Amperage the same in Series Circuits?

In summary, transformers allow current to be stepped up or down, even when the voltages are the same.
  • #1
kkorcaleb
2
0
If current is always the same in a series circuit then how is a transformer able to make the current smaller when it increases the voltage? is this just an exception since with the voltage being higher the same amount of power is being provided?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
  • #2
kkorcaleb said:
If current is always the same in a series circuit then how is a transformer able to make the current smaller when it increases the voltage? is this just an exception since with the voltage being higher the same amount of power is being provided?

Welcome to the PF.

What reading have you been doing about how transformers work? Can you post links to your research so far, and ask specific questions about your reading? The concepts of flux coupling and turns ratio are key to answering your own question... :smile:
 
  • #3
kkorcaleb said:
If current is always the same in a series circuit then how is a transformer able to make the current smaller when it increases the voltage? is this just an exception since with the voltage being higher the same amount of power is being provided?

A transformer is not a series circuit. The primary loop isn't connected at all with the secondary loop. All the current that goes into the primary loop comes out of the primary loop again, and the same goes for the secondary loop.Electric charge is conserved, even if the currents in the primary and secondary loops are different.
 
  • #4
kkorcaleb said:
If current is always the same in a series circuit then how is a transformer able to make the current smaller when it increases the voltage? is this just an exception since with the voltage being higher the same amount of power is being provided?
In a transformer, primary and secondary are 'magnetically' coupled. So, its not a series electrical circuit. Lenz's law will help you understand the basic working principle of the transformer. Power flow mechanism from primary to secondary will give you an explanation for stepping up and stepping down of the voltages and currents.
 
  • #5
That makes more sense thank you very much
 

FAQ: Amperage the same in Series Circuits?

1. What is the definition of amperage in a series circuit?

Amperage, also known as current, is the flow of electric charge through a circuit. In a series circuit, the amperage is the same at all points in the circuit.

2. How is amperage affected in a series circuit?

In a series circuit, the amperage is affected by the resistance and voltage of the circuit. As resistance increases, amperage decreases, and as voltage increases, amperage increases.

3. Why is amperage the same in series circuits?

In a series circuit, the current can only flow through one path, so the amount of current is the same throughout the circuit. This is due to the law of conservation of charge, which states that charge cannot be created or destroyed.

4. How do you calculate amperage in a series circuit?

To calculate amperage in a series circuit, you can use the formula I = V/R, where I is the amperage, V is the voltage, and R is the resistance. This formula is known as Ohm's law.

5. What happens to amperage when components are added in a series circuit?

In a series circuit, adding more components will increase the total resistance of the circuit, which in turn decreases the amperage. This is because the current has to pass through more resistance, resulting in a decrease in amperage.

Back
Top