What is the result of full wave rectification?

Full wave rectification is a process that converts alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) by utilizing both halves of the AC waveform. This method involves converting both the positive and negative halves of the waveform into a unidirectional flow of current.

The result of full wave rectification is a varying DC voltage. This voltage does not remain constant; instead, it fluctuates in value, reflecting the frequency of the input AC signal. The output resembles a series of pulses, with the average voltage typically being higher compared to half-wave rectification methods, which only use one half of the AC waveform. This allows for a more effective utilization of the power supplied, resulting in a current that flows continuously, but still varies in magnitude.

In contrast, continuous AC voltage would not denote a conversion to DC, while half-wave DC voltage only uses one half of the AC cycle, leading to less efficiency. Stable AC voltage implies that the voltage remains constant over time, which does not occur during the rectification process. The key characteristic of full wave rectification is that the output is a varying DC voltage, marked by an increased efficiency and higher average current compared to other methods.