DIRECT CURRENT AND ALTERNATING CURRENT
The electron flow is direct current because it has just one direction. The reason for the
unidirectional current is that the battery maintains the same polarity of output
voltage.
It is the flow of charges in just one direction and the fixed polarity of applied
voltage that are the characteristics of a dc circuit. Actually, the current can be a
motion of positive charge, rather than electrons, but the conventional direction of
current does not change the fact that direct current has just one direction.
Furthermore, the dc voltage source can change the amount of its output voltage, but if
the polarity is maintained, direct current will flow in just one direction, meeting the
requirements of a dc circuit. A battery is a steady dc voltage source because it has
fixed polarity and irs output voltage is a steady value.
An alternating voltage source periodically reverses or alternates in polarity.
The resulting alternating current, therefore, periodically reverses in direction. In term
of electron flow, the current always flows from the negatives terminal of the voltage
source, through the circuit, and back to the positive terminal, but when the generator
alternatives in polarity. The current must reverse its direction. The 60-cycles ac power
line used in most homes is a common example. This frequency means that the voltage
polarity and current direction go through 60 cycles of reversal per second.
The unit for 1 cycle per second is 1 hertz (hz). Therefore 60 cycles, per second
is a frequency of 60 Hz.
Direct-current circuits are analyzed first because they usually are simpler.
However, the principles of dc circuit also apply to ac circuits. Both types are important,
as most electronic circuits include ac voltages in order to amplify an AC signal voltage.
COMPARISON OF dc Voltage and AC Voltage
DC VOLTAGE AC VOLTAGE
Fixed polarity Reverses in polarity
Can be steady or vary in Varies between reversals in
Magnitude Polarity
Steady value cannot be stepped Can be stepped up or down for
Up or down by a transformer electrical power distribution
Electrode voltages for signal input and output for
Amplifier amplifier
Easier to measure easier to amplify
Bernard Grob basic electron
VOCABULARIES
Charges : muatan listrik
Maintains : perawatan
Reverse : berbalik
Steady : stabil atau tetap
Electrode : kutub battery
Question
1. What is a direct current?
2. What are the characteristics of DC circuits?
3. Based on the comparison table, what are the characteristic of the application
that use DC circuit?
4. Why is a battery called a steady DC voltage source?
5. How does an electron flow in alternating voltage source?
6. Based on the comparison table,
a. What are the advantages of DC circuits?
b. What are the advantages of AC circuits?
7. Why are DC circuits and ac circuits necessary?
Answer
1.Direct Current or DC can also be called direct electric current. Initially the
flow of DC current is said to flow from the positive to the negative pole.
However, after a lot of research conducted by experts, DC electric current
flows from negative to positive poles.
2.The characteristics of DC currents include: 1) The value of the electric
current is always constant or constant with changes in time; 2) The polarity is
always fixed at each terminal
3.Fixed polarity,Can be steady or vary in ,
Magnitude,Steady value cannot be stepped,
Up or down by a transformer,Electrode voltages for,
Amplifier,Easier to measure,
4.because the battery has a positive and negative pole
5.because of the potential difference
6.A.Direct current (DC) can be stored and ready to use at any time,
B.AC current can supply electricity to distant places because this current is
tolerant of resistance
7.because the ac dc circuit has advantages and disadvantages of each in the
world of electricity, it cannot be free in everyday life
