A centre-tap full-wave rectifier is fed with an ac voltage of frequency 50 Hz. The time interval between two successive pulses of the output voltage is
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → \(10\ \mathrm{ms}\)
In a full-wave rectifier, diode D1 gives a pulse in one half-cycle and diode D2 gives a pulse in the next. So the output has one pulse in every half-cycle of the input.
Time period of the input, \( T=1/f \), with \( f=50\ \mathrm{Hz} \).
Time between two output pulses = half the time period:
\( \begin{aligned} t &= \frac{T}{2}=\frac{1}{2f} \\ &= \frac{1}{2\times50}\ \mathrm{s} \\ &= 0.01\ \mathrm{s}=10\ \mathrm{ms} \end{aligned} \)
From the above, \( t=10\ \mathrm{ms} \). Hence, a new output pulse starts every 10 ms.
NCERT (2026-27):
Application of Junction Diode as a Rectifier – “… Each diode rectifies only for half the cycle, but the two do so for alternate cycles. Thus, the output between their common terminals and the centre-tap of the transformer becomes a full-wave rectifier output. …”