In half-wave rectification, what is the output frequency if the input frequency is 50 Hz. What is the output frequency of a full-wave rectifier for the same input frequency.
(full-wave rectifier) 100 Hz
(half-wave rectifier) 50 Hz
Explanation
In a half-wave rectifier, the output voltage appears only during one half of each input AC cycle. The context states that current flows through the load resistor in the positive half-cycle, whereas there is no current in the negative half-cycle. Since the rectified output corresponds to only half of the input wave, the output frequency equals the input frequency. For an input frequency of 50 Hz, the output frequency is 50 Hz.
In a full-wave rectifier, the output voltage corresponds to both the positive and negative halves of the AC cycle. Each diode rectifies only for half the cycle, but the two do so for alternate cycles. Hence, the output frequency becomes double the input frequency. For an input frequency of 50 Hz, the output frequency is 100 Hz.
Solution Steps
Step 1: For half-wave rectifier, output appears only in one half of each input cycle → output frequency = input frequency = 50 Hz
Step 2: For full-wave rectifier, output appears in both halves of each input cycle → output frequency = 2 × input frequency = 100 Hz