Applications of Magnetism
Motors, Generators, and Transformers
Motors
Generators
Transformers
Transformers make the voltage of a changing current go up or down. Transformers that make it go up are called "Step-up transformers". You could guess what a transformer that makes the voltage go down is called. Right! A transformer that decreases the voltage of something is called a "Step-down transformer". Voltage is the measure of how much electricity is running through something. If you are ever in a really bad storm and your power goes out, you might hear your mom or dad say "Looks like a transformer blew". The types of transformers that would be in your neighborhood would be a step-down transformer. Now you might ask, "Why would you need to decrease the voltage in your neighborhood?" Well voltage can be very powerful and if you don't decrease the voltage, your house could be damaged. You would use a step-up transformer when you send out the voltage to your houses. Then the step-down transformers decrease it even more so it can be safe for your house.
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