Draw the circuit diagram of a half wave rectifier and explain its working.

Explanation

Principle: Rectification is the process of converting alternating current into direct current is called rectification.
Construction:
(i) The circuit consists of a transformer, a p - n junction diode and a resistor . In a half wave rectifier circuit , either a positive half or the negative half of the AC input is passed through while the other half is blocked.
(ii) Only one half of the input wave reaches the output. Therefore, it is called half wave rectifier. Here, a p-n junction diode acts as a rectifying diode.
Working :
(i) When the positive half cycle of the ac input signal passes through the circuit terminal A become positive with respect to terminal B.
(ii) The diode is. forward biased and hence it conducts.
(iii) The current flows through the load resistor `R_(L)` and the AC voltage developed across `R_(L)` constitutes the output voltage `V_(O)` .
(iv) When the negative half cycle of the input signal passes through the circuit, terminal A is negative with respect to terminal B.
(v) Now the diode is revers biased and does not conduct and hence no current passes through `R_(L)`
(vi) So there is no voltage drop across `R_(L).`
(vii) The output of the half wave rectifier is not a steady dc voltage but a pulsating wave.