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QPage 351: Q2: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Electric Current through Gases Page 351: Q2 Solution: An AC source is connected to a diode and a resistor in series.…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often confuse the unidirectional nature of the current with a constant value, failing to recognize that the magnitude varies with time. While the current is classified as DC because it flows in one direction only, it is specifically pulsating DC, not steady DC, due to the diode's half-wave rectification.

An AC source is connected to a diode and a resistor in series. Is the current through the resistor AC or DC?

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** The current through the resistor is DC (pulsating DC). **Step-by-Step Explanation:** A diode allows current to flow only during the positive half-cycle of the AC source. During the negative half-cycle, the diode blocks the current. The result is a unidirectional (though pulsating) current through the resistor, which is DC in nature .

All Questions in this Chapter

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