In a message of , Pete Hopping (1:261/1108@fidonet.org) writes: 
 -=> Quoting Scott Huffman to Joe Nicholson <=-
 SH> no.. that does not really answer the question. It skirts it. I already
 SH> know  that we need A.C. in order to utilize transformers.. I was
 SH> referring to the  fact that direct current gets attenuated at a much
 SH> greater rate than  alternating current. Every textbook since the 1900's
 SH> mentions this. But not  one of those books has ever explained.. WHY..
 SH> (according to the textbooks, if you take a DC signal, and an AC signal
 SH> of the same power and send them along a line, tha AC signal goes much
 SH> farther).
 PH>Cuz the DC current only travels in a straight line and can't rest.
 PH>AC current gets to rest from peak-to-peak. :)
 PH>(Actually, there are a lot of things we know, but we can't explain.
 PH>We know aspirin works, but we don't know how, for instance.)
As I was told by one of my electronics teachers that AC was chosen because 
changing the voltage was as simple as putting it through a transformer.
Remember that when you raise the voltage through a transformer the current 
has to drop. the power out of transformer and the power lost in the 
transformer equal to the power into the transformer. Since the current is 
reduced the power loss gets really reduced.  That is why they have the high 
voltage AC lines to carry the electricty from the power plant across the many 
miles to our houses.
Vince
 
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