PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
(Step-Down Transformer)

(SESSION: 2023-2024)
Sri Vignesh Public School
(WORAIYUR)

Under the Supervision of Submitted By:

Ms Sadhvika Mam Pradeesh
Class:- XII-B
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that PRADEESH, student of Class XII-B,
Sri Vignesh Public School, Woraiyur has completed the
project titled Transformer during the academic year
2023-2024 towards partial fulfillment of credit for the
Physics practical evaluation of CBSE 2024, and submitted
satisfactory report, as compiled in the following pages,
under my supervision.

Principal Physics lecturer

Mrs KIRUTHIKA SADHVIKA MAM
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to

my physics mentor Ms.Sadhvika mam for her vital
support, guidance and encouragement, without
which this project would not have come forth. I
would also like to express my gratitude to the
other staff of the Department of Physics for
their support during the making of this project.

(Pradeesh)
 CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. OBJECTIVES
3. PRINCIPLE
4. CONSTRUCTION
5. THEORY
6. EFFICIENCY
7. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
8. ENERGY LOSSES IN
TRANSFORMER
9. USES
10. APPLICATIONS
11. PRECAUTIONS
12. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION

TRANSFORMER

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.

A transformer which increases the A.C. voltage

is called a “Step up transformer.’
A transformer which decreases the A.C. voltage
is called a “Step down transformer”
A STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER

A step-down transformer is one whose secondary

voltage is less than its primary voltage. It is
designed to reduce the voltage from the primary
winding to the secondary winding. This kind of
transformer “step down” the voltage applied to
it

As a step-down unit, the transformer converts

high-voltage, low-current power into
low-voltage, high-current power.

A STEP UP TRANSFORMER

A step-up transformer is one whose primary

voltage is less than its secondary voltage. It
is designed to increase the voltage from the
primary winding to the secondary winding. This
kind of transformer “step up” the voltage
applied to it

As a step-up unit, the transformer converts

low-voltage, high-current power into
high-voltage, low-current power.
 OBJECTIVE
Prepare a project on “STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER” &
“STEP UP TRANSFORMER”.
 PRINCIPLE
A Transformer is based on the principle of
mutual induction. According to this principle,
“When the amount of magnetic flux linked with a
coil changes, an e.m.f. is induced in the
neighboring coil.”
 CONSTRUCTION

A transformer consists of a rectangular shaft

iron core made of laminated sheets, well
insulated from one another. Two coils P and S
are wound on the same core, but are well
insulated with each other. Note that both the
coils are insulated from the core. The source of
alternating e.m.f. is connected to P, the
primary coil and a load resistance R is
connected to S, the secondary coil through an
open switch Sw. Thus there can be no current
through the secondary coil as 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 losses due to
the magnetic iron core is also negligible.
 THEORY

When an alternating e.m.f. is supplied to the

primary coil P, an alternating current starts
flowing in it. The alternating current in the
primary coil produces a changing magnetic flux,
which induces alternating voltage in the primary
as well as in the secondary coil. In a good
transformer, the whole of the magnetic flux
linked with the primary coil is also linked with
the secondary coil, then the induced e.m.f.
induced in each turn of the secondary coil is
equal to that induced in each turn of the
primary coil. Thus if Ep and Es be the
instantaneous values of the emfs’ induced in the
primary coil and the secondary coil and Np and
Ns are the number of turns of the primary and
secondary coils of the transformer and
dфь / dt = rate of change of flux in each turn of
the coil
At this instant, we have
Ep = -Np dфь/dt (i)

Es = -Ns dфь/dt (ii)

Since the above relations are true at every

instant, so by dividing (ii) by (i), we get
Es / Ep = - Ns / Np (iii)

As Ep is the instantaneous value of back e.m.f.

induced in the primary coil P, so the
instantaneous current in the 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 of P coil, then the
instantaneous current Ip in the primary coil is
given by;
Ip = (E – Ep) / Rp
(E – Ep) = Ip Rp
When the resistance of the primary is small, Rp
can be neglected so therefore
E – Ep = 0 or Ep = E

Thus back e.m.f. = input e.m.f.

