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“Average current” refers to the mean value of the electric current over a specific time period. Here’s how it is determined:
- Calculation: The average current is found by summing the products of the current flowing through a circuit and the duration for which each current flows, then dividing this sum by the total time considered.
- Direct Current (DC): For direct current, where the current is constant, the average current is simply the same as the current itself, as it does not change over time.
- Alternating Current (AC): For true alternating current, which varies sinusoidally over time, the average current over a full cycle is zero. This is because the positive and negative halves of the cycle cancel each other out.
In summary, while the average current for DC is constant, for AC, it is zero over a complete cycle due to the symmetrical nature of the waveform.
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