Physics Electronics PMC 2021
PMDC Verified Question 475 of 494

A transformer is commonly used prior to the rectification stage in a DC power supply to:
A
Step up the voltage
B
Step down the voltage
C
Equalize the voltage
D
None of these
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option B: Step down the voltage
Concept:

Standard household mains voltage is typically very high (e.g., 220V AC), while most digital and solid-state electronic devices operate on low DC voltages (e.g., 5V to 12V).

Solution:

The primary function of the transformer in a consumer electronic power supply is to step down the high AC mains voltage to a safe, low AC level before passing it through the rectifying diodes and filters.

Why other options are incorrect:

  • Step up is incorrect because electronic devices do not require hundreds or thousands of volts to operate.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

Want to solve full-length papers under timed exam conditions?

Practice with zero-scroll lockdown sprints, dynamic latency zone timers, live peer selection telemetry, and the automated Amber mistake recovery loop.