Alternating Currents and Voltages

When a battery is connected to a resistor, charge flows through the resistor in one direction only. If you want to reverse the direction of the current, you have to interchange the battery connections. However, the magnitude of the current will remain constant. Such a current is called direct current.

A current whose magnitude changes continuously and direction changes periodically, is said to be an alternating current.

In general, alternating voltage and currents are mathematically expressed as

V = V_m cos ωt

I = I_m cos ωt

V_m and I_m are known as the peak values of the alternating voltage and current respectively.

The root mean square (rms) values of V and I are given as

V_rms = V_m/√2 = 0.707 V_m

I_rms = I_m/√2 = 0.707 I_m

The relation between V and I depends on the circuit elements present in the circuit.