VELS VIDHYALAYA PALAYAMKOTTAI

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

TOPIC: TRANSFORMERS

DONE BY
P.MOHAMED AADHIL
The transformer is a device used for converting a low
alternating voltage to a high alternating voltage or a high
alternating voltage into a low alternating voltage. It is a
static electrical device that transfers energy by inductive
coupling between its winding circuits. Transformers range in
size from a thumbnail-sized coupling transformer hidden
inside a stage microphone to huge units weighing hundreds
of tons used in power plant substations or to interconnect
portions of the power grid. All operate on the same basic
principles, although the range of designs is wide. While new
technologies have eliminated the need for transformers in
some electronic circuits, transformers are still found in
many electronic devices. Transformers are essential for
high-voltage electric power transmission, which makes long-
distance transmission economically practical. A transformer
ismostwidelyuseddeviceinbothlowandhighcurrent
circuit. In a transformer, the electrical energy transfer
from one circuit to another circuit takes place without the
use of moving parts.A transformer which increases the
voltages is called a step-up transformer.
A transformer which decreases the A.C.voltages is called a
step-down transformer.

Transformer is, therefore, an essential piece of

apparatus both for high and low current circuits.

Close-upofsingle-phasepolemounttransformer.
It is based on the principle of mutual induction
that is if a varying current is set-up in a circuit
then induced e.m.f. is produced in the
neighboring circuit. The varying current in a
circuit produce varying magnetic flux which
induces e.m.f. in the neighboring circuit.
A transformer consists of a rectangular shaft iron core

made of laminated sheets, well insulated from one another.

Two coils p1& p2 and s1& s2 are wound on thesamecore, but

are well insulated with each other. Note that the both the

coilsareinsulatedfromthecore, thesourceofalternating

e.g. is connected to p1p2, the primary coil and a load

resistance R is connected to s1 s2, the secondary coil

through an open switch S. thus there can be no current

through the sec.coilsolongastheswitchisopen.Foran

Ideal transformer, we assume that the resistance of the

primary & secondary winding is negligible. Further, the

energy loses due to magnetic the iron core is also negligible.

For operation at low frequency, we may have a soft iron.

The soft iron core is insulating by joining thin iron strips

coated with varnish to insulate them to reduce energy

losses by eddy currents. The input circuit is called primary.

And the output circuit is called secondary.

Anidealvoltagestep-downtransformer.ThesecondarycurrentarisesfromtheactionofthesecondaryEMFonthe (not shown)

load impedance.
 Theidealtransformerasacircuitelement

When an altering e.m.f. is supplied to the primary coil p 1p2,

an alternating current starts falling in it. The altering

current in the primary produces a changing magnetic flux,

which induces altering voltage in the primary as well as in

the secondary. In a good-transformer, whole of the

magnetic flux linked with primary is also linked with the

secondary,andthentheinducede.m.f.inducedineachturn
of the secondary is equal to that induced in each turn ofthe

primary.

Thus if Ep and Es be the instantaneous values of the e.m.f.’s

induced in the primary and the secondary and Np and Ns are

the no. of turns of the primary secondary coils of the

transformer and, Dфь / dt = rate of change of flux in each

turnofthecoilatthisinstant,wehave Ep = -Np Dфь/dt (1)

Es=-NsDфь/dt (2)

Since the above relations are true at every instant, so by

dividing 2 by 1, we get

Es /Ep=-Ns/Np (3)

As Ep is the instantaneous value of back e.m.f induced in the

primary coil p1, so the instantaneous current in primary coil
is due to the difference (E – Ep ) in the instantaneous values
of theapplied and back e.m.f.furtherifRp is theresistance o,
p1p2 coil, then theinstantaneous current Ip in theprimary
coil is given by

I=E–Ep /Rp
 E–Ep = IpRp

When the resistance of the primary is small, Rp Ip can be

neglected so therefore

E – Ep =0orEp=E

Thus back e.m.f = input e.m.f

Henceequation3canbewrittenasEs/Ep=Es/E=output
e.m.f/input e.m.f=Ns/Np= K

WhereKisconstant,calledturnortransformationratio.