Hence equation (iii) can be written as
Es / 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 = EpIp
And Output power at the same instant = EsIs

If there are no losses of power in the

transformer, then

Input power = Output power

EpIp = EsIs
Es/Ep = Ip/Is = K
ILLUSTRATION
 EFFICIENCY
Efficiency of a transformer is defined as the
ratio of output power to the input power. I.E.

η = output power / input power = EsIs / EpIp

Thus in an ideal transformer, where there are no

power losses, η = 1. But in actual practice,
there are many power losses, therefore the
efficiency of the transformer is less than one.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
 ENERGY LOSSES
Following are the major sources of energy loss
in a transformer:

1. Copper loss: is the energy loss in the form

of heat in the copper coils of a transformer.
This is due to joule heating of conducting
wires.

2. Iron loss: is the energy loss in the form of

heat in the iron core of the transformer.
This is due to formation of eddy currents in
the iron core. It is minimized by taking
laminated core.

3. Leakage of magnetic flux: occurs in spite of

best insulations. Therefore, the rate of
change of magnetic flux linked with each turn
of S is less than the rate of change of
magnetic flux linked with each turn of P.
4.Hysteretic loss: is the loss of energy due to
repeated magnetization and demagnetization of
the iron core when A.C. is fed to it.

5.Magneto striation: i.e. humming noise of a

transformer.
 USES OF TRANSFORMER

A transformer is used in almost all A.C.

operations:-

1.In voltage regulator for T.V., refrigerator,

computer, air conditioner etc.

2.In the induction furnaces.

3.A step down transformer is used for welding

purposes.

4.A step down transformer is used for obtaining

large current.

5.In transmission of A.C. over long distance.

 APPLICATIONS

A major application of a transformer is to

increase voltage before transmitting electrical
energy over long distances through wires. Wires
have resistance and so dissipate electrical
energy at a rate proportional to the square of
the current through the wire. By transforming
electrical power to a high-voltage (and
therefore low- current) form for transmission
and back again afterward, transformers enable
economical transmission of power over long
distances. Consequently, transformers have
shaped the electrical supply industry,
permitting generation to be located remotely
from points of demand. All but a tiny fraction
of the world’s electrical power has passed
through a series of transforms by the time it
reaches the consumer.
Transformers are also used extensively in
electronic products to step down the supply
voltage to a level suitable for the low voltage
circuits they contain.
The transformer also electrically isolates the
end user from contact with the supply voltage.
Transformer range in size from a thumbnail-sized
coupling transformer hidden inside a stage
microphone to huge unit weighing

hundreds of tons used in power stations, or to

interconnect portions of power grids. 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 nearly
all electronic devices designed for household
(“mains”) voltage. Transformers are essential
for high-voltage electrical power transmission,
which makes long-distance transmission
economically practical.
Single and audio transformers are used to couple
stages of amplifiers and to match devices such
as microphones and record players to the input
of the amplifiers. Audio transformers allowed
telephone circuits to carry on a two-way
conservation over a single pair of wires. A
balun transformer converts a single that is
referenced to ground to a signal that has
balanced voltage to ground, such as between
external cables and internal circuits.
 PRECAUTIONS

⦁ The loss of power in the transmission lines is

I2 R, where I is strength of current and R is the
resistance of wires. To reduce the power loss,
a.c. is transmitted over long distances at
extremely high voltages. This reduces I in the
same ratio. Therefore, I2R becomes negligibly
low.

⦁ Permeability of the magnetic material of the

transformer core must be high.

⦁ Oiling in the transformer provides insulation

as well as cooling.

⦁ The transformer core must be laminated to

minimize loss of energy due to eddy currents.

⦁ Safety from high voltage is maintained.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

⦁ Physics textbook for class XII