Magnetic field

The properties of circuits of alternating current

Alternating current allows the manipulation of electricity in ways that would be difficult to achieve with direct current. The figure attached is a drawing of a transformer, which is capable of altering the electromotive force of a generator. To understand how it works, let us first examine the following visual to find out how one circuit can affect another.

Then click on to find out about the laws of transformers.

In addition to this effect, alternating current also behaves differently from direct current in coils and capacitors. The study of these effects is undertaken at higher levels, but we can see some of the main features in the visual , which includes a resistance, a coil and a capacitor.

	Natural magnets
	Lines of force
	Magnets and currents
	Conclusions

	on a charged particle
	on a straight cable
	on a loop
	Conclusions

	by a charged particle
	by a rectilinear current
	by a coil
	An explanation of natural magnetism
	Conclusions

	Magnetic flux
	The laws of Faraday and Lenz
	Self-induction
	Conclusions

	The generation of alternating currents
	A circuit of alternating current
	Conclusions