AC electricity involves electrons that alternate direction, flowing forwards and backwards, similar to ocean tides.
A basic generator consists of coils of wire and a rotating magnet with North and South poles, which influences electron movement in the wires.
The rotation of the magnet creates varying magnetic field intensity, pushing and pulling electrons through the copper coils as it passes.
Characteristics of AC Voltage
The voltage in AC electricity is not constant; it fluctuates from zero to peak values (positive and negative), creating a sine wave pattern.
Frequency indicates how often this sine wave repeats per second; North America typically uses 60 Hz (120 reversals), while most other regions use 50 Hz (100 reversals).
Types of AC Electricity
There are different types of AC electricity: single-phase and three-phase. Most homes use single-phase, while larger buildings may utilize three-phase systems.
In North America, split-phase electricity provides two hot wires and a neutral by splitting a single phase using a center-tap transformer.
Three-Phase Electricity Explained
Three-phase systems consist of three coils positioned 120 degrees apart within the generator, allowing them to experience peaks at different times.
This staggered timing enables efficient current flow between phases as they alternate polarity at different intervals.
