CONNECT ALLTHE WIRES PROPERLY. LOOSE

CONNECTIONS MAY END UP IN FAILURE OF CIRCUIT.

o CAPACITOR OF LESSS VOKT MAY BE CONNECTED TO

THE DIODE.

SOURCES OF ERROR:-
o The p and n parts of the diode may be changed.
o The wire connection may be loose.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
o http://www.phyics-and-radio-
electronics.com/electronic-devices-and-
circuits/rectifier/halfwaverectifier.html
o http://www.electronics-
tutorials.ws/diode/diode_5.html
o http://www.circuitstoday.com/half-wave-rectifiers
o GOOGLE IMAGES
o www.wikipedia.com
o NCERT Physics book
o Comprehensive lab manual