In astep up transformer

Es>Eso K>1, hence Ns>Np

Inastepdown transformer

Es<EsoK<1,hence Ns<Np

IfIp=valueofprimarycurrentatthesameinstantt

And Is=value of sec. current at this instant, then Input

power at the instant t =EpIpand Output power at the same
instant=Es Is
If there are no losses of power in the transformer, then
Input power = output power or

E p Ip = E s Is Or

Es / E p = I p / Is = K

In astep up transformer

Ask >1,so Ip>IsorIs<Ip

I.e. current in sec. is weaker when secondary voltage is

higher. Hence, whatever we gain in voltage, we lose in

current in the same ratio. Similarly it can be shown, that ina

step down transformer, whatever we lose in voltage, we gain

in current in the same ratio.

Thus a step up transformer in reality steps down the

current & a step down transformer steps up the current.

BASICIDEAOFSTEPDOWNTRANSFORMER

BASICIDEAOFSTEPUPTRANSFORMER
Efficiency of a transformer is defined as the ratio of

output power to the input power i.e.

η=outputpower/inputpower=EsIs/EpIp

Thus in an ideal transformer, where there is no power

losses, η=1. But in actual practice, there are many power

losses; therefore the efficiency of transformer is less than

one.
In practice, the output energy of a transformer is always
lessthantheinputenergy,becauseenergylossesoccurdue to a
number of reasons as explained below.
1. LossofMagneticFlux:Thecouplingbetweenthecoilsis
seldom perfect. So, whole of the magnetic flux produced by
the primary coil is not linked up with the secondary coil.
2. Iron Loss: In actual iron cores in spite of lamination,
Eddycurrentsareproduced.Themagnitudeofeddycurrent may,
however be small. And a part of energy is lost as the heat
produced in the iron core.
3. CopperLoss:Inpractice,thecoilsofthetransformer
possess resistance. So a part of the energy is lost due to
the heat produced in the resistance of the coil.
4. HysteresisLoss:Thealternatingcurrentinthecoil
tapes the iron core through complete cycle of
magnetization. So Energy is lost due to hysteresis.
5. Magneto restriction: The alternating current in the
Transformermaybesetitspartsintovibrationsandsound may
be produced. It is called humming. Thus, a part of energy
may be lost due to humming.
1. Takethickironrodandcoveritwithathickpaperand wind a
large number of turns of thin Cu wire on thick paper
(say 60). This constitutes primary coil of the
transformer.
2. Covertheprimarycoilwithasheetofpaperandwound
relatively smaller number of turns (say 20) of thick
copper wire on it. This constitutes the secondary coil. It
is a step down transformer.

3. Connect p1, p2 to A.C main and measure the input

voltage and current using A.C voltmeter and ammeter
respectively.
4. Similarly, measure the output voltage and current
through s1and s2.
5. Nowconnects1ands2toA.Cmainandagainmeasure
voltage and current through primary and secondary coil
of step up transformer.
6. Repeat all steps for other self made transformers by
changing number of turns in primary and secondary coil.

Atransformerisusedinalmostalla.c.operations

 InvoltageregulatorforT.V.,refrigerator,computer, air

conditioner etc.

 Intheinductionfurnaces.

 Astepdowntransformerisusedforwelding purposes.

 Astepdowntransformerisusedforobtaininglargecurrent.

 A step up transformer is used for the production of X-

Rays and NEON advertisement.

 Transformers are used in voltage regulators and

stabilized power supplies.

 Transformers are used in the transmissions of a.c. over

long distances.

 Small transformers are used in Radio sets, telephones,

loud speakers and electric bells etc.

1. Valuesofcurrentcanbechangedduetoheatingeffect.
2. Eddycurrentcanchangethereadings.

1. The output voltage of the transformer across the secondary

coil depends upon the ratio (Ns/Np) with respect to the input
voltage
2. The output voltage of the transformer across the secondary
coil depends upon the ratio (Ns/N p) with respect to the input
voltage
3. There is a loss of power between input and output coil
of a transformer.

1. Keepsafeyourselffromhighvoltage.
2. WhiletakingthereadingsofcurrentandvoltagetheA.C
should remain constant.
 A BigTransformer

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 NCERTPhysicsLabManualClass 12
 Google Website

TheEnd