What's alternating current

 What's the alternating current

Current is the flow of electrical charges or electrons in a specific path. When voltage is supplied to a circuit, electric device, the current starts to flow. There are two types of electric current; alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). These are free electrons in the material that cause to flow and produce current. An alternating current is a current in which periodically reverses its direction and changes its magnitude with time. The polarities and direction of AC quantities like current and voltages change over time. Whereas direct currents(DC) are unidirectional.  It depends upon the supplied voltage that generates DC or AC. Alternating current follows in the sinusoidal waveform. Alternating voltage produces alternating current in the electrical device or circuit. Alternating current is more dangerous than direct current. Ac quantity follows a sine wave with a change in its magnitude over time. Alternating current is easy in the transmission of current through long distances. There are two directions in a sine wave. Upperside is a positive one and lower is negative.

The sinusoidal waveform of alternating current

The direction of alternating current alternates with the time as a sine wave. Whereas the direction of direct current dc is constant during the time. The Alternating current behaves like a wave, the sinusoidal wave is generated by alternating current and voltage. In AC, there is the peak value, RMS value, and some other values that are considered and evaluated in ac quantities. The basic source of dc is the battery but, ac power is distributed and transmitted to residences and businesses. 

Alternating current is used in our home, office, and other places. Almost all our appliances like television, kitchen appliances, fans, and other electrical devices that we use in our daily life operate on alternating currents. Audio and radio signals in electrical wires operate on alternating currents.

Electrical motor and generator can not operate on dc supply, so these are supplied and operated by AC for generating rotation in the coil or shaft. Similarly, in the transformer for transferring electric power from one circuit to another ac power is supplied due to which alternating current is produced in coils of the transformer. The frequency of ac quantity varies time by time. Electrical motors, generators, transformers, and many electrical machines operate on alternating currents and provide us efficient work. In alternating current, there are fewer losses in power than direct current so it is convenient for us and we use it as electricity for transmitting over long distances.