AC Full Form - What is the Full Form of AC?

AC full form is alternating current and it's a form of electric current that changes direction and magnitude periodically. This form of current is majorly used to operate household appliances and even in workplaces. Alternating Current is often studied as a sine wave, a typical category of the waveform that can be measured in curved lines. AC’s low-cost transmission feature made it one of the most widely used forms of electricity across the globe. If you are anxious to learn more about its characteristics, advantages, applications and pitfalls, keep reading the article.

What is the Full Form of AC?

The full form of AC is Alternating Current that keeps altering its direction, unlike a DC. Alternators act as a catalyst in utilizing AC to operate electric generators. Conversion of mechanical motion into electrical power is only possible with the help of alternators and this phenomenon has been termed as Faraday’s law.

As per Faraday’s Law, with a sudden experience of changing the magnetic field by a loop of wire, a potential difference develops. The AC generator utilizes this mechanism for producing alternating voltage.

Overview of AC

Understanding Alternating Current

If we try defining AC whose full form is alternating current, it simply stands for a category of electric current which constantly changes direction. Let’s understand its mechanism with an example, suppose you want to attach an ammeter to a circuit using AC, you will notice that the reading begins from zero and gradually reaches the maximum level and finally drops and flows in a negative direction.

A negative sign hints towards alternation in the current flow. Though the AC form of power is widely used in appliances, sometimes it requires conversion into DC before utilizing, a laptop makes use of an AC adapter that eventually transforms into DC.

History of Alternating Current(AC Full Form)

An alternating current which is used across businesses and residences has a glorious past. Looking at the benefits it offers, many of you might grow anxious to learn the history behind the discovery of AC. So, let’s dive into it.

Nikola Tesla tried experimenting with different kinds of lighting systems and electrical resonance. During his discovery, he invented an induction motor, transformers, generators and systems that enabled the transmission of alternating current. One of the first devices that helped in transferring alternating current between the isolated circuits was William Sttanley Jr. Before the invention of transformers, Nikola used a pair of coils termed induction coils to utilize it as a transformer. 

Besides Nikola, many other scientists including George Westinghouse, John Dixon Gibbs, Lucien Gaulard and Olive Shallenger equally contributed to helping the world understand the utilization of Alternating current (AC full form). Over the years, AC systems became capable of eliminating the pitfalls of direct current systems that were used by Thomas Edison for electricity distribution across large distances. 

Studying the Salient Features of AC

AC,full form of which is alternating current, is used by a plethora of industries including households for its beneficial features. If you want to gain deeper insight into the working and functionality of this form of electric current, learning about its features and properties is vital.

Here are some of the salient features portrayed by an alternating current:

• The AC remains on a constant flow. It begins from zero and keeps increasing. After reaching the maximum limit, it returns back to zero.
• An alternating current becomes harmful because the current flows on the surface of a wire.
• AC is widely acclaimed and used by many sectors because the voltage can be altered by using a transformer. 
• It is studied in the form of sine waves. AC is measured every second in Hertz.
• It can convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, which is why home appliances like refrigerators use AC.
• As a result of low transmission cost, alternating current can be transmitted over long distances.

Difference between AC and DC

Let’s understand the difference between these two forms of current on the basis of several components or factors. 

Pros and Cons of AC

Undoubtedly, AC has become an important power source in several industries. One of the possible reasons is perhaps it's easy to convert this form of current. Well, as it is popularly said every coin has two sides, therefore let’s study the pros and cons of alternating current.

Pros:

• Rectifiers can assist in easily converting alternating current into direct current.
• ACs are useful in transmitting electric current over long distances with the help of transformers.
• This form of current is utilized across commercial as well as domestic appliances.
• Unlike DC, alternating current does not need any brushes for producing electric contact with coils.
• It is perhaps the cheapest source of power for both generating and transmitting current.
• In AC machines, the amount of copper and iron wastage is low because the alternating current is known to enhance the efficacy of appliances.

Cons:

• Using a high-voltage AC can prove pretty riskier as compared to DC.
• Thin wires are required because alternate current needs to be transferred from a conductor’s surface.
• You cannot directly charge batteries through AC.
• A high level of precaution is required when working with AC as the smallest carelessness can result in the biggest disasters.
• The alternating current does not support electrofishing and electroplating.

Therefore, it can be said that alternating current (AC full form) can be used in households; however, enough caution is required due to its continuing varying power.