Ham Amateur Radio Technician Practice Exam

A full-wave rectifier is designed to convert both the positive and negative halves of an alternating current (AC) waveform into direct current (DC). In a full-wave rectification process, the entire AC cycle, which spans 360 degrees, is used.

This means that during the full cycle, both halves (the positive and the negative) are transformed into a usable DC output. Where the positive half is passed through as-is, the negative half is inverted, resulting in a continuous flow of current.

This successful conversion of the full 360 degrees of the AC waveform into DC allows for more efficient use of the power being supplied, as it maximizes the output from the entire cycle. Consequently, when considering the effectiveness of a full-wave rectifier, it is clear that the entire AC cycle is utilized.