Final answer:
In the 1950s, homes in the U.S. were designed to receive 110 volts, which is the RMS value, not the peak voltage. The effective power distribution system utilized transformers to step down higher voltages to levels suitable for household use.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1950s, houses in the United States were intended to receive 110 volts. However, this is not the peak voltage but rather the effective, or root mean square (RMS), value. The peak amplitude of the voltage would be higher, approximately 170 volts as per standard electrical engineering practices of the time. Electrical systems were designed this way to ensure that the voltage could be delivered safely and efficiently, utilizing transformers to step down the voltage from the kilovolt range down to the familiar household levels suitable for appliances and daily use. This allowed for power to be transmitted with much smaller power losses than at low voltages and made it easier to adjust the voltage levels using alternating current (AC), which is used in most large power distribution systems.