1 Answer
Yes, electrons do flow in an alternating current (AC), but their motion is different from the flow of electrons in direct current (DC).
In DC, electrons flow in one direction, from the negative side to the positive side of the power source, creating a steady flow of electric charge.
In AC, the direction of electron flow changes periodically. The electrons move back and forth, reversing direction many times per second. This reversal happens because the voltage changes polarity (switches between positive and negative) in a sinusoidal pattern. In typical household AC, this happens 50 or 60 times per second (50 Hz or 60 Hz, depending on where you are in the world).
So, while electrons in AC still move, they don’t travel in a single direction as they do in DC. Instead, they oscillate back and forth within the wire, transferring energy to the electrical devices connected to the circuit.
In DC, electrons flow in one direction, from the negative side to the positive side of the power source, creating a steady flow of electric charge.
In AC, the direction of electron flow changes periodically. The electrons move back and forth, reversing direction many times per second. This reversal happens because the voltage changes polarity (switches between positive and negative) in a sinusoidal pattern. In typical household AC, this happens 50 or 60 times per second (50 Hz or 60 Hz, depending on where you are in the world).
So, while electrons in AC still move, they don’t travel in a single direction as they do in DC. Instead, they oscillate back and forth within the wire, transferring energy to the electrical devices connected to the circuit.