An AC motor operates by changing the direction of current through which component?

The correct choice is tied to the essential function of the stator in an AC motor. The stator is the stationary part of the motor that generates a rotating magnetic field when alternating current (AC) flows through its windings. This changing magnetic field interacts with the rotor, causing it to turn.

In an AC motor, the direction of the current in the stator windings alternates, which in turn changes the magnetic field's orientation. This alternating nature of the current is what makes the stator a critical component in achieving the motor's operation, as it ensures that the magnetic field is always shifting, continuously pulling the rotor along in its rotational motion.

In contrast, while the rotor is the component that turns, it does not directly change the direction of the current; rather, it responds to the magnetic field created by the stator. The armature typically refers to a component in DC motors or generators rather than AC, and the commutator is specific to certain types of DC motors, serving to switch the direction of current in the armature windings but is not utilized in AC motors. Hence, the stator's role and function in generating a rotating magnetic field emphasize why it is the correct answer in this context.