In a three-phase, squirrel-cage induction motor, where is the field located?

In a three-phase, squirrel-cage induction motor, the rotor is where the magnetic field is primarily produced and interacts with the stator field. However, it's vital to clarify that in this type of motor, the rotating magnetic field that induces the current in the rotor actually originates from the stator windings. The stator generates a rotating magnetic field due to the three-phase AC current that flows through the stator windings.

This rotating magnetic field induces a current in the rotor, typically made of conductive bars shorted at both ends (forming a "squirrel cage"), creating its own magnetic field as a result. The interaction of these fields is what causes the rotor to turn. Therefore, while the rotor does not have a field in the conventional sense, it does produce a magnetic effect due to the induced currents.

The most accurate description of where the field is located in a squirrel-cage induction motor points to the stator, as it is the source of the magnetic field that drives the motor. Understanding this is crucial for grasping how induction motors operate, as the induced rotor current is fundamentally a response to the stator's rotating magnetic field.