Index

s.no Content Pg.no

1. Abstract 1

1.1 About the device 1

1.2 Objective 1

2. Purpose 2

3. Hypothesis 2

3.1 The phenomenon 2

3.2 The principle 3

4. Materials 6

5. Construction 9

6. Circuit diagram 10

7. Working 11

8. Observations 12
1. Applications 15

2. Conclusion 18

3. Bibliography 18

4. Reference 19
1.ABSTRACT:-
1.1 About the device:
A full wave rectifier is a circuit arrangement
which makes use of both the half cycles of input
Alternating Current (AC) and converts them into
Direct Current (DC). It is a more efficient device
than a half-wave rectifier and can be used in
practical situations when AC current is needed to
be converted into DC current.

1.2 The objective:

The objective of this project is to design a full
wave rectifier using electric and electronic
components and then to assemble the parts to
prepare a full wave rectifier. Also, the working,
efficiency and characteristics of output current
from a full wave rectifier are analyzed by me in
this project.
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2. PURPOSE :-
The purpose of this project is to check
whether an AC input source can be converted into
DC output easily by using elementary electric and
electronic devices available to us by applying the
knowledge about transformers, diodes and
capacitors which we have learnt in Physics classes.
By studying about this device, one can have a
good understanding about the DC regulators .

3. HYPOTHESIS:-
3.1 The phenomenon:
The phenomenon of conversion of input AC
current into DC current is called Full wave
rectification. It is called so because it “straightens”
the direction of current.

The simple process of rectification produces

a type of DC characterized by pulsating voltages
and currents (although still unidirectional).
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Depending upon the type of end-use, this type of
DC current may then be further modified into the
type of relatively constant voltage DC
characteristically produced by such sources as
batteries and solar cells.

3.2 Principle:
1.Diode : When a voltage is applied to p-n
junction in such a way that positive terminal of
battery is connected to p-type end of diode and
negative terminal of battery is connected to n- type
end of diode, the majority charge carriers will start
to flow, which results in flow of current in
junction and eventually, current flows in the
circuit. This condition is called Forward Biasing.
A diode offers low resistance during forward
biasing.
When a voltage is applied to p-n
junction in such a way that positive terminal of
battery is connected to n-type end of diode and
negative terminal of battery is connected to p- type
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end of diode, the majority charge carriers cannot
flow , thus no current will flow in circuit. This
condition is called Reverse Biasing. A diode
offers high resistance during reverse biasing.

Fig 1: Forward biasing (top) and reverse biasing (bottom)

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This phenomenon of forward and reverse biasing
of diode gives rise to a unique property for diodes
called “unidirectional flow of current” (i.e
current is allowed in only one direction through
the diodes) due to which they can modify input
AC voltage into a unidirectional DC output.
2. Capacitor: The function of the
capacitor at the rectifier is used to store the energy
up to the very high input level of the voltage, and
the capacitor releases the input voltage down, to
maintain the output voltage at the same level.

Fig 2: A diode (top) and a capacitor (bottom)

4. MATERIALS REQUIRED:-
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1. A transformer : A transformer is a device
that transfers electric energy from one
alternating-current circuit to one or more
other circuits, either increasing or reducing
the voltage.There are primarily two types of
Transformer based on the operating voltage.
(i) Step-down transformer which converts
primary voltage into a lower voltage
across the secondary output
(ii) Step- up transformer which converts
primary voltage into higher voltage
across the secondary output.

Fig 3: Step down and step up transformers

2. p-n junction diode : p-n junction diode is a

two-terminal semiconductor device that is
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 used for allowing electric current in one
direction. a diode does not behave linearly
with respect to the applied voltage
3. A capacitor : A capacitor is a device that
stores electrical energy in an electric field by
virtue of accumulating electric charges on
two close surfaces insulated from each other.
4. A resistor: A resistor is a passive two-
terminal electrical component that
implements electrical resistance as a circuit
element. In electronic circuits, resistors are
used to reduce current flow, adjust signal
levels, to divide voltages, bias active
elements, and terminate transmission lines,
among other uses

Fig 4: A carbon resistor

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5. AC input source :- An AC power source
supplies an alternating electrical current in
circuit.
6. Cathode-Ray Oscilloscope : The cathode-ray
oscilloscope (CRO) is a common laboratory
instrument that provides accurate time and
aplitude measurements of voltage signals over a
wide range of frequencies. Its reliability,
stability, and ease of operation make it suitable
as a general purpose laboratory instrument. It is
generally used in a laboratory to display,
measure and analyse various waveforms of
electrical circuits.

