Direct Current versus Alternating Current

This animation contrasts the motion of conventional charge in AC and DC circuits.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• engineering
• physical
• science
• circuits
• electricity
• AC
• DC

[combzcombz]

i was going to use this animation for my class, until i realized you showed the electron movement going from positive to negative. fail

[mrg3]

@combzcombz I use conventional current flow as the visual element for all my animations involving electric current. In my 20+ years of teaching, I have found that harping on the actual motion of the negative charge carriers (which has absolutely NO significance in circuit analysis) leads to MORE confusion. Franklin's ill fated 50/50 choice on sign conventions for electric charge has led to many a student heartache. Perhaps you could clue your students in to some historical perspective.

[MBC022]

so those plugs that can only be plugged one way are for DC devices

and the ones that can be plugged either way are AC?

and whats that third hole for? ground?? which i think DC devices wouldn't need cause the negative pole would be the ground

[mrg3]

@MBC022 Polarized two prong plugs are for AC and have one side tied to the ac voltage and the other side tied to electrical ground. For safety, you have the chassis inside the device tied to the ground side. If the plug is plugged in backwards or the outlet is wired backwards, you get the chassis wired "hot", which presents a hazard if the device case is opened. I believe the three prong plugs are an older version, with the third round prong being the ground.

[Stanislavs1]

so thats why you can mix up + or - in an AC system, and it will still work? how about DC, will it still work if you mix up + and -?

[mrg3]

@Stanislavs1 AC you can mix switch sides, with DC it will depend upon the application. A light bulb will work with DC in either polarity but a motor might run backwards.

[Hb35Jazz]

Isn't electrons movin from the minus to the plus on the battery?

[combzcombz]

@szederp Haha funny how much it upsets you bud.

[Szederp]

@combzcombz Haven't heard of conventional current flow? Wow, how hard you fail, it is really pathetic. Why is it that it is always morons like you try to lecture others? Don't answer!

[rasputozen]

Quick question... how would AC current make it all the way around a circuit that is very long (let's say a million miles) if it continually goes forward and back?

Thanks in advance!!

[rasputozen]

Wow, finally what I was looking for to understand AC as compared to DC... Thank you sir!!!!!!!!!

[anfobomb]

qiuck question! how to i make 12dc to 12AC (around 50hz)??

[dressedtosmellgood]

@mrg3 alternatively, read the tao te ching for a different perspective

[jasarite]

@SuperKmach Current would be measured in watts or amps is a measurement of electron flow

[jishan22]

@combzcombz Just reverse the video using Windows Movie Maker or any other video editing program.

[Sebeerful]

@SParenotEMO see on the AC the circle with the squiggle line in it the top is positive and the bottom is negative the sine wave alternates between positive and negative

[MrAbbeyisa]

Thank you for this information.