Calculate the ripple factor (in percentage) if the dc and ac voltmeter used to measure the output signal from a rectifier circuit gives the readings of 25 V dc and 1.5 V rms.

Explanation:

Ripple Factor Calculation:

The ripple factor is a measure of the residual AC component present in the output of a rectifier circuit in relation to the DC component. It quantifies the effectiveness of the rectifier in converting AC to DC. The formula for the ripple factor (ρ) is given by:

Ripple Factor (ρ) = (RMS value of the AC component) / (DC value)

To express the ripple factor in percentage:

Ripple Factor (%) = [(RMS value of the AC component) / (DC value)] × 100

From the problem statement:

• DC voltage (V_DC) = 25 V
• RMS voltage of the AC component (V_AC) = 1.5 V

Substituting the given values into the formula:

Ripple Factor (%) = [(1.5) / (25)] × 100

Ripple Factor (%) = (0.06) × 100

Ripple Factor (%) = 6%

Thus, the ripple factor is 6%, which matches Option 4.

Important Information:

The ripple factor is a crucial parameter in rectifier design and operation. It provides insights into the quality of the DC output and the extent of filtering required in the circuit. A lower ripple factor indicates a smoother and more stable DC output.

Analysis of Other Options

To further understand the analysis, let’s evaluate the other options:

• Option 1 (0.17): This value is significantly lower than the calculated ripple factor of 6%. It may have resulted from an incorrect calculation or misunderstanding of the formula.
• Option 2 (0.34): This value is also incorrect and does not match the calculated ripple factor. It suggests a calculation error or incorrect substitution of values.
• Option 3 (0.25): This value is closer to 25% and does not correspond to the calculated ripple factor of 6%. Again, it might result from an incorrect computation.
• Option 4 (0.06): This value is correct. When expressed as a percentage (multiplied by 100), it gives 6%, which aligns with the accurate calculation.

Conclusion:

The ripple factor is a key parameter for evaluating the performance of a rectifier circuit. For the given voltmeter readings, the ripple factor was calculated to be 6%, corresponding to Option 4. This value indicates the quality of the rectified output and helps in designing the appropriate filtering mechanism for further smoothing of the DC signal.