Fig 5 : A
Cathode Ray Oscilloscope

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 Other materials needed:-
A plug, Insulation tapes, Blades,
Soldering wax, Soldering lead, Soldering iron, A
base like box.

5. CONSTRUCTION:-

Fig 6: Full wave rectifier setup

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 First, the both ends of AC source are
connected to the primary coil of transformer. A
key may be placed in this connection. The
secondary coil of transformer is connected to two
p-n junction diodes D1 and D2. The centre of
secondary coil is tapped at its central point which
leads way to output device (CRO). The capacitor is
connected parallel to output voltage. The circuit
diagram shown below can be inferred to clearly
understand the construction of the device
6. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: -

J C

Fig 7: Circuit diagram

7. WORKING:-
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 During the first half cycle of AC, end A is
positive and end B is negative. So, Diode D1 is
forward biased and Diode D2 is reverse biased. As
a result, current will only flow through D1 and the
path of the current will be ACRLJA and we will
get a output current and voltage in CRO.
During next half cycle, end A is negative
and end B is positive. So, the Diode D1 is reverse
biased and Diode D2 is forward biased. So,
current will flow only through diode D2 and the
path of the current will be BCRL JB. As a result
we will get output current and voltage.

Due to continuous charging and discharging of

capacitor, a steady peak DC voltage is obtained
across
Also, the capacitor offers low impedance path to
high frequency AC component- which is still
present in some amount on the output side - and

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thus, will bypass the AC components and ensure
filtered and smooth DC voltage across output load.
Thus, throughout both cycles, we will get
uninterrupted output voltage due to either of one
diodes.

8. OBSERVATIONS:-
The input oscillating AC current, when
passed through the Full wave rectifier setup will
give an output DC current which will ensure
working of the DC component connected on the
output side of the device.
The waveform of input and output
voltages is shown below in the graph

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 Fig 8: Output waveforms

The CRO Output is shown as below

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 Fig 9: CRO output when no capacitance is connected

Fig 10 : CRO output when different values of capacitance are connected

9. APPLICATIONS :-

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 Full wave rectifiers are used in many
places in our day to day life, when we need a small
DC output current to operate our device but we
will only have an AC source. It is very useful in
the following ways
 DC power supply machines, which
convert AC voltage into DC voltage, are made
of rectifiers.
 It is used in Uninterruptible Power
Supply (UPS) and inverters which can convert
AC current into DC Current and store it in the
form of DC so that current can be stored
efficiently.

Fig 11: A UPS

 It is widely used in power supply

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 circuits of various electrical components like
LEDs, Mobile phone chargers, Laptop chargers,
LCD TVs, LED TVs etc…






Fig 12 : Mobile and laptop chargers

 In electrical welding, polarised DC

voltage can be supplied through rectifier.
 These rectifiers are mainly used in
detection of Amplitude Modulated (AM) radio
signals.

 Thyristors can be used in place of

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diodes in bridge circuits, which can be used in
Railway coaches and engines to power traction
motors, for example on the Eurostar trains.
 They are used in car alternators to
change batteries during running of cars.
 They are also used in audio
amplifiers.

Fig 13 : An audio amplifier

10. CONCLUSION: -
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 By doing this project, I can conclude
that Full wave rectifier is a very efficient device to
convert AC voltage into DC voltage in many
practical applications. It has very high efficiency
than a half-wave rectifier and there is very less
loss in energy. Without this device, many other
devices would not have existed; such is its
importance in circuits.

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY: -
● Physics: Textbook for class 12 (Part - 2),
NCERT, 15th edition (2019)
● New simplified Physics - A reference book
for class XII - Volume 2, S.L. Arora, 12th
edition (2022)

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12. REFERENCE :-

● https://www.seminarsonly.com/Engineering-
Projects/Physics/bridge-rectifier.php
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectifier

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