Difference Between AC and DC Current (AC Vs DC Current)
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Hello friends! Welcome back to ElectroDuino. In the previous tutorials, we have learned What is Alternating Current or AC Current and What is Direct Current or DC Current. This blog is based on the In Electricity What is the Difference Between AC and DC Current (AC vs DC Current).
.The Major Differences between Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) are given in the Below Table
| Alternating Current (AC) | Direct Current (DC) | |
| Definition | In alternating current, the flow of electric current changes its direction periodically. The electric current flows forward and backward direction periodically. | In direct current, the flow of electric current does not change its direction. The electric current flows only in one direction, either forward or backward direction. |
| The Direction of Electric charge flows | The flow of electric charge (Electrons) changes its direction (forward and backward) periodically. | The flow of electric charge (Electrons) does not change its direction (flow only one direction). |
| The Direction of current flow | The flow of current changes its direction periodically because the flow of electric charge changes its direction periodically. | The current flows in only one direction because the flow of electric charge does not change its direction (flow only one direction). |
Differences between Symbol | ||
| Magnitude of Current | In AC current, the magnitude of the current varying between high and low at regular intervals of time. | In DC current, the magnitude of the current remains the same (constant magnitude). |
| Frequency | It has a specific frequency. The frequency of the alternating current is usually 50 or 60 Hz depending upon the country. | Direct Current has no frequency. This means its frequency is equal to zero (0). |
| Waveform | The AC current waveform can be represented by sine wave, square wave, triangular wave, or sawtooth wave. | DC current Waveform is represented by a single line, pulsating wave, or pure wave. |
| Power Factor | It has a specific frequency. That’s why the power factor is always Lies between 1 and 0. | It has no frequency. That’s why the power factor is always 1. |
| Differences between Source Symbol | ||
| Polarity of Current Source | There is no fixed polarity in AC Source because the polarity is changed periodically. | There is fixed polarity in the DC source, Positive or Anode (+), and Negative or cathode (-). |
| Conversion between AC and DC | A rectifier circuit is used to converting AC into DC. | An inverter is used to converting DC into AC |
| Storage | This type of current cannot be stored. | This type of current can be easily stored in a battery. |
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