Alternating Current Topics

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\| The Fundamentals \| Resistance and Reactance \| Filter Concepts \| Power Supplies \|

Alternating Current Topics

Alternating current is like direct current in some ways, but it is also different, and the differences are important. Here we explore how and why it is different.

The Fundamentals: What is "alternating current" (ac)? What are its properties? And how do the different kinds of components behave when an alternating voltage and current are applied to them?
Resistance and Reactance: Since different components behave differently when ac is applied, we need to pay close attention to how these components behave in different combinations.
Filter Concepts: What do we mean by a "filter" in this context? And what are "radians," "logarithms," and "decibels?" What do these things do in an ac environment?
Power Supplies: Any electrical or electronic circuit or device requires electrical power to operate. Of course, we could just use batteries and replace or recharge them as needed. That works fine for small, portable devices such as cell phones or pocket radio receivers, but what would happen if we tried that with a microwave oven? Or even a simple toaster? Such devices must be powered from a more permanent source – generally your house wiring. If we do it right, we can also use the house wiring to power smaller devices around the home, and not have to buy all those batteries. It's not free by any means, but it will save us some money, as well as the inconvenience, time, and trouble that occur when a battery goes dead.