Final answer:
The ripple factor is the measure of the output DC voltage's smoothness from a 1-phase full-wave rectifier, defined as the ratio of the rms value of the AC component to the average DC component.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ripple factor of the output DC voltage for a 1-phase full-wave rectifier supplying a resistive load is a measure of the smoothness of the DC output. It is defined as the ratio of the root mean square (rms) value of the AC component to the average value (DC component) of the rectifier's output voltage. Mathematically, the ripple factor (r) is given by the formula r = √((Idc)^2 + (1/2 Iac)^2)/Idc - 1, where Idc and Iac are the DC and AC components of the current respectively. The ripple factor is desired to be as low as possible for a smooth DC output. In practical applications, a filter may be added to the rectifier circuit to reduce the ripple content in the output voltage.