DC Circuit Analysis

In electrical engineering, understanding the differences between Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) is essential. This tutorial compares AC vs DC characteristics, behavior, storage, applications, and waveform patterns.

Direct Current (DC)	Alternating Current (AC)
Type: Pure and pulsating.	Type: Sinusoidal, Trapezoidal, Triangular, Square
In DC, the flow of electric charge is uni-directional, maintaining a constant polarity.	In AC, the direction of the current reverses periodically.
Direct current can be stored in batteries.	Alternating current cannot be stored.
DC voltage remains constant over time, which makes it suitable for powering electronic devices.	The voltage and current in AC systems oscillate sinusoidally.
The frequency of direct current is zero.	The frequency of alternating current is 50Hz or 60Hz depending on the country.
DC is commonly used in electronics, batteries, and low-voltage applications.	AC is commonly used in household electrical systems, industrial machinery, and power distribution grids.