What type of current does a typical home outlet provide?

A typical home outlet provides alternating current (AC). This type of current changes direction periodically, which is suitable for powering household appliances and devices. The standard frequency in most homes is 60 hertz in the United States and 50 hertz in many other countries, meaning the current alternates direction 60 or 50 times per second.

Alternating current is preferred for home use because it is more efficient for long-distance transmission and can easily be transformed to different voltages, making it adaptable for various applications. This allows electrical energy to travel over great distances without significant losses, making it practical for the way electricity is generated at power plants and distributed to homes.

In contrast, direct current (DC) flows in a single direction and is typically used in batteries and low-voltage applications. Pulsating current refers to a type of DC that varies in strength and direction, which is not what standard home wiring provides. Static current doesn't fit the context of electrical outlets, as it refers more to an accumulation of electric charge on a surface rather than a flow of electricity through a circuit.