What type of current changes direction periodically and is commonly used in home and office outlets?

Alternating current (AC) is the correct answer as it refers to electrical current that periodically reverses direction. This type of current is primarily used in residential and commercial power supplies, including home and office outlets. The reasons for the prevalent use of alternating current over direct current include its ability to be easily transformed to different voltages, which enables efficient long-distance transmission of electricity.

AC can also be generated more easily than DC, and its periodic direction change is exploited in various applications such as inductive loads, including motors and transformers, which are designed to work effectively with the alternating nature of the current.

In contrast, direct current (DC) flows in a constant direction and is used in applications such as batteries and electronic devices, but it is not typically used for power outlets in homes and offices. Static current is not a standard term used in electrical engineering, and pulsed current refers to a more specific case of current that is switched on and off quickly but does not characterize the prolonged and periodic nature of alternating current.