Some of the questions that we will try to answer here are;
- What is the key difference between the two currents?
- Which of the two currents is more powerful?
- Which of the two currents is more cost-efficient?
When the electrons move from one place to another, then there is a flow of electricity. The direction of the electrons determines the key difference between the two forms of current or electricity.
AC vs DC Current
The main difference between AC and DC currents is that the Direct current is steady and unidirectional i.e. the flow of electrons is always in the forward direction. However, the Alternating current flows in multiple directions i.e. the movement of electrons is first in forward and then in the backward direction.
Also, as a fun fact you should know that Alternating Current is the most viable option for transferring electricity from one point to another.
Comparison Table Between AC and DC (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of Comparison | AC Current | DC Current |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | An Alternating Current reverses the direction of the flow of electrons while flowing in the electric circuit. | The Direct Current is unidirectional with the flow of electrons inside the electrical circuit. |
| Variants | Square, Triangular, Circular, Sinusoidal Wave form etc. | This is pulsating in nature and pure by form. |
| Source of Generation | All the Alternating Current Generators and mains are the key sources of AC currents. | All the cells or batteries are the key sources for Direct Current generation. |
| Electron Movement and Direction | The electrons keep on changing the direction of flow i.e. forward and backward direction. | The electron movement is unidirectional i.e. the flow is only in the forward direction. |
| Current Magnitude | The magnitude of Alternating current varies with time. | The magnitude of Direct Current does not vary with time. |
| Power Factor | The Power factor for AC fluctuates between 0 and 1. | The Power factor value for direct current is always 1. |
What is AC or Alternating Current?
An
Alternating Current is defined by the flow of electrons inside an electric
circuit that changes their directions periodically. It is the source of power
for the following industries;
- Houses of people and other neighbors.
- Offices and Work locations.
- Buildings or nearby apartments.
- The main source of power for electric motors.
- It can be used for voltage control in transformers.
AC could be easily produced with the help of a device called the Alternator that generates the Alternating Currents. To generate it, we need a source of the magnetic field.
Inside the source, a loop of wire will be spun and electrons will start flowing in one direction.
The
wire rotation can be generated via any turbine or electric motor as the source.
Due to different magnet ports inside the wire, the direction of electrons keeps
on changing repeatedly and thus results in 9V AC generation.
What is DC or Direct Current?
A Direct Current is defined by the flow of electrons inside an electric circuit that flows unidirectional i.e. in the forward direction.
This is also governed by the flow of electrons from a negative pole to the positive pole of the magnet.
The major disadvantage of DC is that it is unable to travel to long distances as it begins to lose its energy. Also, the frequency of DC will always be zero (0).
The
flow of electrons is always from the area of superior electron density to a
zone where the electron density is relatively lower.
To
the change, the direction and voltage of DC are relatively expensive and
difficult to achieve. This makes it a poor choice for long-distance voltage
transmissions.
In
today’s world, most of the computer accessories and devices use DC such as any
solid-state equipment would consume up to 14 V of DC.
The best real-life example of Direct Current is batteries that are used everywhere nowadays. All the batteries have 2 terminals i.e. positive and negative terminals.
The current will flow between the 2 terminals of the battery and DC will be generated.
Some
of the common applications of DC are;
- Charging Batteries
- Automotive Appliances
- Aircraft application and charging
- Other Low voltage and low current devices.
Marine
DC High Voltage lines are a very feasible option because in subsea environment
AC is not the best possible option.
In such cases, the electricity is first produced in AC form and then transmitted to DC form via different electric cables.
Later at the destination, the current is again converted to AC for regular use. Thus, conversion from AC to DC is relatively cheap and easy but vice versa is a costly deal.
Main Differences Between AC and DC
Although
both are methods of electricity or voltage transfer there exist a lot of
differences between AC and DC when it comes to the flow and properties of
electrons.
- AC reverses its direction while flowing while DC always flows steadily and uniformly.
- DC is the current that has constant magnitude while AC has a magnitude that varies with time.
- The passive parameters for alternating current are Impedance while resistance is the parameter for direct current.
- DC has a power factor value of 1 while for DC the value fluctuates between 0 and 1 respectively.
- The frequency of DC will always be zero. But the frequency of alternating current varies from 50 Hz to 60 Hz.
- AC is 2 directional while DC is always unidirectional i.e. the electrons only move from high-density electron side to low-density electron location.
Conclusion
It
doesn’t matter which of the two currents is better as both have their own set
of positives and negatives.
We
have learned that AC can be converted easily to DC by using an Adapter or
similar tool but vice versa is not easy and this is what makes DC poor choice
for long-distance voltage transfer.
But
all in all both AC and DC currents are great tools electricity transfer from
one location to another.
References
- https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Direct_current
- https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/DC-direct-current
- https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/chpt-1/what-is-alternating-current-ac/