What is Alternating Current (AC) ?

 

 

           The flow of electric charge periodically reverses direction. It is a time-dependent signal whose amplitude continuously varies. 

                  

            AC is the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences. The usual waveform of an AC power circuit is a sine wave. In certain applications, different waveforms are used, such as triangular or square waves. Audio and radio signals carried on electrical wires are also examples of alternating current. In these applications, an important goal is often the recovery of information encoded (or modulated) onto the AC signal.

 

 

AC  Circuits. electric circuits that are supplied with alternating current sourcers (AC Sources).

 

 

 

AC  Sources:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important Parameters of Alternating Signals:

 

• Period (T) - the time of one complete cycle in seconds.

• Frequency (f) - the number of cycles per second, (Hertz).

• Wavelength (λ) - the length of one complete cycle.

• Propagation velocity (v) - the speed of the signal.

                          Standard for light and radio waves: v = 3x10^8 m/s 

                           Standard for sound waves: v = 344 m/s