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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I Madhav Gaur of class XIIth B would like to express my

gratitude towards My School principal Mr. Shyam
Prakash Pandey and My Physics teacher Mr. Nishant
Jhandai Sir who gave me this golden opportunity to
explore my skills and imagination towards the project
entitled as " The Conversion of AC to DC by Half-Wave
and Full-Wave Rectifiers" and my almighty of course
my parents, and friends who took this project to next level.

A BIG THANKS TO THE TEAM WHO

SUPPORTED ME AND GAVE THEIR PRECIOUS
TIME TO MAKE THIS PROJECT MORE
FACTUAL AND INTERESTING FOR OTHER
STUDENTS.

Madhav Gaur
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AuThENTiCiTy Of CErTifiCATE

This is to certify that Madhav Gaur

of Parmeshwari Devi Dhanuka Saraswati Vidya Mandir
school of class XII B has completed his project on the
topic " Conversion of AC to DC by Half-Wave and
Full-Wave Rectifiers” done under the supervision and
guidance of our Physics teacher Mr. Nishant Jhandai
sir in session 2024-2025 and this project is absolutely
genuine and does not indulge any kind of plagiarism.

The references taken in making this project has been

declared at the end of this project.

Teacher’s Signature Examiner’s Signature

Principal’s Signature
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TiTLE
“Conversion of AC to DC by Half-Wave
and Full-Wave Rectifiers”

ABSTrACT
This project aims to demonstrate and analyze the
conversion of alternating current (AC) into direct
current (DC) using two types of rectifiers: the half-
wave and full-wave rectifiers. These devices are
essential in power supply circuits to provide DC
voltage from AC sources. The report covers the
basic working principles of these rectifiers, the
construction of circuits, and a comparative analysis
of their performance, including efficiency and
ripple factor. The experimental setup and
observations of the output waveforms of both
rectifiers are also discussed.
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TABLE Of CONTENTS

I. Introduction

II. Theory and Principles

III. Working Principle of Rectifiers

IV. Rectifier Circuit Design

V. Comparative Study of Half-Wave and

Full-Wave Rectifiers.

VI. Applications of Rectifiers

VII. Materials and Methods

VIII. Results and Discussion

IX. Conclusion

X. References
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I. INTRODUCTION

The need for DC power arises from electronic

devices, batteries, and circuits that require
constant voltage for proper operation.
Alternating current (AC) power, which is
commonly supplied by electrical grids, needs
to be converted to direct current (DC) for
these applications. This conversion is
achieved through devices called rectifiers. In
this project, the working and performance of
half-wave and full-wave rectifiers are
explored. The aim is to understand the
principles, construction, and comparative
efficiency of these two rectifiers.
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II. Theory and principles:

AC and DC Supply:
 Alternating current(AC):
In AC, the direction of current periodically
reverses. The voltage alternates in polarity
and magnitude, forming a sinusoidal
waveform.
 Direct current(DC):
In DC, the flow of electric charge is constant
in one direction. The voltage remains
steady and does not fluctuate.
Rectification:
Rectification is the process of converting
alternating current (AC) into direct current
(DC). This is achieved by using rectifiers
that allow current to flow only in one
direction, blocking the reverse current
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 Half-Wave Rectification:
A half-wave rectifier allows current to flow
only during one half (positive or negative)
of the AC cycle. It blocks the other half,
effectively converting AC to a pulsed DC.

