What is an induction coil?
Q: What is an induction coil?
A: An induction coil is a type of electrical transformer.
Q: What is the purpose of an induction coil?
A: The purpose of an induction coil is to produce high-voltage pulses from a low-voltage direct current supply.
Q: How does an induction coil generate voltage in the secondary coil?
A: To generate voltage in the secondary coil, the direct current in the primary coil is repeatedly interrupted by a vibrating mechanical contact called an interrupter, which creates the flux changes necessary to induce voltage.
Q: What was the induction coil widely used for in the past?
A: The induction coil was widely used in X-ray machines, spark-gap radio transmitters, arc lighting, and quack medical devices from the 1880s to the 1920s.
Q: What is the only common use of the induction coil today?
A: The only common use of the induction coil today is for ignition coils in internal combustion engines and in physics education to demonstrate induction.
Q: Was the induction coil the first type of transformer?
A: Yes, the induction coil was the first type of transformer.
Q: What is the interrupter in an induction coil?
A: The interrupter in an induction coil is a vibrating mechanical contact that interrupts the direct current in the primary coil, thus creating the flux changes necessary to induce voltage in the secondary coil.
