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A **transformer** is an electrical device used to change (or "transform") the voltage of alternating current (AC) electricity. It works based on the principle of **electromagnetic induction**. In simple terms, it can either increase (step up) or decrease (step down) the voltage in an AC circuit.
Here’s how it works:
1. **Primary Coil**: The transformer has two coils of wire—one called the **primary coil**, and the other called the **secondary coil**. The primary coil is connected to the input voltage (where the electrical energy comes from).
2. **Magnetic Field**: When electricity flows through the primary coil, it creates a magnetic field around it. This magnetic field then passes through the secondary coil.
3. **Induced Voltage**: The changing magnetic field in the secondary coil induces an electric current in the secondary coil, which creates a different voltage depending on the number of coils in each.
4. **Number of Turns (Coils)**: The key to how much the voltage changes is the **turns ratio**—the number of turns (loops) of wire in the primary coil compared to the secondary coil.
- If the secondary coil has more turns than the primary, the voltage is **increased** (step-up transformer).
- If the secondary coil has fewer turns, the voltage is **decreased** (step-down transformer).
Transformers are essential in electrical power systems because they allow us to efficiently transmit electricity over long distances, reducing energy loss by stepping up the voltage for transmission and stepping it down for safe use in homes and businesses.
Here’s how it works:
1. **Primary Coil**: The transformer has two coils of wire—one called the **primary coil**, and the other called the **secondary coil**. The primary coil is connected to the input voltage (where the electrical energy comes from).
2. **Magnetic Field**: When electricity flows through the primary coil, it creates a magnetic field around it. This magnetic field then passes through the secondary coil.
3. **Induced Voltage**: The changing magnetic field in the secondary coil induces an electric current in the secondary coil, which creates a different voltage depending on the number of coils in each.
4. **Number of Turns (Coils)**: The key to how much the voltage changes is the **turns ratio**—the number of turns (loops) of wire in the primary coil compared to the secondary coil.
- If the secondary coil has more turns than the primary, the voltage is **increased** (step-up transformer).
- If the secondary coil has fewer turns, the voltage is **decreased** (step-down transformer).
Transformers are essential in electrical power systems because they allow us to efficiently transmit electricity over long distances, reducing energy loss by stepping up the voltage for transmission and stepping it down for safe use in homes and businesses.