Question

How does increasing the turns ratio of a transformer affect the voltage and current?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the turns ratio of a transformer increases the voltage and decreases the current on the secondary side. A transformer consists of two or more coils of wire, called windings, wrapped around a common core. The primary winding is connected to the input voltage, and the secondary winding is connected to the load. The turns ratio is the ratio of the number of turns in the secondary winding (Ns) to the number of turns in the primary winding (Np): Turns Ratio = Ns/Np. If the turns ratio is greater than 1 (Ns > Np), the transformer is a step-up transformer, meaning it increases the voltage. The voltage on the secondary side (Vs) is equal to the voltage on the primary side (Vp) multiplied by the turns ratio: Vs = Vp (Ns/Np). Therefore, increasing the turns ratio increases the secondary voltage. Conversely, increasing the turns ratio decreases the current on the secondary side. The current on the secondary side (Is) is equal to the current on the primary side (Ip) divided by the turns ratio: Is = Ip / (Ns/Np). Assuming an ideal transformer (no losses), the power (voltage times current) remains the same on both sides. Therefore, if the voltage increases, the current must decrease proportionally. For example, if a transformer has a turns ratio of 10:1 (Ns/Np = 10), and the primary voltage is 12V, the secondary voltage will be 120V. If the primary current is 1A, the secondary current will be 0.1A.

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How does increasing the turns ratio of a transformer affect the voltage and current?

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