The alternating current in typical household electricity completes 60 cycles per second. What is the frequency in Hz?

The alternating current in typical household electricity completes 60 cycles per second. What is the frequency in Hz?

• A. 60 Hz
• B. 120 Hz
• C. 6 Hz
• D. 600 Hz

Answer: (A)

Frequency tells you how many cycles happen each second. In alternating current, one complete cycle per second equals one hertz. Since this household current completes 60 cycles every second, its frequency is 60 Hz. That’s why standard US household power is described as 60 Hz. If you ever see 120 Hz, that usually refers to the ripple frequency after full‑wave rectification, not the AC supply itself. The other numbers don’t match the actual rate of the AC cycles.

Frequency tells you how many cycles happen each second. In alternating current, one complete cycle per second equals one hertz. Since this household current completes 60 cycles every second, its frequency is 60 Hz. That’s why standard US household power is described as 60 Hz. If you ever see 120 Hz, that usually refers to the ripple frequency after full‑wave rectification, not the AC supply itself. The other numbers don’t match the actual rate of the AC cycles.