In a squirrel cage rotor, the rotor consists of copper bars connected at each end by end rings. This rotor is commonly called what?

In a squirrel cage rotor, the rotor consists of copper bars connected at each end by end rings. This rotor is commonly called what?

• A. Wound rotor
• B. Slip-ring rotor
• C. Squirrel cage rotor
• D. Cast rotor

Answer: (C)

The rotor design described is a closed loop of copper bars connected at the ends by end rings, which forms a self-contained conducting cage. Currents are induced in these bars when the rotor experiences a rotating magnetic field, and because the bars are shorted by the end rings, the currents circulate within the cage without any external connections. This arrangement resembles a small, metallic lattice that looks like a squirrel cage, hence the name. That simplicity—no windings or external connections, just a robust, short-circuited structure—makes it the standard choice for many induction motors: durable, low maintenance, and cost-effective. The other rotor types involve windings connected to external circuits or different construction methods, which is not the case here.

The rotor design described is a closed loop of copper bars connected at the ends by end rings, which forms a self-contained conducting cage. Currents are induced in these bars when the rotor experiences a rotating magnetic field, and because the bars are shorted by the end rings, the currents circulate within the cage without any external connections. This arrangement resembles a small, metallic lattice that looks like a squirrel cage, hence the name.

That simplicity—no windings or external connections, just a robust, short-circuited structure—makes it the standard choice for many induction motors: durable, low maintenance, and cost-effective. The other rotor types involve windings connected to external circuits or different construction methods, which is not the case here.