🔍 Key Concepts

• Three-phase systems normally have equal phase displacement between each phase voltage or current waveform • The number of poles in an alternator affects electrical frequency vs. mechanical speed, but consider whether it changes phase displacement between the three phases • In a balanced three‑phase alternator, phase voltages are separated by a certain electrical angle on the phasor diagram

💭 Think About

• First, recall the standard phase angle separation between the three phases (R, Y, B or A, B, C) in any balanced three‑phase system • Ask yourself: does making the machine six‑pole instead of two‑pole change the angular separation between the three phase voltages, or only the relationship between speed (rpm) and frequency (Hz)? • Think about how the three phase windings are placed around the stator: how many electrical degrees apart are they wound to produce a balanced three‑phase output?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the usual phase displacement between phases in a three‑phase power system, independent of machine poles • Confirm whether pole count affects phase angle displacement or only affects synchronous speed (N = 120 f / P) • Sketch a simple three‑phase phasor diagram and label the angles between the three phase voltages before choosing an option