Direct Current

Whenever the flow of electric current takes place at a constant time rate, practically unvarying and in the same direction around the circuit. The terms universally accepted are d-c voltage or d-c current.

The d-c voltage of 1.5v positive polarity, and 1.0v negative polarity is shown below

a) GRAPHIC representation of d-c voltages with positive and negative polarity

b). CIRCUIT SYMBOL- representation of BATTERY SOURCE

Alternating Current- whenever the flow of current is periodically varying in time and in direction, as indicated by the symmetrical positive and negative loops or sine waves as in the figure 2, it is called an alternating current.

c). Alternating current

d). Fully rectified

e). Half-rectified a-c

f). fully-rectified and filtered a-c approaches the wave form of true d-c as shown in a)