Electricity is nearly a commodity we can’t do without like food. Benjamin Franklin couldn’t have done any better than introducing the world to an age of swift industrial and technological advancement. Today, basically everything productive around us relies on electricity to function.
Electric current is simply the passage of electric charges and it could be in two forms known as alternating current (AC) and Direct current (DC). The distinction between the current is the direction in which they move. Alternating current, as you can guess, is the flow of current charges with a periodic change in direction (bidirectional). Direct current, on the flip side, is the flow of electrical charges in one direction (unidirectional).
AC travels in oscillatory motion and is illustrated by irregular waves, while DC travels in a straight line and is illustrated by a straight line. Alternating current is just like a see-saw movement with a high and low point known as crest and trough.
An alternating current can be generated from an alternator, which is a device created solely to produce alternating current. The direct current however can be found in batteries, generators, or electronic circuits.
Furthermore, AC is what is used to supply electricity to houses, offices, and other buildings. This is because it is simpler to decrease high AC voltage after transportation over long distances from the power station. Also, it is fairly safer and allows for less transformation of electrical energy into heat energy. However, most digital electronics, inclusive of cell phones, battery-operated radios, flashlights, and electric vehicles are built using DC.
Direct current is contemplated as been more dangerous than alternating current because its magnitude does not decrease. The alternating current, on the flip side, fluctuates at consistent intervals. If a person is electrocuted for instance, by alternating current, the current penetrates and exits the body at steady intermissions meaning that the individual can pull out the part of their body experiencing shock as the current moves to zero. However, if a person is shocked by a direct current, the current flows continuously into the body.
It is important to note that both AC and DC can be perilous to the body, enough to kill if ample amounts pass through; So, whichever you are working with, ensure all safety measures are adhered to.