A p-n junction ($D$) shown in the figure can act as a rectifier. An alternating current source ($V$) is connected in the circuit.ShutterstockThe output voltage across the resistor is best represented by:

In the given circuit, the diode $D$ is in series with the load resistor and the AC source. During the positive half-cycle of the AC input, the diode is forward-biased and conducts current. During the negative half-cycle, the diode is reverse-biased and does not conduct. This results in current flowing through the resistor only in one direction during half of the cycles, making it a half-wave rectifier.