Electricity

[Jenz08]

What is the main difference between alternating current (A.C.) produced by a generator and a direct current (D.C.) supplied by a battery?!

[ChuckFickens]

Alternating Current (AC) flows one way, then the other way, continually reversing direction whereas Direct current (DC) always flows in the same direction,

So AC doesn't have a plus and minus, the + and - reverse 50times a second (in the UK as we have 50hz mains)

AC looks like this

http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/images/ac.gif

and DC like this

http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/images/dcsteady.gi f

(BTW a generator puts out DC volts generally not AC to produce AC voltage you use an alternator )

[Jenz08]

Thanks, thats a great help :)

[rojash]

"a generator puts out DC volts generally not AC to produce AC voltage you use an alternator"

So how come cars have alternators, and electric companies have generators?

[ChuckFickens]

power stations typically have turbo-alternators that are just known as "generators", car alternators have a rectifying circuit in them so they ultimately put out DC, but they initially produce AC.