Symmetrical breaking current is the moment when fault occurs maximum fault current is observed and decays with respect to time. Symmetrical breaking current = RMS value of ac component of short circuit current at the instant of separation of the contacts. Symmetrical breaking capacity is less than asymmetrical breaking capacity.
When voltage changes occur in rapid succession, with magnitudes large enough to cause lighting level variations. The human eye-brain response is most sensitive to periodic r.m.s. voltage changes that occur at around 8 - 10 cycles per second.