k1drw wrote:
I have a question about AC Circuitry (as it relates to my antenna
system) where I cannot seem to arrive at an answer by reading reference
material:

The mechanics of current flow as it relates to a 1/4~ vertical
working against ground and separately, in comparison as it relates to
the dipole elements.

Is an AC circuit like DC, whereas there must be a ground return path
for a "flow" to happen ?

Yes.

RE Dipole: If yes, then I get confused when thinking about ac current
flow relative to a dipole antenna. I can image current flow on the
center conductor side, since it seems the current +/- can keep going
back and forth from the transceiver to the end of the antenna element
(independent of the braid or other half side). But, it is hard to
understand how current can go back and forth on the braid side, since
it has a path to ground. Seems like on the braid side the current would
make its way down to the end of the dipole element and then start back,
but go right to the low impedance ground and be gone.

Current flows into one half the antenna, which causes it to create a
field. The field strikes the other half of the dipole, inducing a
current in it. The current into one half the dipole has to equal, at
every instant, the current out of the other half. The path is through
the air, with the coupling mechanism being the electric and magnetic
fields. If this is hard to swallow, think a bit about how current flows
"through" a capacitor or transformer.

Vertical 1/4~: Again, here I image the ground side of the AC
circuit works as described above. But I read references to radials on
the ground side "collecting and returning ground currents" and that
confuses me. Returning currents to where ?, the current as pushed out
on the braid side seems to be where it was supposed to go - to ground.

The field created by the current in the vertical couples to the ground,
and induces a current in it. This current flows in the braid. The
current into the vertical has to, at every instant, equal the current
flowing out of the ground. The radials lower the resistance of the
current path through the ground.

Do both "legs" of AC current push out on the + and "pull" back on the -
, independent of 'ground' ?

Sorry, I don't know what a current "leg" is.

I don't have an elec or engnr backgound so if you please to help me
understand, please try hard to keep it very basic. I just cannot use
math and AC formulas yet.

Hope this helps. A quantitative understanding requires an extensive math
background.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL