fɔːɹ swˈɪtʃt ɹᵻlˈʌktəns mˈoʊɾɚz, ðə nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv ɹˈoʊɾɚ pˈoʊlz ɪz tˈɪpɪkli lˈɛs ðɐn ðə nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv stˈeɪɾɚ pˈoʊlz, wˌɪtʃ mˈɪnɪmˌaɪzᵻz tˈoːɹk ɹˈɪpəl ænd pɹɪvˈɛnts ðə pˈoʊlz fɹʌm ˈɔːl ɐlˈaɪnɪŋ sˌaɪməltˈeɪniəsli—ɐ pəzˈɪʃən ðæt kænˈɑːt dʒˈɛnɚɹˌeɪt tˈoːɹk.
For switched reluctance motors, the number of rotor poles is typically less than the number of stator poles, which minimizes torque ripple and prevents the poles from all aligning simultaneously—a position that cannot generate torque.