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Perhaps you are asking how the voltage of alternating current is measured, to be equivalent to the voltage of a direct current system.

Alternating current and direct current have distinct properties. With direct current, voltage is at a constant polarity, and a direct current voltage source will maintain a uniform, constant voltage level. Alternating current reverses polarity at a given frequency and therefore it's voltage continuously varies from a positive peak voltage level, through zero, to a negative peak voltage level, repeating this cycle continuously. For this reason, voltage of an alternating current system, is measured in root-mean-square (rms), which is a voltage, which when multiplied by the current in amperes, calculates power which is equivalent to that of direct current of the same voltage and current values.

With a typical sinusoidal waveform, the peak voltage of alternating current is divided by the square root of 2 to determine the rms voltage. The 120 volts output in the wall outlet in our home is actually about 170 peak volts.

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Q: What is term used when an Alternating current acts like a direct current?
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How do you get a 110V outlet in a car?

You will need to purchase a power inverter. An inverter changes direct current, like what is in your car, to alternating current, like in a home. You will need to know the wattage of the item you are powering in order to buy the correct sized invertor.


When charges shift from flowing one direction to another what current is there?

From your question it sounds like alternating current.


What type of current flows through an electric current?

Current is the flow of electrons. This could be DC (direct current like what you find in a battery) or AC (alternating current, what you find in a regular plug for example). Current is measured in Amperes or amps. And if you have the unfortunate chance of being shocked, amps are what could actually harm you or kill you.


How many directions does alternating current flow?

The frequency of direct current (DC) is 0 Hz. The current only flows in one direction, like the electrical system in your car. On the other hand alternating current (AC) as it suggests alternates back and forth from source to load and when graphed it looks like a sine wave. The frequency of this current can vary depending on the source and it's application. Take your house hold electrical system for example, it is AC current with a frequency of 60 Hz (in North America), which means that you will have 60 current cycles a second. There is a lot more to both AC and DC systems and their applications but that's the basic difference between the two.


Is the copper screw on a lamp holder positive or negative?

Positive and negative refers to Direct Current. House wiring has alternating current. One of the terminals will be the hot, and the other neutral. The hot should go to the small metal tip inside the center of the socket, and the neutral to the metal sleeve that the bulb screws into. Typically the copper colored or darker colored screw is the hot, and the lighter colored (silver like) is the neutral, but check with a multimeter to make sure.

Related questions

What does the letters acdc stand for in the rock band?

AC is alternating current like in your house. DC is direct current like in your car.


What is the differences between direct circuit and alternating circuit?

The main difference between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) is the direction of the electrical flow. In a direct current circuit, the flow of electrons is in one direction, from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. In an alternating current circuit, the flow of electrons changes direction periodically, typically at a fixed frequency, resulting in an oscillating current flow. AC is widely used for electrical power distribution, while DC is commonly used in batteries, electronic devices, and certain applications like electric vehicles.


What is an example of a direct current?

A direct current (DC) is the continuous flow of electric current that circulates in one direction and keep the same polarity (positive or negative). Example of direct current are batteries and generators. There are electronic devices, like computers, that work with direct current, but they require of some additions to convert alternating current to direct current.


Current that reverses direction in the regular pattern is called?

This is known as a direct current or DC. The two major types of currents are AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current). In AC the charges move back and forth, but in DC the charges flow in JUST ONE DIRECTION. Due to this characteristic it will not reverse direction like AC can.


Which type of current does lightning has?

unfortunatley i cant tell for sure what you mean because of the lack of grammer (not insalting you) but if your asking wether it has direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) like i think you are than the answer is direct current (DC)


Electric current changes direction repeatedly is called?

AC current (alternating current) like in a wall outlet


What does AC DC stand for in science?

AC or Alternating current, DC or Direct Current. DC is relative to most battery voltage systems, cars, pocket radios, so on. Alternating Current mainly relates to your household electric. Each differs in the way the electric is passed through the system, or battery. Unless your talking about the Rock Group, then I do not know there meaning or definition. Groups have there own language for things like that. It does not stand for After Christ / Devil Comes.


What is different between alternating current and direct current?

Direct current is constant - always in the same direction. Alternating current regularly changes direction; for example, in household current, 50 or 60 times (that is, full cycles) in every second.See the Related Link below for more information about the difference between alternating current and direct current.


How do you get a 110V outlet in a car?

You will need to purchase a power inverter. An inverter changes direct current, like what is in your car, to alternating current, like in a home. You will need to know the wattage of the item you are powering in order to buy the correct sized invertor.


What is a d.c motor?

A DC motor in simple words is a device that converts direct current(electrical energy) into mechanical energy. It's of vital importance for the industry today, and is equally important for engineers.


What types of current changes direction repeatedly?

AC current (alternating current) like in a wall outlet


What type of electric current changes direction?

AC current (alternating current) like in a wall outlet