Active components Passive elements

Nature of source Deliver power or energy to the Utilizes power or energy in the circuit.
circuit.
Examples Diodes, Transistors, SCR, Resistor, Capacitor, Inductor etc.
Integrated circuits etc.
Function of the component Devices which produce energy Devices which stores energy in the form of
in the form of voltage or current. voltage or current.

Power Gain They are capable of providing They are incapable of providing power gain.
power gain.
Flow of current Active components can control Passive components cannot control the flow
the flow of current. of the current.

Requirement of external source They require an external source They do not require any external source for
for the operations. the operations.

Nature of energy Active components are energy Passive components are energy acceptor.
donor.
Main characteristics of a
resistor:

1. Resistance
2. Power rating
3.Resistivity
 Type of Capacitors
Capacitors are classified by dielectric.
• Unpolarised
• air, mica, paper, plastic film, ceramic
• Polarised
• Electrolytic, tantalum, glass capacitor.

• Low Loss, High Stability such as

Ceramic capacitor
Silver mica capacitor
Polystyrene Film Capacitor
• Medium Loss, Medium Stability such as
Metallised Polyester Film Capacitor
Polypropylene Capacitor
rectifiers
• Rectifiers are used for converting AC into DC.
• Its of two types : Half wave rectifier & Full wave rectifier

Half wave rectifier

Input & output wave forms of half-wave rectifier
Full wave rectifier
• A full wave rectifier is a circuit which conducts current during the entire
input cycle. Thus a pulsating dc is obtained during both the half cycles of
the input.
• Two types of Full wave rectifier :
1. Centre-tapped full wave rectifier. 2. Bridge rectifier.
Centre-tapped full wave rectifier
• A centre tapped transformer is used to step down the input voltage.
• D1 and D2 diodes are connected to the secondary of the transformer.
• The centre tap on the secondary winding of the transformer is usually
taken as the ground or zero voltage reference point.
• The voltage between the centre tap and either end of the secondary
winding is half of the secondary voltage.
WORKING OF CENTRE TAPPED FULL WAVE RECTIFIER

a) During positive
half cycle
b) During negative half cycle

• It is important that, current flow through the load in the same direction
during both the half cycles. As a result, the output voltage developed
across the load resistor is of same polarity and magnitude.
Bridge rectifier

• In a bridge rectifier, it uses four diodes instead of two, but avoids the use of
center tapped transformer.
WORKING OF A BRIDGE RECTIFIER

• During the positive half cycle of the input, diodes D1 & D2 conducts and
diodes D3 & D4 do not conduct. There fore current flow through the
secondary winding, diode D1, load resistor RL and diode D2.
• During the negative half cycle, diodes D3 & D4 conducts while D1 & D2 do
not conduct. Hence the current flow through the secondary winding, diode
D3, load resistor RL and Diode D4.
• In both cases, current flow through the load in the same direction.