What effect does increasing the load on a power supply filter have on ripple amplitude?

Increasing the load on a power supply filter leads to a rise in ripple amplitude due to the increased demand for current. As the load demand grows, the filter capacitor has a more challenging time maintaining a stable output voltage. The capacitor discharges more quickly to supply the higher current to the load, which results in a larger voltage drop across the load in between charging cycles. Consequently, this drop manifests as an increase in the amplitude of ripple voltage in the output signal.

In practical terms, the increased load means that the energy stored in the capacitor is depleted at a faster rate, allowing for more significant fluctuations in the output voltage. A power supply filter's effectiveness in smoothing the output voltage diminishes under heavy load conditions, leading to the taller peaks and deeper troughs characteristic of increased ripple.

Thus, the relationship between load and ripple amplitude underscores the importance of proper power supply design, ensuring that filtering is adequate for anticipated load variations to minimize ripple for stable electronic device performance.