PHYSICS

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT (Step-

Down Transformer)

(SESSION: 2023-2024)
Under the Supervision of : Submitted By:

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that , student of Class XII,
Kendriya Vidyalaya Thakkolam, 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

CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION

2. OBJECTIVES

3. PRINCIPLE

4.CONSTRUCTION

5. THEORY

6.EFFICIENCY

7. CIRCUIT DAIGRAM

8.ENERGY LOSSES IN TRANSFORMER

9.USES

10.APPLICATIONS

11. PRECAUTIONS

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 convert highvoltage,

low- current power into low-voltage, highcurrent power.
 OBJECTIVE

Prepare a project on “STEP DOWN 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 changing,
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 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 S1S2,
the secondary coil through an open switch S. 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 loses due to the magnetic
iron core is also negligible.
THEORY

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

P1P2, 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, whole of the magnetic flux linked with
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
e.m.f.’s 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 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 of P1P2
coil, then the instantaneous current Ip in the primary coil is
given by

Ip = (E – Ep) / R

E – Ep) = Ip Rp

When the resistance of the primary is small, Rp Ip 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
= Ep Ip And
Output power at the same instant =Es Is If there are no losses of power in the
transformer, then
 EFFICIENCY

Efficiency of a transformer is defined as the ratio of

output power to the input power. i.e.

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

Thus in an ideal transformer, where there is no power losses,

η=1
But in actual practice, there are many power losses, therefore the
efficiency of transformer is less than one.
CIRCUITDIAGRAM
 ENERGYLOSSES

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 iron core. It is minimized by taking laminated
cores.

3. Leakage of magnetic flux:-

4. occurs in spite of best insulations. Therefore, rate of change
of magnetic flux linked with each turn of S1S2 is less than the
rate of change of magnetic flux linked with each turn of
P1P2.

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

USESOFTRANSFORMER

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 transformer is to increases voltage before

transmitting electrical energy over long distance 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 there for
low- current) form for transmission and back again afterward,
transformers enable economical transmission of power over long
distance. 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. Transformer 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 used 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. Transformer are essential for high-
voltage electrical power transmission, which makes long-
distance transmission economically practical. Single and audio
transformer are used to couple stages of amplifier and to match
devices such as microphones and record players to the input of
the amplifiers. Audio transformer allowed telephone circuit to
carry on a twoway 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

1) 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 distance at
extremely high voltages. This reduces I in the same ratio.
Therefore, I2R becomes negligibly low.

2) Permeability of magnetic material of transformer core must

be high.

3) Oiling in transformer provides insulation as well as cooling.

4) The transformer core must be laminated to minimize loss of

energy due to eddy currents.

5) Safety from high voltage is maintained