regulation means to regulate the input signal, because not all the component suit with AC source, so we need to regulate it into DC, so we use rectifier to rectify the signal, and then we filter it and then regulate it, usually we use diode as rectifier, so the sine wave would be rectified, all the sine wave that have + and - will just only have one direction or + only.. and so on
In electrical there is a term called ideal voltage source which have constant voltage also when the load current varies. But such a voltage source which supplies constant voltage for varing load current is not possible. So we go for regulation to maintain the load voltage constant as much as possible. This regulation can be achieved by two means
1)Series regulation in which the regulating element is in series with the load
2)Shunt regulation in which the regulating element is in parallel with the load
the main function of regulator is just to provide a good voltage referrence and some amount of load current from it. need feed back close loop to achieve.
all the answers are giving the same meaning
regulation is keeping output constant when load is change
a simple example in gengrators when load changes the voltage drop will increase causing the output voltage to decrease
to keep the voltage constant we use the voltage regulator to increase rotor current supply to increse output voltage and to compensate voltage drop.
The voltage regulator is to reduce the ripple and to stabilize the magnitude of the dc output voltage of supply against variations caused by changes in load current.(from <<Microelectronic Circuits>>)