Science Common Sense

632 - How does alternating current (AC) differ from direct current (DC)?

Imagine water flowing through a hose.

• Direct Current (DC) is like water flowing in one direction through the hose, never changing direction.
• Alternating Current (AC) is like water flowing back and forth through the hose, changing direction many times a second.

In other words, DC flows in one direction only, while AC changes direction constantly, usually many times per second.