Delhi Scottish School

2016-2017

Investigatory
PROJECT
TRANSFORMERS
Submitted by: Riteish Sharma
Summited to: Mrs.
Komaljeet Kaur
CLASS: XII
Roll No: -

Certificate
This is to certify that Riteish Sharma, student of
Class XII, Delhi Scottish School, has completed
the project titled Transformers during the
academic year 2016-2017 towards partial
fulfillment of credit for the Physics practical
evaluation of CBSE 2017, and submitted
satisfactory report, as compiled in the following
pages, under supervision of Subject Teacher
Mrs. Komaljeet mam

Signature
Signature
(Examiner)
Teacher)

(Subject

Acknowledgements
"There are times when silence speaks so much more
loudly than words of praise to only as good as belittle a
person, whose words do not express, but only put a
veneer over true feelings, which are of gratitude at this
point of time."
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my
physics mentor for his vital support, guidance and
encouragement, without which this project would not
have come forth. I would also like to express my
gratitude to the staff of the Department of Physics at
Delhi Scottish School for their support during the
making of this project.

They are so important in our

lives that without them even
the electric bells fitted in our
homes wont work.

Index

Introduction
Principle
Construction
Theory and Working
Step-down Transformer
Step-up Transformer
Efficiency
Energy Loss
Uses of Transformer
Bibliography

INTRODUCTION
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 is most widely
used device in both low and high current 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 stepdown

transformer.

Transformer

is,

therefore,

an

essential piece of apparatus both for high and low

current circuits.

Close-up of single-phase pole mount transformer.

PRINCIPLE
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.

CONSTRUCTION
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 the
same core, but are well insulated with each other. Note
that the both the coils are insulated from the core, the
source of alternating e.m.f is connected to p1p2, the

primary coil and a load resistance R is connected to s 1

s2, the secondary coil through an open switch S. thus
there can be no current through the sec. coil so long as
the switch is open. For an 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.

An ideal voltage step-down transformer. The secondary

current arises from the action of the secondary EMF on the
(not shown) load impedance. The ideal transformer as a circuit
element

THEORY AND WORKING

When an altering e.m.f. is supplied to the primary coil
p1p2, 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 goodtransformer, whole of the magnetic flux linked with
primary is also linked with the secondary, and then the
induced e.m.f. induced in each turn of the secondary is
equal to that induced in each turn of the 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, D / dt = rate of change of flux

in each turn of the coil at this instant, we have
Ep = -Np D/dt
Es = -Ns D/dt

(1)
(2)

Since the above relations are true at every instant, so

by dividing 2 by 1, we get
E s / Ep = - N s / 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 the applied and back e.m.f.
further if Rp is the resistance o, p1p2 coil, then the
instantaneous current Ip in the primary coil is given by

I =E Ep / Rp ;

E Ep = Ip Rp
When the resistance of the primary is small, R p Ip can
be neglected so therefore
E Ep = 0 or Ep = E
Thus back e.m.f = input e.m.f
Hence equation 3 can be written as E s / Ep = Es / E =
output e.m.f / input e.m.f = Ns / Np = K
Where K is constant, called turn or transformation ratio.

In a step down transformer

Es < E so K < 1, hence Ns < Np

If Ip=value of primary current at the same instant t
And Is =value of sec. current at this instant, then Input
power at the instant t = Ep Ip and 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 I p = E s Is
Es / Ep =Ip / Is =

Or
K

In a step up transformer
As k > 1, so Ip > Is or Is < 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 in a 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.

Es > E so K > 1, hence Ns >

EFFICIENCY
Efficiency of a transformer is defined as the ratio
of output power to the input power i.e.

 = output power / input power = Es Is / Ep Ip

Thus in an ideal transformer, where there is no
power losses, = 1. But in actual practice, there
are many power losses; therefore, the efficiency
of transformer is less than one.

ENERGY LOSSES
In practice, the output energy of a transformer is
always less than the input energy, because energy
losses occur due to a number of reasons as explained
below.
1. Loss of Magnetic Flux: The coupling between the
coils is 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,
Eddy currents are produced. The magnitude of eddy
current may, however be small. And a part of energy is
lost as the heat produced in the iron core.
3. Copper Loss: In practice, the coils of the
transformer possess resistance. So a part of the energy
is lost due to the heat produced in the resistance of the
coil.
4. Hysteresis Loss: The alternating current in the coil
tapes the iron core through complete cycle of
magnetization. So Energy is lost due to hysteresis.
5. Magneto restriction: The alternating current in
the Transformer may be set its parts in to vibrations
and sound may be produced. It is called humming.
Thus, a part of energy may be lost due to humming.

USES OF TRANSFORMER
In voltage regulator for T.V., refrigerator, computer, a
transformer is used in almost all A.C. operations
air conditioner etc.
In the induction furnaces.
A step down transformer is used for welding
purposes.

 A step down transformer is used for obtaining large

current.
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.

A Big Transformer

Bibliography
The data used in this project was
taken from the following sources:
www.google.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.scribd.com