In a full-wave bridge rectifier, how many rectifying diodes are used?

In a full-wave bridge rectifier, how many rectifying diodes are used?

• A. Two rectifying diodes.
• B. One rectifying diode.
• C. Four rectifying diodes.
• D. Six rectifying diodes.

Answer: (C)

A full-wave bridge rectifier uses four diodes arranged so that current from both halves of the AC input is steered through the load in the same direction. During the positive half-cycle, current flows through two diodes in series to the load and back through the other two diodes to the source. During the negative half-cycle, the roles of the diode pairs swap, but the current through the load remains the same direction. This configuration requires four diodes to provide a continuous, unidirectional output for both halves of the input waveform. Using only two diodes would only rectify one half of the cycle unless you had a center-tapped transformer, which is a different arrangement not called a bridge. A single diode would give half-wave rectification, and six diodes aren’t needed for this setup.

A full-wave bridge rectifier uses four diodes arranged so that current from both halves of the AC input is steered through the load in the same direction. During the positive half-cycle, current flows through two diodes in series to the load and back through the other two diodes to the source. During the negative half-cycle, the roles of the diode pairs swap, but the current through the load remains the same direction. This configuration requires four diodes to provide a continuous, unidirectional output for both halves of the input waveform. Using only two diodes would only rectify one half of the cycle unless you had a center-tapped transformer, which is a different arrangement not called a bridge. A single diode would give half-wave rectification, and six diodes aren’t needed for this setup.