Is a Half Wave Rectifier Circuit Linear and Time-Invariant?

[brad sue]

Homework Statement

Hi ,
I would like to have some help with the question wheter or not a half wave rectifier ( one diode) is a linear cicuit. I would also like to know if the system is time invariant.

The context is Fourier series. In a earlier question ,we wer asked to find the Fourier series of the half wave rectifier.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I think that it is non linear since a diode is a nonlinear device.
About time invariant, I have some problem on it.

Thank you
B

 

[wildman]

You are correct as far as linear goes. Linear means straight line and a quick look at a diode voltage vs current graph will confirm that is anything but a straight line.

As far as time invariant goes, answer the question: I have an input A that gives output B at time X. At time X+y (where y is any number), I have the exact same input A, does it always have the same output B? or no? If it always has the same output then it is time invariant, otherwise no.