Close to Home

SIXTY-CYCLE HUM

To get an idea of the sound of electricity, hum a low note. Listen for the soft buzzing sound that comes from many appliances. This is called "sixty cycle hum." All along the way from the power plant’s generators to our homes, electrical equipment hums this same note. This is the sound of alternating current (AC) which is produced as electricity swings back and forth from positive to negative voltage sixty times each second.

Back to Making Megawatts Tour

List of All Close to Home Activities