AC-VOLTAGE
To allow for comparison between AC- and
DC sources, the voltage of an AC source
is characterised by its effective value
instead of its amplitude. The effective
value of an AC-voltage with amplitude x, is
the voltage y of a DC-voltage that causes
the same energy dissipation as the
AC-voltage with amplitude x. Our well
known 230 volts AC line supply in fact
delivers a sinusoidal voltage with an
amplitude of 325 volts, giving the same
dissipation as a 230 volts DC supply
would do.
