Alternating Currents

Current That Is Changing All the Time

Key Concepts
A direct current travels in one direction only. In alternating currents the direction of charge flow is changing all the time. The change in direction from forwards to backwards to forwards again is called a cycle. In Europe there are 50 cycles every second.

+V0 AC waveform

DC from a battery

Time (s) -V0

One complete alternation is called a cycle (NOT wavelength). The frequency is the number of cycles per second. Units are hertz (Hz). The period is the time taken for one cycle. It is measured in seconds. f = 1/T. The current follows exactly the same wave form as voltage.

Why AC?
AC and DC are equally good at heating, lighting, or running motors. DC is essential for chemical processes such as electrolysis. Low voltage DC is used in electronic devices. AC is much more easily distributed than DC.

Root Mean Square Value

The values of voltage and current are constantly changing in AC, unlike in DC in which they are steady. We can measure AC voltages in two ways: Measure the peak to peak voltage, easily done on a cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO). Measure the root mean square (rms) value, or the effective value.

RMS Value
We use the rms value because its use allows us to do electrical calculations as if they were direct currents. We measure the rms value with a voltmeter or ammeter.

Relationship Between Peak Value and RMS Value Irms = I0 2

Voltage
Peak Voltage

Vrms = V0 2
RMS voltage

Time

Vrms = 0.71 Vpk

Cathode Ray Oscilloscope (CRO)

Time base
Display

Y-gain My tie Channel1 Channel 2

Reading the CRO 1

Peak-toPeak voltage

Time Period (ms)

To get the time period you need to measure this distance and convert it to time by multiplying by the time base setting

Reading the CRO 2

The total height of the wave from peak to trough is 6.4 cm Vpk to pk= 12.8 V V0 = 6.4 V

6.4 cm

1 cycle occupies 2.8 cm T = 1.40 ms = 1.40 10-3 s Frequency = 1 1.40 10-3 s = 714 Hz

2.8 cm The time base controls are set at 5 ms/cm The voltage gain is set at 2 V/cm

Summary
Mains electricity is always AC. In Europe it is at a frequency of 50 Hz. AC waveforms have peak voltage and RMS voltage. VRMS = 0.7 VPk

AC waveforms can be studied with a CRO.