VIMALA CENTRAL SCHOOL

KARAMCODU P.O, CHATHANNOOR, KOLLAM, KERALA-691579

(AFFILIATED TO CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION NEW
DELHICODE.NO. 930331)

In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the second

year of Senior Secondary Certificate Examination,
2025

PHYSICS
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
"RECTIFIER"
DONE BY :

Name : Anakha R Krishna

Class : Xll A
Register no
Admission no. : 885
Year of study :2024-2025
Teacher in charge :
1. Suma M.S CERTIFIED
2. Sheeja K.V
Examiners : Principal :
1

2
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this project entitled "RECTIFIER" isa

bonafide work done by Anakha R Krishna of class Xll
under the guidance of Mrs. Sheeja K.V and
Mrs. Suma M.S teachers in charge.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I thank the Lord Almighty for His grace.First and foremost, I would
like to express my sincere thanks to our beloved
Rev. Fr. SAMUEL PAZHAVOORPADICKAL, the Director of our school
and appreciates the help given by our Principal Mr.Tom Mathew.
I sincerely thank our teachers Mrs. Sheeja K.V and Mrs. Suma. M.S
who gave me guidance and valuable support throughout the project
work.

I also thank my parents, librarian and my friends who have

extended their whole hearted support towards this project.

"THE ALMIGHTY GOD"

 CONTENTS
Sl No. TITLE

1 INTRODUCTION

2 RECTIFIER

3 TYPES OF RECTIFIERS

4 CONCLUSION

5 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION
While we often use AC devices in our daily lives, a rectifier is an electronic
device that converts AC power into DC power.

Examining the characteristics of a junction diode shows that it presents a

low resistance path when forward biased and a high resistance path
when reverse biased. This property makes the junction diode suitable for
use as a rectifier.

Alternating signals create opposing biased voltages at the junction with

each half-cycle. If the junction is forward biased during the first half-
cycle, it will be reverse biased during the second half. This leads to
current flowing in one direction only, thereby rectifying the signal.

In other words, when an alternating e.m.f. signal is applied to a junction

diode, it conducts only during those half-cycles that forward bias it.

RECTIFIER
A rectifier is an electronic device that transforms alternating current (AC)
into direct current (DC) using one or more P-N junction diodes. A diode
functions like a one-way valve, permitting current to flow in only one
direction. This transformation process is called rectification.

Rectifiers can exist in various physical forms, including solid-state diodes,

vacuum tube diodes, mercury-arc valves, silicon-controlled rectifiers, and
other silicon-based semiconductor devices.

TYPES OF RECTIFIERS
Rectifiers are mainly OF two types as:
1. Uncontrolled Rectifier

2. Controlled Rectifier
 1.Uncontrolled Rectifiers
An uncontrolled rectifier is a type of rectifier whose output voltage
cannot be adjusted.

2. Controlled Rectifiers
A controlled rectifier is a type that allows for varying the output
voltage. We use components like SCRs, MOSFETs, and IGBTs to
convert an uncontrolled rectifier into a controlled one. These
controlled rectifiers are often preferred over uncontrolled ones.
There are two main types of controlled rectifiers: the Half Wave
Controlled Rectifier and the Full Wave Controlled Rectifier. The half-
wave controlled rectifier is similar in design to the half-wave
uncontrolled rectifier, with the only difference being that the diode
is replaced by an SCR.

 Full Wave Rectifier

 Half Wave Rectifier


 Half Wave Rectifier

Half wave Half-wave rectifiers convert AC voltage into DC voltage by
utilizing a single diode. This type of rectifier permits only one half-
cycle of the AC voltage waveform to pass through, while blocking the
other half. As the simplest form of rectifier, a half-wave rectifier
circuit requires just one diode, a transformer, and a resistive load for
its construction.

Principle:
This operates on the principle that a junction diode provides a low-
resistance path when forward biased and a high-resistance path
when reverse biased.
 Arrangement:
An AC supply is connected to the primary coil (P) of a step-down transformer.
The secondary coil(s) of the transformer are linked to the junction diode and a
load resistance. The resulting DC voltage is measured across the load
resistance (RL).

