Applications of the Generator Effect Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What type of current does an alternator generate?

Alternating current (a.c.) — current that repeatedly changes direction.

What type of current does a dynamo generate?

Direct current (d.c.) — current in one direction only.

What is the job of the slip rings in an alternator?

They keep each end of the coil connected to the same side of the circuit, so the induced current alternates in direction.

What is the job of the split-ring commutator in a dynamo?

It swaps the coil's connections to the circuit every half turn, so the output current stays in the same direction.

What does the current–time graph for an alternator output look like?

A sine-shaped curve going alternately above and below zero (current reverses direction each half turn).

What does the current–time graph for a dynamo output look like?

A series of humps all on the same side of the time axis — the current varies in size but never reverses direction.