Full-Wave Rectification:

A full-wave rectifier uses two or more

diodes to rectify both halves of the AC
signal. It provides a smoother DC output
compared to the half-wave rectifier.
III. Working Principle of Rectifiers
 Half-Wave Rectifier:
In a half-wave rectifier, a single diode is
connected in series with the AC supply.
During the positive half of the AC cycle, the
diode conducts, allowing current to flow
through the load resistor. During the
negative half, the diode blocks the current,
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resulting in no flow of current. The output is

a series of half-sinusoidal pulses.
 Full-Wave Rectifier:
A full-wave rectifier uses two diodes in a
bridge configuration or a center-tapped
transformer with two diodes. During both
the positive and negative halves of the AC
cycle, at least one diode conducts, allowing
current to flow through the load in one
direction. This results in a smoother, more
continuous output compared to the half-
wave rectifier.
IV. Rectifier Circuit Design:
Half-Wave Rectifier Circuit:
 AC input: A sinusoidal AC voltage source.
 Diode: A semiconductor device that allows
current to flow in one direction.
 Load resistor: Resistor across which the
DC output is measured.
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 Capacitor (optional): To smooth the

output waveform.
Full-Wave Rectifier Circuit:
 Bridge Rectifier: Uses four diodes
arranged in a bridge.
 Center-Tapped Transformer: Uses two
diodes, with the transformer center tap
acting as the common point for the AC
input.
Both configurations provide full-wave
rectification, ensuring that current flows
through the load during both halves of the
input cycle.
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V. Comparative Study of Half-Wave

and Full-Wave Rectifiers:
Efficiency:
 Half-Wave rectifier: Efficiency is about
40.6%. It only rectifies one-half of the input
cycle.
 Full-Wave rectifier: Efficiency is about
81.2%. It utilizes both halves of the input
cycle, making it more efficient in converting
AC to DC.

Ripple factor:

 Half-Wave rectifier: The ripple factor is

high, around 1.21, meaning the DC output
is not smooth.

Full-Wave rectifier: The ripple factor is

lower, around 0.48, resulting in smoother
DC output.
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Output Waveform:

 Half-Wave Rectifier: The output waveform

is a series of half-sinusoidal pulses, with
significant gaps between pulses.

 Full-Wave rectifier: The output waveform

is a continuous series of full-wave
pulsations with reduced gaps, resulting in a
smoother DC.
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VI. Applications of Rectifiers:

 Power Supply For Electronics:
Converting AC to DC for devices like
televisions, radios, computers, and power
supplies.
 Battery Charging: DC voltage is required
for charging batteries.
 DC Motors: Used in various applications
like electric vehicles, fans, and pumps.
 Signal Demodulation: In communication
systems, rectifiers are used to demodulate
AM signals.
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VII. Materials and Methods:

 Materials required:
 Diodes (1N4007 or similar)
 Transformer (optional for full-wave
rectifier)
 Resistor (load resistor)
 Oscilloscope (for waveform observation)
 Capacitors (for smoothing, optional)
 Multimeter (for measuring voltage and
current)

 Methodology:
 Half-Wave Rectifier:
- Connect the diode in series with the load
resistor.

- Apply AC input and measure the DC

output across the load resistor.

- Observe the waveform on the

oscilloscope.
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 Full-Wave rectifier:
- Set up the full-wave bridge rectifier or
center-tapped transformer circuit.

- Apply the AC input and measure the DC

output across the load.

- Observe the waveform for smoothness

and continuity.

VIII. Results and Discussion:

 Experimental setup:
The half-wave and full-wave rectifier circuits
were built and tested with the same AC input
(say, 12V RMS). The output was measured
and displayed on an oscilloscope to observe
the waveform
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 Observations:
 The half-wave rectifier produced a
pulsating DC output with high ripple.
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 The full-wave rectifier produced a

smoother output with reduced ripple,
indicating higher efficiency in converting
AC to DC.

IX. Conclusion:
The project successfully demonstrates the
conversion of AC to DC using half-wave and
full-wave rectifiers. While the half-wave
rectifier is simpler and requires fewer
components, it is less efficient and produces
more ripple, while full wave rectifier requires
more components and it is more efficient and
produces less ripple.

X. References
 https://www.sciencedirec.com
 https://www.researchgate.net
 https://www.google.co.in
 https://gemini.google.com
 https://byjus.com