Which of the following statements applies to universal motors?

• A. In the field and armature, current flows in the same direction
• B. In the field and armature, currents flow in opposite directions
• C. The motor can only run on AC
• D. It requires a separate DC supply

Answer: (A)

Universal motors run on both AC and DC because they are series-wound with a commutator. The field winding and the armature winding are connected in series, so the same current flows through both windings. This means the instantaneous current direction through the field and through the armature is the same. On AC, the current reverses each half-cycle, but the commutator arrangement keeps the torque in one direction by effectively reversing connections in the armature so the magnetic effects add instead of cancel. This setup is what allows the motor to operate on either type of supply while maintaining consistent rotation.

So the statement that current flows in the field and armature in the same direction is the best description. The other ideas don’t fit because universal motors aren’t designed for opposite winding currents, they aren’t limited to AC only, and they don’t require a separate DC supply—the same series circuit powers both windings.