The alternating current waveform produced by a rotary generator is a?

The alternating current waveform produced by a rotary generator is a?

• A. Sine-Wave
• B. Square-Wave
• C. Triangular
• D. Sawtooth

Answer: (A)

The voltage produced by a rotating generator comes from the rate of change of magnetic flux through the windings. As the rotor with evenly spaced poles turns, the flux through the windings changes smoothly in a sinusoidal pattern with the rotor angle. Since the generated EMF is proportional to the time derivative of that flux, the output voltage also follows a sinusoidal shape over time. This gives a sine-wave AC waveform, with the frequency set by the rotor speed and the number of pole pairs. A square, triangular, or sawtooth waveform would require nonuniform flux changes or deliberate shaping of the output, which isn’t how a standard rotary generator operates.

The voltage produced by a rotating generator comes from the rate of change of magnetic flux through the windings. As the rotor with evenly spaced poles turns, the flux through the windings changes smoothly in a sinusoidal pattern with the rotor angle. Since the generated EMF is proportional to the time derivative of that flux, the output voltage also follows a sinusoidal shape over time. This gives a sine-wave AC waveform, with the frequency set by the rotor speed and the number of pole pairs.

A square, triangular, or sawtooth waveform would require nonuniform flux changes or deliberate shaping of the output, which isn’t how a standard rotary generator operates.