Re: AC electricity

[Leigh Palmer <palmer@SFU.CA>]

> I know that AC delivers energy - that is obvious.
> But I still have trouble understanding how this is possible
> since half the time the potential is positve and the other
> have it is negative.  It seems they should cancel out.
> I know and can do the rms (root mean squared - although
> shouldn't it be squared mean root) for figuring out various
> quantities, but I still don't think I have a basic
> understanding on "how" it really works.

The conceptual problem arises because you have used the term
"potential" in a case to which it does not apply. Strictly
speaking, potential is only defined for systems which do not
vary in time. "Voltage". ugly as it is, is the term of choice
for AC problems.

Leigh