5.66. Direct and Alternating Current http://www.ck12.org
Alternating Current
When current keeps reversing direction, it is calledalternating current (AC). You can see how it works in the two
diagrams below. The current that comes from a power plant and supplies electricity to homes and businesses is
alternating current. The current changes direction 60 times per second. It happens so quickly that the light bulb
doesn’t have a chance to stop glowing when the reversals occur.
Q:Which type of current flows through the wires in your home?
A:Alternating current from a power plant flows through the wires in a home.
Summary
- Direct current (DC) keeps flowing in just one direction. Batteries provide direct current.
- Alternating current (AC) keeps reversing direction. Power plants provide alternating current.
Vocabulary
- alternating current (AC): Electric current that keeps reversing the direction in which the current flows.