Unit

22b

5. GENERATORS
Applications of
Electromagnetic Induction
 Useful websites
**Generator
http://www.sciencejoywagon.com/physicszone/lesson/otherp
ub/wfendt/generatorengl.htm
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/electromag/java/generator/ac.html

** Transformer
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/electromag/java/transformer/index.html

*Faraday’s Law
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/electromag/java/faraday/index.html
 OBJECTIVES
• Describe a simple form of a.c. generator
(rotating coil or rotating magnet), the use
of carbon brushes and slip rings (where
needed).

• Sketch a graph of voltage output against

time for a simple a.c. generator.
 OBJECTIVES
• Describe the structure and principle of
operation of a simple iron-cored
transformer as used for voltage
transformations.
• Recall the equations Vp/Vs = Np/Ns and VpIp
= VsIs (ideal transformers).
• Apply the relationships between Vp, Vs, Np,
Ns, Ip and Is to new situations or to solve
related problems.
 5. Alternating Current
Generators
• The direction of the
induced current in the
coil can be found using
Fleming’s Right-Hand
Rule
Manchester Football
Club
Motion Field Current
OR Mother Father
Child
 5.1 Simple Alternating Current
Generator consists of
a. Carbon brushes provide
electrical contact with the
slip ring so that current can
flow out to an external
circuit.

b. Slip rings are to ensure

that the voltage is
alternating every half cycle.
C. A rectangular coil of wire which rotates in
the magnetic field of a permanent magnet.
 a. Carbon brushes provide
electrical contact with
the slip ring so that
current can flow out to an
external circuit.

b. Slip rings are to ensure

that the voltage is
alternating every half cycle.

Explanation:
As the coil rotates, it sides cut the
magnetic field, and an e.m.f. and hence a
current is induced.
 B
Motion and Field
are at right
angle=> Maximum
induced e.m.f.
 Motion and
B Field are
parallel =>
ZERO
induced
e.m.f.
Alternating Current
Generators

Motion and Field

are at right
angle=> Maximum
induced e.m.f.
B
Alternating Current
Generators
Motion and
Field are
parallel =>
ZERO
induced
e.m.f.

B
 Maximum current from
B to A

‘Maximum current ‘ from

A to B
 the a.c. generator
voltage output of an a.c. generator
ƒƒ when
when the
the coil
coil is
is horizontal,
horizontal,
oo rate
rate at
at which
which it
it cuts
cuts the
the magnetic
magnetic lines
lines of
of force
force is
is greatest
greatest
since
since motion
motion and
and field
field are
are at
at right
right angle.
angle.
oo induced
induced eletromotive
eletromotive force
force (e.m.f.)
(e.m.f.) is
is maximum
maximum and and hence
hence
induced
induced current
current isis the
the maximum.
maximum.

one cycle
ƒƒ when
when the
the coil
coil is
is vertical,
vertical,
induced
e.m.f.

oo rate
rate at
at which
which itit cuts
cuts the
the magnetic
magnetic lines
lines of
amplitude of force
force isis least
least since
since
motion
motion and
and field
field are
are parallel.
parallel. time
oo induced
induced eletromotive
eletromotive forceforce (e.m.f.)
(e.m.f.) is is minimum(i.e.0)
minimum(i.e.0) and and
hence
hence induced
induced current
field
current is
is the minimum (i.e.0)
the minimum (i.e.0)..

positions of coil
 5.2 Graph of Voltage
Voltage
/v
Against Time
No of
coils Original
doubled

Time
/s

Doubling the number of turns in coil

 5.2 Graph of Voltage
Rotation
doubled
Against Time Original

Voltage
/v

Time
/s

Doubling the speed of rotation

 the a.c. generator
principle of a.c. generators
Induced e.m.f. of a generator can be increased by:
ƒ increasing the speed of rotation of the coil
ƒ increasing the number of turns in the coil
ƒ winding the coil
around a soft B C
iron core to N S
concentrate the
magnetic lines
of force through
the coil A X D
P

ƒ using stronger Q

magnets
Y
6. TRANSFORMER
Application of
Electromagnetic Induction
 transformers
Different electrical appliances need different working
voltages. Transformers are used to supply the different
voltage requirements of the appliances we use from the
mains supply of 240V.

