The secondary voltage will be less than the primary voltage if there are __________ turns in the secondary coil than there are in the primary coil.

• A. More
• B. Fewer
• C. Equal
• D. Random

Answer: (B)

In a transformer, voltage on each coil is proportional to the number of turns it has. The ratio of primary to secondary voltages matches the ratio of the primary to secondary turns: Vp/Vs = Np/Ns. If the secondary has fewer turns than the primary (Ns < Np), the secondary voltage becomes smaller than the primary voltage, producing a step-down effect. If the secondary had more turns, it would step the voltage up; if it had the same number of turns, the voltages would be about the same (ignoring losses). So the secondary voltage is less when there are fewer turns in the secondary coil.