One way or back and forth?
Cells give DC. The wall socket gives AC.
Two kinds of electricity
A cell can light a torch. The wall socket can run a refrigerator. Both are electricity, but they are two different kinds.
Which one do you think comes from power plants, through the wires to the wall socket?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Electricity from cells and batteries is Direct Current (DC), while electricity from power plants that reaches the wall socket is Alternating Current (AC).
Two kinds of electricity
A cell can light a torch. The wall socket can run a refrigerator. Both are electricity, but they are two different kinds.
Which one do you think comes from power plants, through the wires to the wall socket?
- The cell
- The wall socket
- Both
Label them
Watch the dots in each wire. Then label each source DC or AC. After that, sort some devices.
DC and AC
Electricity from cells and batteries is Direct Current (DC), while electricity from power plants that reaches the wall socket is Alternating Current (AC).
Keep away from wall sockets for experiments. Use only cells or batteries.
- Direct Current (DC) | Alternating Current (AC)
- Comes from | cells and batteries | power plants, to the wall socket
- Runs | small devices | larger appliances
- The current | always goes one way | keeps changing direction
Notes
Cells and batteries give DC (Direct Current). The wall socket gives AC (Alternating Current) from power plants.
Check yourself
Electricity from a cell or battery is...
The electricity that reaches the wall socket from power plants is...
Which can run larger appliances?
A "direct" current is one that...
- Alternating Current (AC). AC is the kind that reaches the wall socket.
- Direct Current (DC) — correct. Yes! Cells and batteries give DC.
- neither. It is one of the two kinds: DC.
- Direct Current (DC). DC comes from cells and batteries.
- Alternating Current (AC) — correct. Yes! The wall socket gives AC.
- Electricity from a cell. The wall socket is not a cell.
- AC from the wall socket — correct. Yes! AC can run larger appliances.
- DC from a cell, usually. DC from a cell or battery usually powers small devices.
- Neither. AC from the wall socket does.
- keeps changing direction. That is an alternating current.
- always goes the same way — correct. Yes! Direct means one direction only.
- goes in a circle. Direct current goes round the circuit, but the point is that its direction does not change.