Chapter 6:

Electricity and Magnetism

6.1 6.1.3 Direct current and alternating current
Generation
of 6.1.4 Solve problems related to electricity
Electricity supply in life.
 6.1.3 Direct current and alternating current

Electric current is divided into two types, direct current (d.c.) and
alternating current (a.c.).
Notes:
A solar inverter or PV inverter is a type of electrical converter which converts
the variable direct current (d.c) output of a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel into
a utility frequency alternating current (a.c) that can be fed into a commercial
electrical grid or used by a local, off grid electrical network.
Most of the electricity generators in power stations produce alternating
current (a.c).
 Cathode Ray Oscilloscope (C.R.O.)

Cathode Ray
Oscilloscope (C.R.O.) is
an electronic device that
is used to show the
differences in the shape
of graph, direction of
current and voltage
change for direct current
and alternating current.
CRO not connected to energy source.
Zero position in the centre, V=0
 CRO connected to DC source (dry cell)

Voltage reading

0
Current flow from positive terminal to negative terminal
 CRO connected to DC source (dry cell)

Flow of current in CRO has been reversed

Voltage reading
0
 CRO connected to AC source (power supply)

Voltage reading

0
 CRO connected to AC source (power supply)

Voltage reading

0
 CRO connected to AC source (power supply)

➢ Voltage produced by the power supply keeps changing. Hence, the light
spot on the screen moves up and down to produce a vertical trace on the
screen irrespective of the type of terminal connection to the C.R.O.
➢ The shape of graph on the display screen produced by the vertical and
horizontal trace made by a light spot shows continuous change in the
direction of current flow and the voltage of the alternating current.
➢ The shape of graph on the display screen in steps 13 and 15 is the
same. This shows continuous change in the direction of the current flow
and the voltage of the alternating current irrespective of the type of
terminal connection to the C.R.O.
6.1.4 Solve problems related to electricity supply in life.

Examples: