What is contained in the output of a full-wave rectifier?

The output of a full-wave rectifier contains both halves of the AC cycle. Unlike a half-wave rectifier, which only processes one portion of the AC waveform and eliminates the other, a full-wave rectifier converts both halves by inverting the negative half cycle so that it is directed in the same direction as the positive half. This results in a continuous output that is pulsating DC voltage.

During the operation of the full-wave rectifier, both the positive and negative cycles of the incoming AC waveform contribute to the output. This means that the rectified output is more efficient and provides a higher average voltage than what would be produced by a half-wave rectifier. The presence of both halves helps in providing a smoother output, which can subsequently be filtered to produce a more stable DC voltage.

Further, a full-wave rectifier does not produce a pure DC output; instead, the output is a form of pulsating DC, which still contains some AC ripple. This is why the output is not described as pure DC; it still requires additional filtering to achieve a more constant voltage level. Therefore, the correct assertion here is that the output includes both halves of the AC cycle, making it suitable for applications needing a more efficient conversion from AC to DC.