Concept:Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV) is the maximum reverse bias voltage that appears across a non-conducting diode during its non-conducting half-cycle.
Formula:$$\text{PIV}_{\text{bridge}} = V_m$$
Solution:- In a bridge rectifier, two diodes conduct in series during each half-cycle while the other two are reverse-biased in parallel with the secondary winding.
- Applying Kirchhoff's Voltage Law around the loop shows that the maximum reverse voltage across each reverse-biased diode equals the secondary peak voltage \( V_m \).
Why other options are incorrect:- Option A: \( 2V_m \) is the PIV requirement for a center-tapped full-wave rectifier, not a bridge rectifier.
- Option B: \( V_m / 2 \) would cause reverse breakdown because the full secondary voltage appears across the non-conducting branch.
- Option D: \( V_m / \sqrt{2} \) represents the RMS voltage, not the peak reverse voltage.
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