transformers used in
electrical appliances

step-up transformer in a power station

 transformers
Faraday’s iron ring experiment

ƒ when the switch was closed, the needle of the compass

above wire XY deflected
ƒ when the switch was opened, the compass needle deflected
again
ƒ when a steady current was supplied in coil A, no deflection
occurred. Therefore if we want a constant current in coil B,
we have to use an A.C. supply as the magnitude of the
current in the coil A will be constantly varying.
 transformers
6.1 Basic iron-core transformer
Physical connection of primary and secondary coils in a
transformer:

primary secondary
coil coil

A.C. Supply lamp

soft iron core

primary coil is connected secondary coil is connected

to a.c. supply and a to a small lamp
switch
basic iron-core transformer
transformers
primary secondary
coil coil

a.c. supply lamp

soft iron
core

When the switch is closed,

ƒ the current in
in the
the coil
coil increases
increases from zero to maximum,
producing an increasing magnetic field in the primary coil
ƒ magnetic field induces a current in the secondary coil which
then lights up the lamp.
ƒ the continuous supply of alternating current ensures a
continuous e.m.f. and hence a current to be induced in the
secondary coil.
 transformers
basic iron-core transformer
primary secondary
coil coil

a.c. supply lamp

soft iron
core

When the switch is opened,

ƒ the current in the coil decreases to zero, producing a
decreasing magnetic field in the primary coil
ƒ magnetic field induces a current in the secondary coil in the
opposite direction which then lights up the lamp
 transformers
Therefore an
an A.C.
A.C. (alternating current) supply serves as an
an
alternative to constantly opening and closing the
circuit can be used for the primary coil.

primary secondary
coil coil

A.C.
supply lamp

soft iron core

primary coil is connected secondary coil is connected

to an A.C. supply to a small lamp

The alternating current will create a continually changing

magnetic field which will induce a current in the secondary
coil, thus lighting up the lamp all the time.
 transformers
principle of transformers
A transformer is used to change the voltage of an alternating
current, by having different number of turns in the primary
and secondary coils.
6.2 Types of transformer:
primary secondary
coil coil

a. step-up transformer

oo has
has more
more turns
turns in
in
secondary
secondary coil
coil than
than
in
in the
the primary
primary coil
coil
oo increases
increases the
the voltage
voltage
 transformers
principle of transformers
A transformer is used to change the voltage of an alternating
current, by having different number of turns in the primary
and secondary coils.
6.2 Types of transformer:
primary secondary
coil coil

b. step-down transformer

oo has
has fewer
fewer turns
turns inin
secondary
secondary coil
coil than
than in
in
the
the primary
primary coil
coil
oo decreases
decreases the
the voltage
voltage
 transformers
Turns ratio
For an ideal transformer (100% efficient),

primary secondary
coil coil
Ns
turns
turns ratio
ratio =
= N
p

secondary output voltage number of turns in secondary coil

=
=
primary input voltage number of turns in primary coil

Vs Ns
=
=
Vp Np
 transformers
turns ratio
If the transformer is 100% efficient,
input power = output power

V
VppIIpp =
=VVssIIss

Ip Vs Ns
=
= =
=
Is Vp Np
 transformers
practical transformer design
Design considerations can improve the efficiency of the
transformer:
ƒ effective soft magnetic material for the core
ƒ low-resistance copper
wires to reduce losing
energy in the form of
heat
ƒ laminated core can
reduce the flow of eddy
currents

laminated core
 transformers
practical transformer design
Design considerations can improve the efficiency of the
transformer:
ƒ special core design ensures
that the magnetic field
produced by the primary coil
is linked completely to the
secondary coil

both primary and

secondary coils wound
round the center core
 transformers
cardiac pacemaker
A pacemaker helps
to trigger
heartbeats in
people with chronic
heart conditions.
This device works
on the principle of
electromagnetic
induction.

coil with electrodes wired to the heart

 transformers
6.3 High voltage transmission
 transformers
power transmission
ƒ electricity generated at the power station is transmitted to
the mains through the use of cables
ƒ generator produces
a very high voltage
having electrical
power
ƒ power loss occurs
during long distance
power transmission;
solved by reducing
magnitude of the
transmission current
and stepping up the grid system for the transmission of electricity
voltage
 transformers
power transmission
ƒ power loss occurs during long distance power transmission
ƒ partly solved by reducing magnitude of the transmission
current and stepping up the voltage

grid system for the transmission of electricity

Why are practical
transformers not 100%
efficient?
• The coils of wire have some resistance. Energy is
lost in the form of heat produced by current
flowing in the coils.
• Current known as eddy currents are induced in
the iron core because the core is in a region of
changing magnetic field. Heat is therefore
produced in the core. This is reduced by using a
laminated core.
• Not all the magnetic field lines may be ‘cut’ by the
secondary coil.
THE END
Thank You!!