Question 601 of 949
In a step-down transformer, if the primary coil has 120 turns and the secondary coil has 30 turns, what is the ratio of the primary voltage to the secondary voltage?
Correct Answer:
B
Explanation
### Correct Option: B (4:1)
### Explanation:
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy between two or more circuits through electromagnetic induction. In a step-down transformer, the primary coil has more turns than the secondary coil, which results in a decrease in voltage from the primary to the secondary side.
#### Step-by-Step Explanation:
1. **Understanding Turns Ratio**:
- The turns ratio of a transformer is defined as the ratio of the number of turns in the primary coil (Nā) to the number of turns in the secondary coil (Nā).
- This ratio is crucial because it directly relates to the voltages in the primary (Vā) and secondary (Vā) coils.
\[
\text{Turns Ratio} = \frac{Nā}{Nā}
\]
2. **Given Values**:
- Primary coil turns (Nā) = 120
- Secondary coil turns (Nā) = 30
3. **Calculating the Turns Ratio**:
- Plugging in the values into the turns ratio formula:
\[
\text{Turns Ratio} = \frac{120}{30} = 4
\]
4. **Voltage Ratio**:
- The relationship between the turns ratio and the voltage ratio in a transformer is given by:
\[
\frac{Vā}{Vā} = \frac{Nā}{Nā}
\]
- Therefore, substituting the turns ratio we calculated:
\[
\frac{Vā}{Vā} = 4
\]
- This means that the primary voltage (Vā) is 4 times the secondary voltage (Vā).
5. **Final Ratio**:
- The ratio of the primary voltage to the secondary voltage is thus:
\[
Vā : Vā = 4 : 1
\]
### Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- **Option A (1:4)**:
- This suggests that the primary voltage is one-fourth of the secondary voltage, which is incorrect. In a step-down transformer, the primary voltage is higher than the secondary voltage.
- **Option C (1:3)**:
- This implies that the primary voltage is one-third of the secondary voltage. This does not align with the turns ratio we calculated, which indicates a primary voltage that is higher than the secondary voltage.
- **Option D (3:1)**:
- This suggests that the primary voltage is three times the secondary voltage. While this is a plausible ratio, it does not match the calculated ratio of 4:1 based on the turns of the coils.
### Common Pitfalls:
- **Confusing Step-Up and Step-Down Transformers**: Remember that in a step-down transformer, the primary voltage is always greater than the secondary voltage.
- **Miscalculating the Turns Ratio**: Ensure you correctly identify which coil is primary and which is secondary before calculating the turns ratio.
- **Ignoring the Relationship Between Voltage and Turns**: Always remember that the voltage ratio is directly proportional to the turns ratio.
### Revision Summary:
- In a step-down transformer, the primary coil has more turns than the secondary coil.
- The turns ratio (Nā/Nā) determines the voltage ratio (Vā/Vā).
- For this transformer, the turns ratio is 4:1, meaning the primary voltage is 4 times the secondary voltage.
- The correct answer is B (4:1).