What does 60hz alternating current do?

Answer 1

Direct current (DC) electrical power from a battery has no phase reversal of the electron flow in the electrical circuit. Electrons always flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the battery in the wires of the circuit.

In alternating current (AC), there is a periodic reversal of the flow of electrons (e.g. current) through the wires of the circuit. 60 Hertz refers to the frequency of that reversal of flow. 60 Hz is equal to 60 cycles per second. So AC current from your wall socket in the United States is reversing directions 60 times each second. The cycling is caused by design of the generators used in the power plants that produce the electricity. The current (polarity) reverses direction 120 times each second. Twice in each cycle on a 60 Hz system. Once to the positive and then once to the negative in one cycle.

Answer 2

Alternating current is the normal supply used in industry and homes, it means the voltage is varying regularly following what is known as a sinusoidal wave. This is the way electricity is generated at the power station, and in the US it is controlled to run at 60 hertz, that is 60 cycles per second. This rate of cycling depends on the speed of rotation of the generator, if it is 3600 rpm, then we have 60 revs per second which is what determines the ac frequency.

In other countries it is mostly produced at 50 hertz by running the generators at 3000 rpm. This applies in Europe, Australia, and most other countries. Many appliances will operate quite happily on both 60 and 50 hz, but obviously something like a synchronous electric clock will only give the correct time on the frequency it is designed for.

Answer 3

Direct current (DC) electrical power from a battery has no phase reversal of the electron flow in the electrical circuit. Electrons always flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the battery in the wires of the circuit.

In alternating current (AC), there is a periodic reversal of the flow of electrons (e.g. current) through the wires of the circuit. 60 Hertz refers to the frequency of that reversal of flow. 60 Hz is equal to 60 cycles per second. So AC current from your wall socket in the United States is reversing directions 60 times each second. The cycling is caused by design of the generators used in the power plants that produce the electricity. The current (polarity) reverses direction 120 times each second. Twice in each cycle on a 60 Hz system. Once to the positive and then once to the negative in one cycle.

Answer 4

60 Hertz Alternating Current means there is electricity available between at least two connections, or one connection and a plane -- that is continuously changing from a positive to a negative state at a rate of 120 transitions per second.

Answer 5

It can have any frequency, up to maybe 100 GHz ... the highest frequency that we can presently

build a circuit to generate.

In North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, and a few other countries, the commercial utility power ...

the power you get out of the wall outlet to run your household appliances ... is 60 Hz AC.

Answer 6

it means 50 cycle per second or 60 cycle per second change of pole 50 or 60 times per second

Answer 7

It is an alternating current that switches its polarity 60 times in a second. 60 Hertz is the frequency that electricity is generated in the U.S.