Direct current

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Direct Current

Direct current (DC) is the unidirectional flow or movement of electric charge carriers (usually electrons). The intensity of the current can vary with time, but the general direction of movement stays the same at all times. As opposed to alternating current (AC), the direction of direct current is always constant.

Pronunciation: /dɪˈrɛkt ˈkʌrənt/

Etymology: The term "direct current" comes from the fact that the electric charge flows in one singular, direct direction.

History

Direct current was first discovered by Alessandro Volta in 1800. Volta invented the voltaic pile, the first electrical battery, which produced a reliable, steady current of electricity. This discovery led to the widespread use of direct current in the early days of electricity.

Applications

Direct current is commonly found in many low-voltage applications, especially where these are powered by batteries, which produce DC. Most electronic circuits require a DC power supply. Direct current is also used in situations where a constant power supply is required, such as charging batteries, fuel cells, and power supply units for electronic systems.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski