Electromagnetic Induction 255

i.e., cos p*0 or P 0

Therefore a choke coil
Hence choke coils controls the current in an AC circuit without much
are preferred to power lOSs.
Choke coils are used resistors to control currents.
1. to
2. to
regulate currents in ac circuits,
separate audio frequencies from
3. to vary the radio,
intensities of lamps
4. in
electronic power supply unitsworking on ac mains,
5. in as filters and
mercury vapour lamps
working onac supply.
Transformer
A transtormer is a device used
mutual induction. It is an for varying AC voltages. It works on the
indispensable device principle of
distribution. in electrical
power transmission and
When electrical.
power is transmitted over
large
high voltage and low current in distances,
transmit power ata it is economical to
heating effect of electric current. So the order to minimise the loss due to
receiving end the AC power mustvoltage
is stepped
At the
be at a
up at a generating station.
electrical appliances. Hence low voltage. so as to operate various
voltage is stepped down at the
transformer is the device used for this
purpose.
receiving end. The
It consists of two coils P
called
primary and S called secondary
wound on the same laminated
soft
iron core (Fig. 17.24). The
alternating P 5
emf to be stepped up or stepped down Primary
is applied to the
primary coil. The Secondary
output of the altered emf is obtained
across the secondary
iron core
Working: As the current through the
primary varies the magnetic flux
linked with the secondary also Fig: 17.24
changes. As a result an alternating emf of the same frequency is induced across the
secondary. The magnitude of the induced voltage depends on the voltage across the
primary and also on the number of turns in the primary and secondary.
If Vp and Vs_ are the input
and output voltages respectively
and np and n_ the
number of turns in the primary and secondary respectively then,
Vs TsT (1)
VP
 256 Electromagnetic Induction

where Tis called the turns ratio.

IfT> 1 then n > n, and Vs> Vp. The output voltage is greater than the input

w voltage. Such a step up transformer.

transformer is called a

IfT<1 then ng <n,and Vs <Vp The output voltage is less than the input voltage.
3 Such a transformer is called a step down transformer.
Power input = Vplp and Power output = Vs1s
where p and 1, are the currents in the primary and secondary respectively. For an
dideal transformer with no power loss,
Power output = power input

i.e, VsIs = VJp

or . (2)

From eqn. (2), if Vs> Vp then Is <lp Thus a step up transformer steps down the
current. Similarly if Vs < V, then Is > Ip Thus a step down transformer steps up the
current.
In practice the output power is always less than the input power, because of the
following power losses
1. Loss due to heating: As the coils offer a certain resistance heat is produced in them.
This loss can be minimised using wires of suitable thickness.
2. Loss due to flux leakage:The magnetic flux passing through every turn of the
primary may not pass through every turn of the secondary. This loss is minimised by
winding the coils in a specific manner.
3. Loss due to eddy currents: The change in the magnetic flux linked with the core gives
rise to induced currents on the surface of the core. These currents are called eddy
currents and they cause heat to be developed in the core. These currents are
minimised by increasing the resistance of the core. This is achieved by laminating the
core. The laminations are separated from one another by insulating material.
4. Hysteresis loss : As the core of the transformer is taken through cycles of
magnetisation, sóme power is lost in the form of heat. This loss is minimised by using
materials with narrow hysteresis loop for building the core.

AC ammeters and Voltmeters

In the moving coil meters discussed earlier, we have seen that the current I 1s

proportional to the deflection. These meters are not suitable for measuring AC as the
voltage or current reverses every half cycle. Instruments for measuring A a
flows in
designed such that the pointer deflects in the same direction when current