UNIT G485

Module 1
5.1.3
Electromagnetism
For an IDEAL transformer :





















Transmission of electricity over long distances is much more efficient at
HIGH VOLTAGE than it is at LOW VOLTAGE.

This is because for a given amount of electrical power being transmitted :

POWER (P) = VOLTAGE (V) x CURRENT (I)

So, THE HIGHER THE VOLTAGE, THE LOWER THE CURRENT.

And since : POWER LOSS = CURRENT
2
x RESISTANCE of
Transmission cable


Transformers are needed to step-up the alternating voltage of the
electricity generated in power stations so that it can be transmitted
over long distances with the minimum power loss.

Step-down transformers are then used to decrease the voltage of the
electricity supplied to consumers.

Since electromagnetic induction requires a varying magnetic flux linkage,
transformers only work with alternating current and that is why the
electricity generated in power stations is alternating and not direct.
FXA 2008
electrical power input = electrical power output
to the primary coil from the secondary coil

Primary current x primary voltage = secondary current x secondary voltage

I
p
x V
p
= I
s
x V
s






In a STEP-UP transformer, the VOLTAGE is
INCREASED and the CURRENT is DECREASED.

In a STEP-DOWN transformer, the VOLTAGE is
DECREASED and the CURRENT is INCREASED.

I
p
= V
s
= N
s

I
s
V
p
N
p

HIGH VOLTAGE = LOW CURRENT = LOW POWER LOSS.
11



Consider a power station generating 1 MW of electricity which is then
going to undergo long distance transmission.

Calculate the power lost in the transmission cables if these have an
electrical resistance of 400 and the electricity is transmitted at :

(a) 25 kV, (b) 400kV.


(a) current in cables, I
1
= P = 1 x 10
6
= 40 A
V
1
2.5 x 10
4


Power loss = I
1
2
x R = 40
2
x 400 = 640 000 W =


(b) current in cables, I
2
= P = 1 x 10
6
= 2.5 A
V
2
4 x 10
5


Power loss = I
2
2
x R = 2.5
2
x 400 = 2500 W =




These calculations show that when the transmission voltage is HIGH,
the power lost as heat in the cables is very LOW and when the voltage
is LOW, more than half of the electrical power is lost in transmission.
WHY ELECTRICAL POWER HAS TO BE TRANSMITTED AT HIGH VOLTAGE
0.64 MW
2.5 kW
UNIT G485
Module 1
5.1.3
Electromagnetism
PRACTICE QUESTIONS (3)

1 A step-up transformer has a primary coil with 200 turns. It is used
to increase the mains voltage of 230 V to 5.5 KV a.c.

(a) Calculate the number of turns in the secondary coil.

(b) When the current in the secondary coil is 0.15 A, what is the
current in the primary coil? What assumption have you made to
work this out?

2 A transformer having a primary coil of 1000 turns is used to step
down an alternating voltage of 230 V to 12 V.

(a) calculate the number of turns on the secondary coil.


(b) The transformer is used to supply power to a 12 V, 60 W lamp.
Calculate the current in :

(i) the secondary coil,
(ii) the primary coil when the lamp is on.


(c) The lamp is connected to the transformer by means of a cable
of resistance 0.4 .

(i) Estimate the power wasted due to the heating effect of
the current in the cable.

(ii) Discuss whether or not it would be better to replace the
lamp and transformer with a 230 V, 60 W lamp connected
to the mains using the same cable.
HOMEWORK QUESTIONS 12

1 (a) An aircraft is flying horizontally at a constant speed (v) close to
the North Pole. Fig 1. shows the aircraft viewed from above.
The vertical component (B) of the Earths magnetic field is
indicated by crosses.











(i) A wire stretches from wing tip P to wing tip Q. Each free
electron, charge e, in the wire experiences a force along
the wire. Write down an expression for this force.

(ii) On Fig 1. mark with an arrow, the direction of this force.

(iii) Explain why a steady voltage is induced between the wing
tips.

(b) The vertical component (B) of the Earths magnetic field is
5.0 x 10
-5
T. The aircraft is flying at 200 m s
-1
. The distance
PQ between the wing tips is 40 m.

(i) Calculate the force exerted by the magnetic field on each
electron in the wire.

(ii) Hence, or otherwise, calculate the voltage induced between
the wing tips.
(OCR A2 Physics - Module 2824 - January 2002)
FXA 2008

Fig 1.
UNIT G485
Module 1
5.1.3
Electromagnetism
2 Fig 2. shows a square flat coil of insulated wire placed in a region of
uniform magnetic field of flux density (B). The direction of the field
is vertically out of the paper. The coil of side (x) has (N) turns.


(a) (i) Define the term
magnetic flux.


(ii) Show that the
magnetic flux
linkage of the coil
in Fig 2. is NBx
2
.


(iii) The coil of side x = 0.020 m is placed at position Y in Fig 3.
The ends of the 1250 turn coil are connected to a voltmeter.
The coil moves sideways steadily through the region of
magnetic field of flux density 0.032 T at a speed of
0.10 m s
-1

(i) Show that the voltmeter reading as the coil enters the 13
field region, after t = 0.2 s, is 80 mV. Explain your
reasoning fully.
(ii) On Fig 4. shown below, draw a graph of the voltmeter
reading against time for the motion of the coil from Y to Z.
Label the y-axis with a suitable scale.












3 A single-turn square coil of side 0.050 m is placed in a magnetic field of flux
density (B) of magnitude 0.026 T.
(a) The coil is placed in three different orientations to the field as shown
in Fig 5 (a), (b) & (c). In (a) the plane of the coil is perpendicular to the
field. In (b), it is at 45 to the field and in (c), it is parallel to the field.










Calculate the value, giving a suitable unit, of the magnetic flux linking the
coil for the position shown in :

(i) Fig 5 (a), (ii) Fig 5 (b), (iii) Fig 5 (c).

FXA 2008

Fig 2.

Fig 3.

Fig 4.

Fig 5.
UNIT G485
Module 1
5.1.3
Electromagnetism
(b) The coil is rotated in the magnetic field to generate an e.m.f. across its
ends. The graph of the variation of e.m.f. with time is shown in Fig 6.















(i) On Fig 6 mark, with an X, a point on the graph at a time when the
flux linking the coil is a maximum.

(ii) Give your reasoning for your choice of position X.

(iii) The rate of rotation of the coil is doubled. On Fig 6. draw a graph
showing at least two cycles of the e.m.f. now generated across
the ends of the coil.

(OCR A2 Physics - Module 2824 - January 2005)



4 This question is about electromagnetic induction.

(a) State Faradays law of electromagnetic induction. Explain the terms
magnetic flux and magnetic flux linkage, which you may have used in
your statement of the law.
14

(b) Fig 7. shows a simple a.c.
generator used for
demonstrations in the
laboratory. It consists
of a magnet being rotated
inside a cavity in a soft
iron core. The output
from the coil, wound on
the iron core, is connected
to an oscilloscope.


Sketch on the grid of Fig 8. a typical output voltage which would be
seen on the oscilloscope screen.
State and explain, using Faradays law and/or the terms given in (a),
how doubling each of the following factors will alter this output
voltage :
The speed of rotation of the magnet.
The number of turns of the coil.
Finally, explain how the output voltage would be different if the iron
core were removed, leaving the magnet and core in the same positions.
FXA 2008
Fig 6
Fig 7
Fig 8
UNIT G485
Module 1
5.1.3
Electromagnetism
5 Fig 9. shows a simple transformer used for demonstrations in the laboratory.
It consists of two coils linked by a laminated soft iron core. The primary coil
is connected to a signal generator and the secondary coil to a voltage sensor,
interface and computer. The number of turns on the secondary coil is double
that on the primary coil.

(a) (i) Draw on Fig 9.the
complete paths of
two lines of magnetic
flux linked with the
current in the
primary coil.

(ii) Define the term
magnetic flux.
(iii) Explain how magnetic flux linkage differs from magnetic flux.
(iv) Use Faradays law of electromagnetic induction to explain why an
alternating current is necessary in the primary coil for a voltage
to be detected across the secondary coil.

(b) Fig 10 shows the computer screen in the demonstration where the number
of turns on the secondary coil is double that on the primary coil.












(i) Show that the frequency of the supply is 50 Hz.
(ii) Calculate the amplitude of the supply voltage.

(OCR A2 Physics - Module 2824 - January 2003)
6 A spark plug is the device in a petrol engine which ignites the fuel-air 15
mixture, causing an explosion in the cylinder.
(a) A potential difference of 40 kV is needed across a gap of 0.60 mm to
produce the spark which ignites the fuel vapour. Calculate the magnitude
of the electric field strength in the spark gap just before the spark.

(b) The electrical supply in a motor car is 12 V. To achieve 40 kV, two coils
are wound on the same iron core, shown schematically in Fig 11. The
secondary coil is in series with the spark gap. The primary coil is in series
with the battery and a switch.













(i) Draw on Fig 11. the complete paths of two lines of magnetic flux
linked with the current in the primary coil.

(ii) The magnetic flux through both coils is the same, but the
magnetic flux linkage is not. Explain why.

(iii) Explain why a potential difference is produced across the spark
gap as the switch is opened.

(iv) Explain how each of the following factors influences the size of the
potential difference across the spark gap :

1. The rate of collapse of the magnetic flux.
2. The ratio of the number of turns between the primary
and secondary coils.

(OCR A2 Physics - Module 2824 - June 2008)
FXA 2008
Fig 9.
Fig 10.






12 V
switc
Iron core
Spark gap
Fig 11.
UNIT G484
Module 2
4.2.3



FXA 2008
UNIT G484
Module 2
4.2.3



FXA 2008
UNIT G484
Module 2
4.2.3



FXA 2008
UNIT G484
Module 2
4.2.3



FXA 2008
UNIT G484
Module 2
4.2.3



FXA 2008