MANAS ACADEMY

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT

TOPIC: “Full Wave Rectifier”

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

CERTIFICATE
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This is hereby to certify that, the original and genuine
investigation work has been carried out to investigate the
subject matter and the related data collection and
investigation has been completed solely, sincerely and
satisfactorily done by Yashaswi Nigam, a student of class
XII A under the Roll no. 24 for the academic session 2022‐
2023,regarding the investigatory project entitled "Full Wave
Rectifier" for the Physics Department under direct
supervision of the undersigned as per the requirement for
the Board Examination in partial fulfillment of physics
practical examination conducted by CBSE.

Internal Examiner Principal External Examiner

Date:- ……………..

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express special thanks to my teacher Mr.

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 Hemendra Prajapati, who gave me the golden opportunity to do
this wonderful project of Physics on "Full Wave Rectifier ", who
also helped me in completing my project. 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.

Yashaswi Nigam
XII A

DECLARATION

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 I hereby declare that the project work entitled
“Full Wave Rectifier ", submitted to the Department
of Physics, Manas Academy is prepared by me. All
the results are of my personal efforts.

Yashaswi Nigam
XII A
INDEX

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 Contents Page
no.
Certificate 1
Acknowledgement 3
Topic 6
Aim 7
Introduction 8
Material Required 9
Circuit Diagram 10
Working 11
Graphs 12
Applications 13
Merits and Demerits 14
Comparison 15
Bibliography 16

TOPIC

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 INVESTIGATORY PROJECT ON FULL
WAVE RECTIFIER

AIM
“To construct a full wave rectifier and show that
Alternating Current is rectified into a Direct Current”

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 INTRODUCTION

A full wave rectifier is a device which is used to rectify all

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and make it purely a direct current. The two alternating
halves of an alternating current are rectified in a full wave
rectifier which is an advantage over a half wave rectifier.
Most electronic devices cannot withstand very high voltage
or alternating current due to its intense high power. The use
of batteries in all devices is not practical as their
replacement and durability is a huge problem as the device
has to be dismantled each time for such a replacement. So,
these rectifiers are used in most of the electronic devices
like TV’s, Radios, Chargers, and Lightings etc.

MATERIALS REQUIRED

1.Connecting wires
2.A plug
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3.Single lead wire - 2m
4.3 nuts and bolts 2 to 3cm in length
5.Circuit Board
6.A transformer
7.A capacitor
8.A resistor
9.P-N junction Diodes
10. A LED
11. Insulation tape
12. Blades
13. Soldering wax
14. Soldering lead
15. Soldering Iron
16. Sand paper

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

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Connection details:
Connections are done as in the circuit. The A.C. supply is given
to both the input wires of the transformer and the two ends of the
secondary coil is given to the P side of the two diodes and the N
side of the diodes are twined and then connected to one end of
the capacitor and the other end to the centre tap lead and to the
resistor. Further, the other end of the capacitor with the diode
connection is connected to the other end of the resistor. Connect
2 leads on both the ends of the resistor to measure the output and
this is connected to the +ve & -ve terminals of the bulb.
WORKING
First when the A.C. is supplied to the transformer, it steps down the

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230V main supply to 6 volts. It has a capability of delivering a
current of 500mA. The 6 volts A.C. appearing across the secondary
is the RMS value and the peak value is 8.4 volts. During the 1st half
cycle of the A.C. input Diode D1 is forward biased and a current ‘I’
flows in the circuit in the direction S 1D1 ABEOS1. During this
time diode D2 is reverse biased. So, it does not conduct any electric
current. During the next half cycle, the diodeD2 is forward and D1
is reversed. Hence D2 conducts current in the direction S2D2
ABEOS2 and D1 does not conduct any current. In subsequent half
cycles of the A.C current the above processes are repeated.

In both the half cycles it is clear that current flows through the
resistor in only one direction ABE. Even though the voltage across
RL is unidirectional it will still contain a few A.C components. This
is filtered and made smooth using a capacitor, which filters 99% of
the A.C current. A resistor is then used to adjust the output voltage.
Capacitor also nearly filters all A.C components from the supply
and resistance is adjusted for the required output. As this is a simple
circuit, only one capacitor and a resistance are being used. But there
will be a slight factor of A.C. current still left in the output but it is
negligible. The output Direct Current and voltage light up the LED.

GRAPHS

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 APPLICA
TIONS

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➢ Because of their low cost compared to centre
tapped, they are widely used in power supply circuit.

➢ This can be used to detect the amplitude of

➢ Bridge rectifiers can be used to supply polarized

➢ In daily life, rectifier find use in mobile chargers.

➢ These rectifiers are used in most of the electronic

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 MERITS AND DEMERITS

Merits:

➢ The rectification efficiency of full wave rectifier is double of that of

➢ The ripple voltage is low and of higher Frequency in case of a full

➢ Higher output voltage higher output power and higher TUF in case
of a full wave rectifier.

➢ In a full wave rectifier, there is no problem due to DC saturation of

Demerits:

➢ Full wave rectifier needs more circuit elements and is costlier.

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● Google search engine
● You tube
● Physics Ncert book

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