What is alternating current?

An alternating current is a current that periodically reverses its direction.


Effectively, it keeps changing/alternating its direction. 

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What is direct current?

A direct current is a current that always travels in the same direction around a circuit.

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What creates an alternating current?

An alternating voltage, for example from mains electricity.

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What creates a direct current?

A direct voltage, for example from a battery or cell.

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What is mains electricity?

Mains electricity is the electricity generated by power stations and delivered to homes via the national grid.


We access it by plugging devices into wall sockets.

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What is the frequency of mains electricity?

50 Hz

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What is the voltage of mains electricity?

230-240 volts

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What will an oscilloscope trace look like for an alternating current?

(the oscilloscope trace would look the same for both current and voltage)

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What will an oscilloscope trace look like for a direct current?

The current or voltage could be either positive or negative, depending on which way the current is travelling.


(the oscilloscope trace would look the same for both current and voltage)

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