Current & Voltage Course

Lesson 15 of 16: Types of Voltage

Move step by step through the course and keep track of where you are.

SIMULATION

Types of Voltage

Compare DC voltage and AC voltage side by side. DC voltage stays steady, while AC voltage changes in a repeating pattern over time.

Mode

Running

DC Current

2.00 A

AC RMS

7.07 V

Core idea

DC voltage gives a steady push. AC voltage gives a push that rises, falls, and reverses direction over time.

Legend Voltage (V) Current (I)

Simple idea

One voltage type stays steady. The other voltage type keeps changing, so it needs extra ideas like RMS and frequency.

Try the DC voltage

Adjust the steady DC source and see how the push and current stay stable.

10 V
5 Ohm
DC View
1. DC Voltage (Direct Current)

Voltage stays constant and current flows in one direction.

DCBattery+DC Supply12RESISTORakLEDVoltage: 10.0VCurrent: 2.00A
DC Waveform012345Time (s)Voltage (V)Current (I)
What to notice

Voltage

10.00 V

Current

2.00 A

Observation

The voltage push stays steady, so the current also stays steady with time.

Try the AC signal

Change the peak voltage, frequency, and resistance to see how AC keeps alternating.

10 V
1 Hz
5 Ohm
AC View
2. AC Voltage (Alternating Current)

Voltage changes direction periodically and creates an alternating current pattern.

ACSourceAC Source12RESISTORakLEDPeak: 10.0VRMS Current: 1.41A
AC Waveform012345Time (s)Voltage (V)Current (I)
What to notice

Voltage RMS

7.07 V

Current RMS

1.41 A

Observation

The voltage push keeps changing with time, so the current pattern also keeps changing.