Which of the following values compares the amount of energy available in an AC waveform to a DC waveform?

The correct answer is that the effective value compares the amount of energy available in an AC waveform to a DC waveform. The effective value, commonly referred to as the RMS (Root Mean Square) value, measures the amount of power that an alternating current would dissipate as heat in a resistive load compared to a direct current.

In practical terms, the RMS value is derived from the AC waveform and represents an equivalent constant direct current that delivers the same amount of power. This is vital for electrical engineering applications, especially when designing circuits that involve alternating current, as it allows for the comparison of AC and DC voltages and currents on an equal basis.

The peak value refers to the maximum instantaneous value of the waveform, while the average value represents the mean of the waveform over a cycle, neither of which accurately reflects the energy-carrying capability of the waveform in terms of power dissipation in a resistive load. The average and peak values do not account for how the energy is utilized in practical scenarios, leading to misconceptions in power calculations. Thus, while the effective or RMS value accurately assesses the energy potential, the other options do not provide a reliable method for this comparison.