Electric current can be direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC).

In
1887 direct current (DC) was king. At that time there were 121 Edison power
stations scattered across the United States delivering DC electricity to its
customers. But DC had a great limitation -- namely, that power plants could only
send DC electricity about a mile before the electricity began to lose power. Direct
current is a bit easier to understand than alternating current. Rather than
oscillating back and forth, DC provides a constant voltage or current. Direct
current such as the power from dry cells is characterized by a uniform direction of
flow and amount (voltage) of electricity. Long ago, static electricity was the only
type of electricity known, but when batteries were invented, it became possible to
use DC electricity.
Direct current has uniform direction of flow and amount (voltage) of
electricity. DC is defined as the unidirectional flow of current; current only
flows in one direction.

Direct current or DC electricity is the continuous

movement of electrons from an area of negative () charges to an area of positive

(+) charges through a conducting material such as a metal wire. Whereas static
electricity sparks consist of the sudden movement of electrons from a negative to
positive surface, DC electricity is the continuous movement of the electrons
through a wire. In reality, there are millions of electrons weaving their way among
the atoms in the wire.

Figure 1. DC movement of electrons in wire

A DC circuit is necessary to allow the current or steam of electrons to
flow. Such a circuit consists of a source of electrical energy (such as a battery) and
a conducting wire running from the positive end of the source to the negative
terminal. Electrical devices may be included in the circuit. DC electricity in a
circuit consists of voltage, current and resistance. Voltage and current can vary
over time so long as the direction of flow does not change. To simplify things, we

will assume that voltage is a constant. For example, we assume that a AA battery
provides 1.5V, which can be described in mathematical terms as:

If we plot this over time, we see a constant voltage:

Figure 2. The plot of DC Voltage

What does this mean? It means that we can count on most DC sources to
provide a constant voltage over time. In reality, a battery will slowly lose its
charge, meaning that the voltage will drop as the battery is used. For most
purposes, we can assume that the voltage is constant.
While the plot figure of DC current:

Figure 3. The plot of DC Current

In that plot have the same explanation with voltage where It means that we
can count on most DC sources to provide a constant current over time.
DC (direct current ) can be generated in a number of ways:

1. An AC generator equipped with a device called a commutator can produce

direct current
2. Use of a device called a rectifier that converts AC to DC
3. Batteries provide DC, which is generated from a chemical reaction inside of
the battery
Using our water analogy again, DC is similar to a tank of water with a hose at the
end.

Figure 4.The analogy of DC.

The tank can only push water one way: out the hose. Similar to our DCproducing battery, once the tank is empty, water no longer flows through the
pipes.
Almost all electronics projects and parts for sale on SparkFun run on DC.
Everything that runs off of a battery, plugs in to the wall with an AC adapter, or
uses a USB cable for power relies on DC. Examples of DC electronics include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Cell phones
The LilyPad-based D&D Dice Gauntlet
Flat-screen TVs (AC goes into the TV, which is converted to DC)
Flashlights
Hybrid and electric vehicles

The battery we have been using for a current/voltage source generates direct
current, which simply means the current flows in only one direction.

Figure 5. The battery using DC.

As long as electrons are flowing through the atoms of the circuit, work is being
done. We can see that work is being done in this circuit because it lights the light
bulb. The actual amount of electrons that are flowing is determined by the type
and size of the battery as well as by the size and type of the light bulb. We could
reverse the polarity of the battery by switching the contacts (wires), and the
current would flow in the opposite direction and the bulb would still light.
Either way the battery is connected to the circuit, current can only flow in one
direction. Direct current (DC) can also be generated by means other than batteries.
Solar cells, fuel cells, and even some types of generators can provide DC current.