Electrolysis Practice Exam

What do we call current that flows in one direction and then reverses?

1. Pulsating current

2. Constant current

3. Alternating current

4. Direct current

The correct answer is: Alternating current

The term used to describe current that flows in one direction and then reverses is alternating current. This form of electric current periodically changes its direction, flowing first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. This alternating behavior is critical in various applications, particularly in power systems where electrical energy is transmitted over long distances. In contrast, direct current is a type of current that flows consistently in a single direction, making it different from alternating current. Constant current refers to a situation where the current maintains a steady value without fluctuations, while pulsating current typically describes a type of direct current that has some variation in its amplitude but does not reverse direction like alternating current does. Therefore, the correct label for current that alternates direction is indeed alternating current.