Why does alternating current (AC) need a neutral?

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I understand the concept of DC, but if electrons are just kind of moving back and forth in one place to produce an electric charge for AC, why do they say it’s necessary to have a path back to ground/ 0V if it’s not “moving” towards ground/ 0V?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

AC doesn’t need a neutral. If you’re using neutral and negative interchangeably, then yes it needs a neutral path.

Technically, electricity doesn’t move by electrons but by electromagnetic waves. They’re just really linked together. It’s a common misconception that they move by electrons. Just think about transformers (two coils separated by a gap), there is a gap there but AC can travel across that gap.

You need a complete path for the electricity to travel.

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