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Everything about Alternating current

Electric current that periodically reverses direction

Alternating current (AC) is an electric current that periodically reverses direction and changes its magnitude continuously with time, in contrast to direct current (DC), which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences, and it is the form of electrical energy that consumers typically use when they plug kitchen appliances, televisions, fans and electric lamps into a wall socket. The abbreviations AC and DC are often used to mean simply alternating and direct, respectively, as when they modify current or voltage. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: Alternating currentA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: Alternating Current Electroluminescence for Human‐Interactive Sensing DisplaysInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: Inventions, Researches and Writings of Nikola TeslaThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: Dispersion and Absorption in Dielectrics I. Alternating Current CharacteristicsCited 9,486 times
  5. Go sideways: Glossary of electrical and electronics engineeringA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: Electric power systemA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

Noun An electric current in which the direction of flow of the electrons reverses periodically.

🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Transmission, distribution, and domestic power supply
  2. AC power supply frequencies
  3. Effects at high frequencies
  4. Formulation
  5. Information transmission
  6. History

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

📚 Books worth reading

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

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