Question regarding historical basics

Thread Starter

Jack Handley

Joined Jan 22, 2008
1
Have been searching for answer to this question for some time:

Why is DC called so? Surely the first experimenters with static and galvanic and battery electricity didn't use that term. A distinction was necessary, or useful, only when AC was discovered. Therefore, why was not battery electric flow called "regular", basic","steady", or some such? What does "direct" describe?
 

Ron H

Joined Apr 14, 2005
7,063
According to Wikipedia, direct current was previously called galvanic current. I agree that "direct" is not very descriptive. How about "unidirectional"?:D
 

beenthere

Joined Apr 20, 2004
15,819
Or unipolar current. I would bet that until AC (alternating current does make sense) came along, it was just electricity. DC rolls off the tongue a bit better, and compares with AC.
 
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