HSC Physics Module 9.

3 Motors and Generators

Transformers Review
Background Information:

HSC Physics Module 9.3 Motors and Generators

A transformer is a device that changes a high alternating voltage at low current to a low alternating voltage at
high current or vice-versa.
Transformers are essential for:
electrical power transmission from power stations to the consuming loads (households and factories),
regulating voltages for proper operation of electrical appliances such as mains-operated television
and record player.
Making a magnet stronger or weaker will produce a changing magnetic field. We can do this by changing the
current in an electromagnet (the primary coil). lf another coil of wire (the secondary coil) is within the
magnetic field of the primary coil, the changing magnetic field flux lines will cut (go past) the secondary coil
and induce a current.
The primary and secondary coils are wound on a laminated soft-iron core (to pull the magnetic field lines
closer together and concentrate flux lines), which consists of thin sheets of soft-iron insulated from each
other by a coat of lacquer.
The lamination of the soft-iron core is to minimize the heat loss due to induced currents (eddy currents) that
could be formed in an otherwise unlaminated core.
The two coils are not connected electrically. The only link between them is the magnetism going through the
laminated soft-iron core.

The Operating Principle

(i) When an alternating voltage, hence an alternating current (lP) is applied to the primary coil, this will set up
a continuously changing magnetic flux in the primary coil.
(ii) The changing magnetic flux is then linked to the secondary coil by the closed soft-iron core, inducing a
similarly alternating e.m.f. of the same frequency. lf the secondary coil is connected to a load resistor, then an
alternating current (IS) flows.
(iii) The direction of the induced current in the secondary coil can be found by Lenz's Law.
(iv) A step-up transformer is one where the e.m.f. in the secondary coil is greater than the e.m.f. in the
primary coil. A step-down transformer is one where the e.m.f. in the secondary coil is less than the e.m.f. in
the primary coil.
(v) lt can be shown that:

VS/VP = NS/NP
* NS/NP is commonly called the turns ratio.
(vi) NS/NP >1 for a step-up transformer; NS/NP <1 for a step-down transformer.
(vii) For an ideal transformer (i.e. 100% efficient), the power supplied to the primary coil is fully transferred to
the secondary coil. By the Principle of Conservation of Energy, power in the primary coil = power in the
secondary coil, i.e. VP.IP = VS.lS
(viii) Combine the two equations: VP.IP = VS.lS and VS/VP = NS/NP, we can obtain this equation:

VS/VP = NS/NP=IP/IS
(ix) Transformers are not 100% efficient in reality. As the current flows through the coils some heat will be
produced. The output of a real transformer will be less than predicted by our calculations. So sometimes you
will be asked for the Percentage Efficiency of a transformer.
(x) Efficiency of a transformer is given by: Efficiency = Useful power (or energy) output x 100%
Total power input

HSC Physics Module 9.3 Motors and Generators

Energy Losses and Remedies on the Operating Principle
In real situations, transformers are not 100% efficient and do have some energy losses. This is due to the four
main causes below:
Heat losses - heat is lost in the copper wires of the primary and secondary coils. In order to minimise
heat loss, thicker copper wires are used for primary and secondary coils and/or use external cooling systems
to cool the overall temperature of the transformer.
Flux leakage - Not all magnetic flux produced by the primary coil is linked to the secondary coil. In
order to minimize flux leakage, primary and secondary coils are wound on the same part of the soft iron core
to reduce leakage of magnetic flux.
Eddy current losses - induced eddy currents flow in the soft iron core due to flux changes in the
material and hence, will impede the generation of the flux linkage. In order to minimise eddy currents, the
soft iron core is cut into insulated fine laminations along the direction of the eddy current.
Hysteresis losses - the magnetisation of the iron does not follow exactly the magnetic field caused by
the alternating current but lags behind due to internal magnetic friction. The lag is called hysteresis. ln order
to minimize hysteresis losses, use extremely magnetic soft iron material as its core.

Practice Questions:
1. The circuit in the diagram below shows a resistor R connected to a 5.0 V d.c. power supply through a
transformer of turns ratio 1:10 (turns in primary coil: turns in secondary coil).

What is the voltage across R?

A) 0 V
B) 5 V

C) 50 V

D) 100 V

2. Three coils P, Q and R are wrapped around a soft iron core as shown. P has N turns while Q and R both have
N/2 turns. Two lamps are connected as shown.

Assume that the transformer is 100% efficient. lf P is connected to a 400V a.c. supply, the current passing
through P is:
A) 0.25 A
B) 0.5 A
C) 1.0 A
D) 2.0 A

HSC Physics Module 9.3 Motors and Generators

3. Which statement about the action of a transformer is correct?
A) An alternating current always flows in the secondary coil when an alternating voltage is applied to the
primary coil.
B) The current in the secondary coil is always larger than the current in the primary coil.
C) An e.m.f. is induced in the secondary coil when a steady direct current flows in the primary coil.
D) An e.m.f. is induced in the secondary coil when an alternating voltage is applied to the primary coil.
4. The diagram below illustrates the step-up transformer.

a) Complete labels (i) to (v) above.

b) Fill in the gaps in the sentences below:
In the diagram above, the left-hand side of the soft-iron core (input coil) is known as the _______________
coil while the right-hand side of the soft-iron core (output coil) is known as the _______________ coil. The
________________coil is supplied with alternating current.
For a step-up transformer, the number of turns in the primary coil is_________________ than the number
of turns in the secondary coil. The turns ratio is proportional to the ratio _______________________. Thus
the potential difference in the secondary coil is ______________than the potential difference in the primary
coil for a step-up transformer.

5. For the soft-iron core transformer shown below, input current in the primary coil (IP) = 10 A, number of
turns on secondary coil (NS) = 20 turns, and output current in the secondary coil (IS) = 30 A.

HSC Physics Module 9.3 Motors and Generators

Calculate:
a) input power (1 mark)
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b) output power. (Assume the transformer is ideal.)(1 mark)
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c) output voltage, VS. (2 marks)
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d) the ratio NP/NS.
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6. The diagram below shows a stepped-down transformer. There are 1440 turns on the primary coil and 72
turns on the secondary coil. The primary coil is connected to the 240 V, 50 Hz mains supply. A 600 resistor is
connected across the secondary coil.

Assuming that the transformer has a efficiency of I00%, determine:

a) the voltage across the 600 resistor
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HSC Physics Module 9.3 Motors and Generators

b) the current in the secondary coil.
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c) the current in the primary coil.
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