Physics - Semiconductors Question with Solution | TestHub

When an alternating voltage is applied across a p-n junction diode in series with a load, the circuit acts as a half-wave rectifier.

During the positive half-cycle of the a.c. input, the diode is forward-biased and conducts current through the load.

During the negative half-cycle, the diode is reverse-biased and does not conduct current.

As a result, current flows through the load in only one direction and only during half of each cycle. This produces a unidirectional but varying voltage across the load, which is known as a pulsating voltage.

Answer: a pulsating voltage appears across load.