When a transformer is connected to an AC source, what limits the current?

The correct answer is based on the principle of inductance, which plays a critical role in the behavior of transformers connected to an AC source. When an alternating current passes through the primary coil of a transformer, it generates a changing magnetic field. This changing magnetic field induces a voltage in the secondary coil due to electromagnetic induction.

The inductance of the primary coil is a property that opposes changes in current flow. According to Lenz's Law, the induced electromotive force (emf) creates a response in the opposite direction to the change that produced it. This means that as the alternating current changes direction and magnitude, the inductance resists these changes, effectively limiting the current in the primary coil.

In practical terms, the inductance determines how the coil behaves in response to the AC signal. Higher inductance leads to a greater opposition to changes in current, which helps regulate the flow of current and maintains a consistent operation of the transformer. Factors like resistance and capacitance also influence current flow, but they do not limit current in the same manner as inductance does in the context of a transformer with an alternating current.

Understanding this principle is essential for working with electrical systems involving transformers; it highlights the importance of inductive properties in