induction-coil

Definition

1. Noun (Electrical Engineering):
   • An induction coil is a device consisting of two coils of wire wound around a common iron core, used to convert a low-voltage direct current into a high-voltage alternating current. It operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction, where a changing magnetic field in the primary coil induces a voltage in the secondary coil.

Usage Examples

• (A device used to produce high voltage from low voltage.)
• (A historical application of the device.)

Advanced Usage

• "Induction coil ignition": a system in early internal combustion engines that used an induction coil to produce a spark for ignition.

  • The vintage car's engine used an induction coil ignition system. (A specific application in automotive technology.)

• "Tesla coil": a type of resonant transformer that is a specialized version of an induction coil, invented by Nikola Tesla.

  • The Tesla coil is a high-frequency induction coil used for generating spectacular electrical arcs. (A related but distinct device.)

Variants and Related Words

• Induction (n): the process of generating an electric current or voltage in a conductor due to a changing magnetic field.

  • The principle of induction is fundamental to the operation of the induction coil. (The underlying physical phenomenon.)

• Coil (n): a series of loops or turns of wire.

  • The secondary coil of the induction coil has many more turns than the primary coil. (The wire component of the device.)

Synonyms

• Spark coil: another name for an induction coil, especially when used to produce sparks.

  • The spark coil provided the high voltage needed for the spark plug. (A synonym used in automotive contexts.)

• Transformer: a broader device that transfers electrical energy between circuits through electromagnetic induction, though an induction coil is a specific type.

  • While both are transformers, the induction coil is designed for intermittent high-voltage pulses. (A general category.)

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms