In dynamic braking, the braking resistor is connected to which part of the motor?

• A. Field winding
• B. Armature leads
• C. Stator windings
• D. Rotor

Answer: (B)

Dynamic braking works by turning the motor into a generator and dissipating the generated energy as heat in a braking resistor. For this energy to be released effectively, the current from the generated emf must have a path to flow. In a wound-rotor or DC motor, that path is the armature circuit, so the braking resistor is connected to the armature leads. The magnetic field is typically kept energized to provide the necessary flux, but the energy coming from the motor’s rotation is what’s routed through the armature and into the resistor, producing braking torque as dictated by Lenz’s law. Connecting the resistor to the field would waste energy in the field circuit and wouldn’t directly convert the rotor’s kinetic energy into heat. The rotor itself isn’t used as a separate external connection in this setup, so the armature leads are the correct choice.