Hydro-Québec's Home Page Learning Home Page Hydro-Québec, Learning Section
Learning Home Page
Back to What is Electricity?

  Direct Current and Alternating Current
   

Most of the electricity you use on a daily basis is alternating current. But there's another kind: direct current.
Link: Watch the video
     

Image: Direct current

  

Image: Alternating current
     

In direct current, the electrons always move in the same direction.

 

In alternating current, the electrons move in both directions because they are influenced alternately by the north and south poles of a magnet. In fact, alternating current changes direction 120 times per second!
     

Next >>>
Top of page