Definition
The laminated iron structure at the center of an electric motor or generator armature, around which the armature windings are wound. The core concentrates and channels the magnetic field produced by the windings, and its laminated construction reduces energy losses caused by stray currents within the iron itself.
Plain English
The iron body in the middle of a motor or generator that the copper wires are wrapped around. It strengthens the magnetic field and is built from thin stacked layers to keep it from wasting energy as heat.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft electrical-system and maintenance discussions, especially when learning how generators, starters, or electric motors are built.
Derivation
Armature comes from the Latin armatura, meaning 'armor' or 'equipment.' Early electrical engineers borrowed the word because the iron piece sits in the middle of the machine surrounded by magnets, much like a piece of armor. Core simply refers to the central part. Together: the central iron piece of the armature.
Why Pilots Care
When a generator or starter fails, the armature core is one of the parts mechanics inspect. Knowing what it is helps a pilot understand maintenance discussions and troubleshooting reports on the aircraft's electrical system.
Intuition Check
Do not read core as just “the middle” in a loose sense. Here it means the specific iron part that supports the wire coils and carries the magnetic field.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic showed the student the armature core, pointing out the thin iron laminations stacked together to form the cylinder.
Example Sentence 2
Laminated layers in the armature core reduce energy loss while the aircraft's DC generator runs.