May/June 2026 Paper 41

State what is meant by half-wave rectification of an alternating current.

Figure 7.1 shows an incomplete diagram of the circuit used to achieve half-wave rectification of an alternating input voltage $V_{\text{IN}}$ to produce output voltage $V_{\text{OUT}}$.

Complete the circuit diagram in Figure 7.1.

Two alternating voltages $V_1$ and $V_2$ have the same peak voltage $V_0$ and the same period $T$. One is sinusoidal and the other is a square wave, as shown by the variations with time $t$ in Figure 7.2 and Figure 7.3.

The alternating voltages are applied in turn to the input terminals in the completed circuit of Figure 7.1. Complete Table 7.1 to show, in terms of $V_0$, expressions for the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) values of the two unrectified and the two half-wave rectified voltages.