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--- glossary:glossary_a [2019/09/05 22:27] – [AWG] more detail and ideas of what to expect tgerbic
+++ glossary:glossary_a [2019/09/09 08:25] – [AC] Expanded with more useful information. tgerbic
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
-Alternating Current - Generally with a sinusoidal wave form. Mains power in Britain and Europe is 230v AC at 50Hz, that is 50 complete cycles per second. USA uses 115v at 60Hz.\\
+Alternating Current. Refers to a situation where current flows back and forth through a conductor (wire) in alternating directions. Generally, the voltage being applied to the conductor has a changing (alternating) polarity so the current has to change direction related to which end of the wire is positive or negative at a given point of time. In most cases we encounter, the voltage moves in a sinusoidal wave shape centered at zero volts, though it could be centered at another point. If it is centered at another point than zero volts, it is most often referred to as having a voltage offset. An AC voltage could have another wave shape besides sinusoidal depending on the application or components it is reacting with. The rate at which it changes direction is referred to as its frequency.
+The opposite of AC is DC where the current only flows in one direction. DC will have a voltage level in only one direction, either positive or negative, referenced to a common, ground or zero volts reference point.
+Mains power in many countries such as Britain, Australia and Europe is at 230v AC at a frequency of 50Hz, that is 50 complete cycles per second. North America uses 115v at 60Hz.
+\\
 [[http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_1/1.html|http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_1/1.html]]