In a previous article, we learnt the importance of alternating currents (also known as AC) and its role of transmitting electricity over long distances. In this article, we will learn the physics behind generating AC. Then, we will explore how transformers work and we can answer the question that was left hanging in the previous article: why can AC be transformed, and not direct current (DC)?  How is AC generated?  The process of AC generation relies on  the conversion of mechanical energy to...

Psychology is the study of human behaviour. It explores why we think and feel the way we do. What motivates us to behave in the way we do? Why do people of similar backgrounds behave differently from one another? In 1943, a psychologist named Abraham Maslow published a paper titled “A Theory of Human Motivation”, where he attempted to explain what motivates us to pursue our different needs.  In this article, we will explore the theory commonly known as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, as Maslow...

In today’s society, many things run on electricity, such as the device you are using to read this article. These electrical devices usually have a circuit inside them, where an electric current will flow through to power the device. There are two kinds of electric currents: a direct current and an alternating current. However, why do we need two types of currents? What is the difference between the two of them? In this article, we will explore what direct and alternating currents are, and why...