The discovery and development of alternating current (AC) is primarily credited to Nikola Tesla. Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, and physicist who made significant contributions to the development of AC power systems. He is known for designing and promoting the use of alternating current as a more efficient and practical method of electrical distribution compared to the prevailing direct current (DC) systems of his time.
Tesla's work on AC included the development of AC generators, transformers, and the design of AC power transmission systems. His contributions laid the foundation for the modern electrical power distribution systems that we use today. One of his most notable achievements was the development of the AC induction motor, which played a crucial role in the widespread adoption of AC power for industrial and commercial applications.
It's worth noting that there were other scientists and engineers who also contributed to the development of AC technology, such as William Stanley and George Westinghouse. Westinghouse, in particular, played a significant role in promoting and implementing AC power systems in the United States, often in direct competition with Thomas Edison's DC power systems. However, Nikola Tesla remains a central figure in the history of alternating current due to his innovative ideas and inventions in this field.