# AC (Alternating Current) ![](./assets/wave.gif) A few important characteristics of an AC Signal: ## Time Period How much time passes during one cycle of the signal (until it reaches the same point it started twice) ## Frequency How many cycles the signal completes in a specified time frame. ## Amplitute The maximum voltage of the signal compared to 0 ## Peak-Peak Voltage The difference between the highest and lowest peak. ## Root Mean Square Values This helps calculating the current an equivalent DC Signal would need to provide the same amount of power. ![](./assets/rms.gif) $$ \begin{flalign} &V_{RMS} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} * V_{PEAK} &\\\ \\ &V_{PEAK} = \sqrt{2} * V_{RMS} \end{flalign} $$