Difference between AC and DC Current Explained | AddOhms #5

What is the difference between AC and DC?

AC and DC current explained by James the Bald Engineer. Using simple circuits for each type of electricity, you will learn why they are different.

[AddOhms]

AC Motors use Induction. The coils around the stator (stationary part) create a magnetic field that induces a current on the rotor (spinning part.) The two fields react and cause movement. Since AC is "moving" back and forth, it creates a rotation.


Neither AC nor DC are "better." AC is used for Mains because > 100 years ago, it was cheaper to step it up to high voltages and down to 100/200 volts for use in homes. That's it. And don't forget, "AC" does NOT just mean "Mains" voltage. All signals contain both an AC and DC component.

[christophermacapagal]

I've always been confused about AC and DC my entire life, and it's been explained to me in just 4 minutes. Thank you!

[webchimp]

A little clarity on the lightbulb example used. An incandescent lightbulb has a certain amount of latency in the way it works, so when the voltage drops towards zero the filament takes time to cool and so still emits light for a while.

This latency is long enough that before it can dim significantly the voltage has had time to increase on the other side of the sine wave and heats up the filament again. This smooths out any flickering that may occur.

If you switch an LED at the same rate (50/60 hertz) you may notice some flickering.

Note: the incandescent bulb is actually being lit 100/120 hz rather than 50/60 hz as it lights on both halves of the sine wave or twice a second.

The LED only works with current in one direction so this wastes half of the power.

[TheKingOfHeartsIV]

In a world where professors and textbooks love to explain things in a complicated way, this video has been simple and easy to understand.

[billgibson]

A 64 year old and clueless about electricity. I've had a multi-meter in a drawer in my garage for years and I'm going to figure out how to use it today. By the end of the week, maybe I'll be an electrical engineer - or at least I'll be able to screw in a light bulb.

[physicsgirl]

Really nice clear video! A few small things: the bulb would flash 2x the frequency of the current (so 100x for 50Hz, or 120x for 60Hz.) And an incandescent lightbulb won't flash because they're electricity -> heat -> light, and the cycle is too fast for the filament to cool down in between cycles. Whereas a LED light will flicker because it's electricity -> light. This explanation would be perfect for something like an LED bulb.

[Bloxnz]

just used this video to explain the differences to my son, the use of graphs and examples (and the way it is explained)  is ideal for young minds, thanks

[johnv.]

What a great F-ing find!!! This channel goes above and beyond to teach and the little extra effort really shows! Thank you!

[notme]

This explains why slow motion videos are always flickering!!

[redsyrup]

Best demonstration and explanation I've ever seen on AC/DC. Well done sir! I hope more people see this.

[TheChicanapride]

It was very easy to comprehend . the color plus images are what made things come into perspective . thanks !!

[raisazirus]

Thanks for making me understand ac volt / current after these 3 long years of darkness . This is the only one vdo on you tube in which the narrator actually understands AC flow. LOVED

[oneman]

thank you for explaining the difference between ac and dc current :)

[MichelleWynn-hqju]

I just watched this video as part of my prep before I attend a home inspector course. I know nothing about electricity. This was very clear and easy to understand. Now I know why my videos with Christmas trees in the background often show flickering lights that I don't see with my eyes.

[kennethpanto]

I’m 16 taking college and high school classes about pretty much all of this and this video actually helped a lot ! 😃

[theokingshango]

only real explanation of "direct" and "alternating" out there. wikipedia and quora couldnt handle this, cant explain invisible things without an animaton, thanks!

[amandadarkwood]

This is the clearest video on ac and dc thank you🙏

[randoms]

Thank You this was very helpful more than the hundreds of different websites I visited in attempt to learn this when I come to your video and learn everything I learned in those websites and more in four minutes.

[shade]

This video was well constructed and very informative. Kudos, thanks.

[bananatiger]

Thanks for making it quick and simple.