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Also see current, voltage, and direct current. In electricity, alternating current (AC) occurs when charge carriers in a conductor or semiconductor periodically reverse their direction of movement. Household utility current in most countries is AC with a frequency of 60 hertz (60 complete cycles per second), although in some countries it is 50 Hz. The radio-frequency (RF) current in antennas and transmission lines is another example of AC. An AC waveform can be sinusoidal, square, or sawtooth-shaped. Some AC waveforms are irregular or complicated. An example of sine-wave AC is common household utility current (in the ideal case).
Alternating current changes direction on a set frequency such as 50 Hz, 60 Hz or 400 Hz. Direct current always flows in one direction. 12 people found this useful. Edit. Share to: Dave Woodruff. 28,645 Contributions. Passion, is the electrical trade. Downfall, is being a perfectionist.