Theory:
During the first half of the input cycle, the junction diode becomes
forward biased, allowing conventional current to flow in the
direction indicated by the arrowheads. Consequently, the upper end
of RL is at a positive potential relative to the lower end. In the
negative half-cycle of the input AC voltage, the diode is reverse
biased, preventing any current from flowing in the circuit, which
means no voltage is developed across RL. Since only the positive
half-cycle of the input is present across the load, the AC input is
transformed into pulsating direct current
 Advantages of Half-Wave Rectifiers:
 Simplicity: The circuit is straightforward and can be easily built
using a few basic components, making it a cost-effective choice
for various applications.
 Versatility: It can accommodate a wide range of input voltages
and load resistances.

Disadvantages of Half-Wave Rectifiers:

 High Ripple Content: The output voltage has a high ripple,
resulting in a less smooth DC output, which can be problematic
for applications like digital circuits.
 Low Efficiency: The efficiency of half-wave rectifiers is low,
leading to significant input power being lost as heat.

A. Full-Wave Rectifier
A full-wave rectifier converts the entire input waveform into a
consistent polarity (either positive or negative) at its output.
Mathematically, this corresponds to the absolute value function.
Full-wave rectification processes both polarities of the input
waveform into pulsating DC, resulting in a higher average output
voltage.For single-phase AC, if a center-tapped transformer is used,
two diodes connected back-to-back (either cathode-to-cathode or
anode-to-anode, depending on the desired output polarity) can
create a full-wave rectifier. This setup requires twice as many turns
on the transformer’s secondary coil to achieve the same output
voltage as a bridge rectifier configuration.

Principle:
The principle of a full-wave rectifier relies on the fact that a junction
diode exhibits low resistance when forward biased and high
resistance when reverse biased.

Working:
The input AC voltage supplied to the full-wave rectifier is initially
high. A step-down transformer in the rectifier circuit reduces this
high voltage AC to a lower voltage AC. The anodes of the center-
tapped diodes are connected to the transformer's secondary winding
and to the load resistor.

During the positive half-cycle of the AC input, the upper half of the
secondary winding becomes positive while the lower half turns
negative. In this phase, diode D1 is forward biased since it is
connected to the positive upper section, while diode D2 is reverse
biased as it connects to the negative lower section. Consequently, D1
conducts as if it were a short circuit, while D2 remains non-
conductive like an open circuit.

In the negative half-cycle, D1 is reverse biased and D2 becomes

forward biased because the upper part of the secondary winding
turns negative and the lower part becomes positive. As a result, a
full-wave rectifier produces DC voltage during both the positive and
negative half-cycles.

Advantages of Full-Wave Rectifiers:

 Higher Rectification Efficiency: Full-wave rectifiers have a

rectification efficiency that is double that of half-wave
rectifiers, with the efficiency of half-wave rectifiers at 40.6%
compared to 81.2% for full-wave rectifiers.
 Lower Ripple Factor: The ripple factor for full-wave rectifiers is
lower, requiring only a simple filter; it is 0.482 for full-wave
rectifiers, whereas it is approximately 1.21 for half-wave
rectifiers.
 Increased Output Voltage and Power: Full-wave rectifiers
provide higher output voltage and power than half-wave
rectifiers.
3-Phase signals
 Half-wave rectification

Full-wave rectification

0.00T 0.25T 0.50T 0.75T 1.00T 125T I-SOT

Time
 Conclusion
Rectifiers play a crucial role in electronics and power
systems. Through this project, we learned that both full-
wave and half-wave rectifiers can be constructed
without a center-tapped transformer. This experience
enhanced our understanding of how half-wave and full-
wave rectifiers operate and their practical applications.
Full-wave rectifiers are more effective at converting AC
to DC and are widely utilized in power supply circuits. In
bridge rectifiers, a center tap is not needed on the
transformer, allowing for the use of a smaller
transformer. These bridge rectifiers are suitable for high-
voltage appliances, providing an output voltage that is
twice that of a center-tapped full-wave rectifier for the
same secondary voltage. However, there are some
drawbacks, including the requirement for two additional
diodes and less satisfactory voltage regulation. A bridge
rectifier with a filter section was constructed, enabling
us to measure both AC and DC voltages. Overall,
rectifiers have become essential components in the
fields of electronics and power systems.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Textbooks referred:
12th Physics textbook
Pradeep Fundamental Physics
Websites referred:
 https://en.m.wikipedia.org

 https://www.tutorialspoint.
com

 https://chat.openai.com