Alternating Current & Measurements

Alternating Current: (ac): Current of electrons that moves first in one direction and then in the
other.

Frequency (f): The number of times a periodic waveform repeats itself in a unit of time. Units of
measure are Hz (Hertz or Cycles Per Second)
Wavelength ( ): The length in space occupied by one cycle of a periodic wave.

Alternating Current and a Sinusoidal (Sine) Wave

Alternating current continually changes in

direction and size (amplitude) as shown in the
picture on your left. The picture is that of a sine
wave and it takes a specific time (t) to occur. The
time it takes to occur in one second is called it's
frequency (f). Frequency is measured in Hertz.
First, let's consider the occurance of the wave
pictured. If it took one second to go from 0 to
maximum to 0, then from 0 to minimum to 0, it's
frequency is 1 Hertz. If the wave were to take 0.20
seconds to occur, then it's frequency would be 5
Hertz. The formula for frequency (f) is 1/t , where t
is time it takes for one full cycle to occur.

The Sine Function

Notice at the very top of the picture of the wave

that there are several numbers. Those are the
angular degrees of the wave. At specific points, we
know what the size or amplitude will be due to the
predictable nature of the wave. Some of the crucial
Magnitude spots are listed in the table below the picture. Pay
particular attention to 0,180 and 360 degrees.
0.0

Angle
(inDegrees)

Magnitude

Angle
(inDegrees)

0.0

180

30

0.5

210

-0.5

45

0.707

225

-0.707

60

0.866

240

-0.866

90

1.0

270

-1.0

120

0.866

300

-0.866

135

0.707

315

-0.707

150

0.5

330

-0.5

180

0.0

360

0.0

One other measurement is important, the

wavelength ( ). It is determined by the frequency of
the wave in Hertz divided into the speed of light
(186,000 Miles/Second or about 300,000,000 (300 x
106) Meters/Second.)
Therefore:
= 300 x 106Meters/Sec./ f Cycles/Sec.
Answer is in Meters/Cycle.