Conductive materials have free electrons that move from one atom to another when a potential difference is applied within them. In relation to the direction of electrons moving in a closed circuit, electric current is mainly divided into two types: alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). Alternating current and direct current are the two main forms of charge that power our electrical and electronic world. The main differences are shown in the table below.
Alternating Current |
Direct Current |
|
Definition |
Changes its direction at regular intervals | Flows only one direction |
Direction of electron flow |
Bidirectional | Unidirectional |
Production |
Mainly synchronous generators | Batteries, solar cells, fuel cells |
Frequency |
50 or 60 Hz |
Not applicable |
Transforming |
Easily transformed to other current or voltage levels |
Impossible to raise the DC voltage and current without converting it to AC and then back to DC |
Converting |
AC is converted to DC using a rectifier |
DC is converted to AC using an inverter |
Transmission |
Easy to transmit |
Hard to transmit |
Application |
Factories, industries, domestic purposes |
Electronic equipment, specialized applications |
