When a transformer is designed, what primarily determines the output voltage from the secondary?

The output voltage of a transformer is fundamentally determined by the turns ratio, which is the ratio of the number of windings on the primary coil to the number of windings on the secondary coil. This relationship is defined by the transformer equation, which states that the voltage across the secondary winding is proportional to the voltage across the primary winding multiplied by the turns ratio. Therefore, if you increase the number of turns in the secondary compared to the primary, the output voltage will increase, while a decrease in turns will result in a lower secondary voltage.

This principle is key to transformer operation, as it allows for voltage transformation—either stepping up or stepping down voltages according to the design requirements of electrical systems. The other factors listed, while they can influence overall performance and efficiency, do not primarily dictate the output voltage produced by the transformer itself. For instance, the load connected to the output affects current but does not change the intrinsic relationship governed by the turns ratio. The frequency of the input voltage can affect performance and efficiency due to reactance, but it does not alter the voltage transformation ratio. Similarly, while the core material can influence the efficiency and losses within the transformer, it does not determine the output voltage directly; rather, it impacts how effectively the transformer