What does the abbreviation dc stand for in physics?

In physics, the letters 'DC' stand for Direct Current. This is a form of electrical flow. You may also encounter the letters AC when studying physics; this means Alternating Current.

If you ever use an electrical item that is powered by a battery, then that items is powered by direct current. The same applies to dynamos and solar cells; the above picture shows a DC dynamo. The electrical wiring in your house however, runs on alternating current.

The difference between DC and AC is in the direction in which the electrons (or the 'charge') travel along their circuit. DC flows in one direction only, while AC switches back and forth continuously.

If you're learning physics and want to learn more about the basics of electricity, this films explains more: