What It Does A transformer is a device that alters AC (alternating current) energy from one voltage level to another. It can either “step up” the voltage to a higher level or “step down” the voltage to a lower level, making it essential for everything from power grids to phone chargers.

How It Works A transformer operates on a principle called electromagnetic induction. It has three main parts: a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a magnetic core. This process only works with AC because electromagnetic induction requires a changing magnetic field. The varying current in the primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the magnetic core. This changing flux then induces a new current in the secondary winding at a different voltage. If you were to use a steady DC current, it would create a static, unchanging magnetic field, and no current would be induced in the secondary coil.

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Now that we’ve met each component individually, let’s see how they compare side-by-side.