What type of current is primarily used in power transmission?

The type of current primarily used in power transmission is Alternating Current (AC). AC is preferred for power transmission over long distances due to several key advantages.

One major benefit is that AC can be easily transformed to higher voltages, which significantly reduces energy losses during transmission. High voltage transmission minimizes the current flowing through the conductors, resulting in lower resistive losses according to the formula ( P = I^2R ), where ( P ) is power loss, ( I ) is current, and ( R ) is resistance. By using AC, utilities can step up the voltage for long-distance transmission and then step it down again before distribution to consumers.

Additionally, AC generators and motors are generally simpler and more cost-effective to construct and maintain compared to their DC counterparts. This widespread infrastructure supports the use of AC in virtually all modern electrical grids, making it the standard for power transmission.

The other options, while they may have specific uses, do not offer the same advantages for large-scale power distribution. For example, Direct Current (DC) is used for certain applications, such as in batteries and electronic devices, but it is less practical for long-distance transmission due to much higher energy losses compared to AC. Universal Current (UC)