How does increasing voltage lower current in a transformer?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter fawk3s
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between voltage and current in transformers, specifically how increasing voltage can lead to a decrease in current. Participants explore this concept through analogies and physical principles, including energy conservation and the behavior of electromagnets.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about how increasing voltage can lower current, referencing Ohm's law and questioning why current does not increase with voltage.
  • Another participant suggests that energy conservation plays a role, stating that power must remain constant, which implies that if voltage increases, current must decrease.
  • A participant introduces an analogy involving a gearbox, suggesting that the relationship between torque and speed is similar to that of voltage and current in a transformer.
  • Further clarification is provided regarding the physical properties of electromagnets, including the concept of amp turns and the impact of wire thickness on resistance and voltage drop.
  • A participant acknowledges their misunderstanding regarding wire thickness and resistance, realizing that lower resistance in one winding can lead to equal voltage despite changes in current.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and confusion regarding the relationship between voltage and current. While some agree on the principles of energy conservation and the analogy to gearboxes, others remain uncertain about the underlying mechanics, indicating that the discussion does not reach a consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference Ohm's law and energy conservation without fully resolving how these principles apply in the context of transformers. There is also mention of wire thickness and resistance, but the implications of these factors remain partially explored.

fawk3s
Messages
341
Reaction score
1
I know this question is prolly stupid and with a simple answer but I just can't figure it out.

Well, the electromagnet, which is basically what changes the voltage and current. It is said that you can lower the current by raising the voltage and vice versa. I know WHY they do it, but what I don't understand is how can highering the voltage lower current?
I=U/R
R stays the same
I changes according to U
U is raised

"I" should raise too.

I would completely understand when lowering the voltage would lower the current and vice versa.

This prolly a very stupid question so I understand all the "lolling" but I need to know hte answer.

Thanks in advance,
fawk3s
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I can't say for sure without knowing what physical system you're talking about, but it probably has something to do with energy conservation. The power (energy transferred per unit time) in a circuit is [itex]P = IV[/itex], and if energy/power is to be conserved, P must be a constant. So if you raise I, V gets lower, and vice-versa.
 
Ah, sorry about my equations. Its not the same as in English or where ever. I live in Estonia so, I=current, U=V=Voltage, R=obstacle (or I don't know how you call it).

diazona said:
P must be a constant. So if you raise I, V gets lower, and vice-versa.

But that's what I want to know, how.
In this case, the Ohm's law doesn't comply.
 
Hi fawk, think about this problem.

When I try to spin something (like a bicycle wheel or a fan for example) I've noticed that the faster I want to spin it then the more torque (turning force) I need to apply. So I've learned that more speed equates to more torque and visa versa.

Now recently someone told me about this thing called a "gear box". I have no idea about how it works but I've been told that with the magic of this "gear box" I can get more torque in the output shaft by lowering its speed (via using a lower gear ratio). So what's going on here? I'd always thought that more torque means more speed but now with this thing called gear box the opposite is happening.

Can you explain this to me? If you can then you've answered your own question as in a way the transformer acts very much in an analogous way to a gear box. The equivalent of the gear ratio in a transformer is the turns ratio.
 
In a gearbox you win with force, but loose with distance and vice versa. (If I am right).
I know the same thing is with voltage and current, but I just can figure out how is it done. I give up.
So could you please explain?
 
When you make an electromagnet, you need a certain number of amp turns, NI. This coil has a resistance R that depends on the diameter of the wire and its length. For example you could choose 100 turns of wire that can carry one amp, or 10 turns of wire that can carry 10 amps. The 10 amp wire is about 3.3 times the diameter of the 1 amp wire, and its resistance per unit length is 10 times less. Because the 10 amp wire is 1/10th the length of the 1 amp wire, its end-to end resistance is 1/100 the end-to-end resistance of the 1 amp wire. So the voltage drop in the 10 amp wire is about 1/10 of the 1 amp wire. So I times V (current times voltage) is the same for both coils.
 
Aah. Now I get it. The thing I hadnt noticed was the thickness of the wires. So I basically did the same thing, only leting R be 10 times less in one winding that the other. That caused the voltage to be equal in both, and that confused me since it is clearly said that when the current is raised, the voltage is LOWERED.
Damn, how didnt I see that? Dran I am stupid.

Big thanks you guys! This thing was giving me headaches for times.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K