http://www.ck12.org Chapter 5. Energy
5.66 Direct and Alternating Current
- Distinguish between direct current and alternating current.
To use an electric appliance, you have to plug it into an outlet unless it has batteries. This may be all you need to
know in order to use electric current. But did you ever wonder what electric current is or how it flows through wires
inside the walls of your home? Electric current is a continuous flow of electric charges. The charges may flow in
just one direction, or they may keep reversing direction. You can watch an animation of both types of current at this
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZjMuIHoBeg
MEDIA
Click image to the left for use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/5057Direct Current
When current flows in just one direction, it is calleddirect current (DC). The diagram below shows how direct
current flows through a simple circuit. An example of direct current is the current that flows through a battery-
powered flashlight. In addition to batteries, solar cells and fuel cells can also provide direct current.