In a relay, which component can allow or interrupt current from flowing?

In a relay, which component can allow or interrupt current from flowing?

• A. Contacts
• B. Coil
• C. Armature
• D. Plunger

Answer: (A)

Relays control whether current flows by switching the contacts. The coil creates a magnetic force when energized, which moves the armature or plunger to bring the contacts together or pull them apart. The contacts themselves form the actual path for the load current, so they are what allow or interrupt the current. The coil (and its moving parts) merely actuate the switch; it’s the contacts that carry the load and determine if current is flowing. This separation—coil for actuation and contacts for the current path—is what makes relays effective for controlling circuits without routing the high-load current through the coil.

Relays control whether current flows by switching the contacts. The coil creates a magnetic force when energized, which moves the armature or plunger to bring the contacts together or pull them apart. The contacts themselves form the actual path for the load current, so they are what allow or interrupt the current. The coil (and its moving parts) merely actuate the switch; it’s the contacts that carry the load and determine if current is flowing. This separation—coil for actuation and contacts for the current path—is what makes relays effective for controlling circuits without routing the high-load current through the coil.