What does the effective voltage of AC compare to in terms of DC?

The effective voltage of an AC signal is defined as the root mean square (RMS) value, which allows for a direct comparison to DC voltage in terms of energy delivery. Specifically, it is the level of AC voltage that would produce the same amount of heat in a resistive load as an equivalent value of DC voltage.

In practical terms, RMS values are crucial for understanding how much power is delivered by an AC circuit compared to a DC circuit. Since AC voltage varies over time, the effective (or RMS) voltage quantifies its ability to perform work (such as heating a resistor) in a manner comparable to a steady DC voltage. Therefore, when we state that the effective voltage of AC corresponds to the amount of AC that produces the same amount of heat as an equivalent DC, we are highlighting the fundamental principle of power equivalency between AC and DC circuits.