After
reading this section you will be able to do
the following:
Explain
what DC stands for and what it means.
Define
what a good source of DC would be.
Now that we have a fairly good understanding
of basic electricity terms and concepts, let's take a closer look
at some more details of the electrical current itself.
The battery we have been using for
a current/voltage source generates direct current, which simply
means the current flows in only one direction.
As long as electrons are flowing through
the atoms of the circuit, work is being done. We can see that
work is being done in this circuit because it lights the light
bulb. The actual amount of electrons that are flowing is determined
by the type and size of the battery as well as by the size and
type of the light bulb. We could reverse the polarity of the battery
by switching the contacts (wires), and the current would flow
in the opposite direction and the bulb would still light.
Either way the battery is connected to the circuit, current can
only flow in one direction. Direct current (DC) can also
be generated by means other than batteries. Solar cells, fuel
cells, and even some types of generators can provide DC current.
Review
DC,
or direct current means the electrical current is flowing in
only one direction in a circuit.
Batteries
are a good source of direct current (DC).
