There's TWO (2) DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALTERNATING CURRENT. Meaning, THEY BOTH ALTERNATE BUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
Longitudinal Current flows in the SAME direction on two conductors (Tip and Ring) to Ground.
From your description, this is called direct current. Alternating current by definition reverses polarity and thus direction periodically.
Listen dude, you're acting like you know something you don't know a DAMN thing about.
Alternating current DOES reverse direction periodically; changes direction over time; changes rapidly in magnitude over time. It most certainly does.
The point is there are TWO (2) different types of alternating current. THEY BOTH ALTERNATE but in different ways.
Power Influence is best known or described as longitudinal current when it's radiated from the power lines into linear and non-linear devices. The current on the power lines (longitudinal current) alternates at a rate of 60 cycles per second. There are also harmonics of 60 hertz flowing on the power line. Those harmonics can be both even and odd harmonics. However, most of the even harmonics are cancelled out due to non-linear devices. Which means the odd harmonics are more prevalent on the power lines and in the magnetic fields radiated from the power line.
One cycle (1 hertz) longitudinal will flow the SAME DIRECTION on the two conductors (Tip and Ring) from the Central Office out to the customer AND THEN BACK from the customer two the Central office. That OUT to the customer from the office and then back to the office from the customer was ONE HERTZ (1 cycle).
One cycle (1 hertz) metallic will flow in opposite directions on both conductors and NOT to ground like the power company longitudinal currents do. For example: One cycle (1 hertz) metallic will flow from the negative side of the battery in the Central Office onto the Ring OUT TO the customer; through the customers equipment and back to the central office on the Tip THEN ALTERNATE back on the Tip OUT TO the customer; through their equipment and back on the Ring to the negative side of the battery in the office. THAT WAS ONE CYCLE (1 hertz) METALLIC.
Dial tone alternates at 440 Hz or 440 cycles per second. Meaning, it flows on the ring out to the customer and back to the office on the tip; THEN ALTERNATES back onto the tip to the customer and back to the office on the ring 440 times; for a total of 440 cycles (440 hertz).
That was ONLY an example.
You're TRYING to ACT like you know something you don't know a DAMN THING about. The thing is... very few people [Even in electronics] are aware of two different types of longitudinal current; unless they understand how power influence radiated from the power line is induced into other components and can convert into a metallic current that we call NOISE. That NOISE (Metallic Current) can affect TRANSMISSION. This is why it's so important to have a METAL SHIELD around conductors to have Power Influence (Longitudinal Current) flowing 180 degrees out of phase from the power lines on the shield so they cancel each other out and reduce the NOISE (Metallic Currents) on every tip and ring and in other components.
Again, THIS IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE OF MANY THINGS involving TRANSMISSION of alternating currents. Whether those currents flow longitudinally or metallically.
Just STOP acting like you know something you don't know a damn thing about.
Here's a photo FROM A MANUAL I WROTE to illustrate: THIS MANUAL has been used by AT&T since 1997.
