©
1988-2002 J.Paul Robinson - Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories
AC and DC
current
•DC - direct
current - the polarity of a current source remains the same when the current is DC
•AC - Alternative
current - this is generated by using a magnetic field (generator) to convert mechanical into electrical energy - the polarity changes with
motion
•AC is characterized by its frequency (f) measured in hertz (Hz) (cycles per second)
•The AC output of a generator is frequently in the form of a sine
wave - thus the voltage V(t) at any given
time (t) is related to the
maximum voltage Vmax by
•
• V(t)
= Vmax sin (2mft)
•