Physics

Investigatory Project

A C GENERATOR

A M Jain School

Class: - XI ‘C’

Name: - Vishwa .S

Tarun Nagarajan

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We solemnly take the opportunity to thank all the

helping hands who made us complete this project. First
of all we thank the Almighty for keeping us hale and
healthy in order to successfully complete our work.

We would like to show our sincere gratitude towards our

teacher Mrs Vidhya Lakshmi as well as Principal mam
for the sincere support and also for giving a golden
opportunity to do this project, which led us to research a
lot more in the topic 'AC-Generator' and helped to gain
more knowledge.

We learned more about the topic and we are thankful to

it. Secondly we would like to thank our family members
who helped us in completing the project within the time
frame.

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Last but not least we are thankful to other team members
for kindly co-operating with others in the process of
completing this project.

Sincerely,
Vishwa .S

Tarun .N

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 AGENDA

⮚ AIM

⮚ APPARATUS REQUIRED

⮚ THEORY :

● ELECTRO-MAGNETIC INDUCTION

● ALTERNATING CURRENT

⮚ METHODS OF PRODUCTION OF INDUCED

EMF/CURRENT

⮚ DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AC AND DC

⮚ APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATING CURRENT

⮚ ADVANTAGES

⮚ DISADVANTAGES

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⮚ PROCEDURE OF MAKING AC-GENERATOR

⮚ PRECAUTION

⮚ CONCLUSION

⮚ BIBLIOGRAPHY

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AIM:-

To understand the working of Alternating current

and make a generator model that produces Alternating
current.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:-

● Battery

● Electric Motor

● Switch

● Magnets

● Armature

● Bulb

● Cardboard

● Two Split rings

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 ● Two Brushes

● Connecting wires

● Glue

● Tape

● Alligator Clips

THEORY:-

Electro-Magnetic Induction :-

Electromagnetic Induction is a process in which an

Electro-Motive Force (Voltage) is produced across an
Electrical Conductor with varying magnetic fields or
magnetic flux. The theory of Electromagnetic Induction was
discovered by Michael Faraday in the year 1830. In the early
decades of the nineteenth century, experiments based on
Electric Current and Magnetism by many scientists proved

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that Electric Current and Magnetism are interrelated.
Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry discovered the fact that
magnetic fields are produced by moving electrical charges.
The principle of Electromagnetic Induction has led to the
development of modern day generators and transformers.

Alternating Current:-

Alternating current, abbreviation AC, flow of electric

charge that periodically reverses. It starts, say, from zero,
grows to a maximum, decreases to zero, reverses, reaches a
maximum in the opposite direction, returns again to the
original value, and repeats this cycle indefinitely. The
interval of time between the attainment of a definite value
on two successive cycles is called the period, the number of
cycles or periods per second is the frequency, and the
maximum value in either direction is the amplitude of the
alternating current.
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Low frequency ranges, such as 50 and 60 cycles per second
(hertz), are used for domestic and commercial power, but
alternating currents of frequencies around 100,000,000
cycles per second (100 megahertz) are used in television and
those of several thousand megahertz
in radar or microwave communication.

Lenz’s law also holds for the functioning of an AC generator

with the aid of magnets, because it was an essential part of
electromagnetic induction. It stated that the direction of emf
or the current induced due to it will oppose the change in
magnetic flux. Hence, in an AC generator, the direction of
induced current would change on both sides of magnitude,
to the maximum negative and positive amplitude, thus
creating an “alternating” current.

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METHODS OF PRODUCTION OF
ALTERNATING-CURRENT: -

As we know now, one can produce induced

emf/current by changing the magnetic flux linked
with the material.

ΦB = BA cosθ

Or

ΦB = B.A

As Magnetic linked depends on strength of

magnetic field, Area (Area of material kept under
magnetic field) and Angle (Between area vector
and magnetic field) We can change flux linked by
the following ways:

● By changing the strength of the magnetic field.

● By changing the relative motion between magnet

and the material.

● By changing the angle between Magnetic field

and the Area vector.

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 ● By changing the area present in the magnetic

field.
The benefits of varying the above factors is a direct
consequence of Faraday’s law of magnetic induction.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DC AND AC:-

DC AC
Flow of charges will be in only one Flow of charges will be reversed
direction. periodically.

The magnitude of current does not The magnitude of current changes

vary with time. with time.

The source of availability is Cell or The source of availability is Mains

Battery. or Generator.

Power Factor is always 1. Power factor lies between 0 to 1.

In a DC-circuit, resistance is only In AC-circuit, resistance is given by

given by resistors. resistors, capacitors and inductors.

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APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATING
CURRENT:-

❖ AC is the form of current that is mostly used in

different appliances. Some of the examples of

alternating current include audio signal, radio signal,
etc.

❖ The basic principle of an alternating current application

is AC generator, which is a direct consequence of

Faraday’s laws of Induction.

❖ This makes AC generators a useful apparatus in

experiments or conducted in industrial settings, or in

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 case of continuous power supply in the case of power
outage.

❖ Even when DC sources of current are present, which

power machines and appliances, it is often preferable to

convert to AC powered motors, as illustrated in the
example of an EV vehicle.

“The onboard charger changes alternately from AC to

Dc for charging efficiency.”

“AC - DC conversion makes it easier to maintain

control of the vehicle with utmost precision of speed
and torque, thus making it easier to manage power and
overall performance.”

❖ AC powered cell towers, switching centres, and powers

other telecommunication equipment as well. A

common observation is that AC provides continuous
and uninterrupted power for both industrial purposes
and telecommunication for uninterrupted use.

❖ Given that AC generators are used in a commercial and

functional sense, the functioning of the AC generator

can be understood as:

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 o A relative motion between rotating coils and the
magnetic field present in the setup, provided by
electromagnets, induces an alternating current.

- which ultimately allows for AC and AC powered

generators to be used in a varied bracket of appliances.

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ADVANTAGES:-

❖ Efficient power transformation

❖ Widely compatible, thus making it an industrial and

commercial standard.

❖ Transmitted over large distances with minimal

power loss.

❖ More control over frequency:

o It is more effortless to outright change the

frequency output of AC power, which is
directly proportional to the speed of the AC
motor. Thus by varying the speed of the
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 motor, it is possible to change the output
frequency.

❖ Alignment with AC generators:

o Since AC current provides variable speed

control, efficiency, while matching the
frequency of the motor with the AC source,
its functioning is compatible with that of
motors and in this case, generators.

❖ Easily generable:

o Thermal, Nuclear and Hydroelectric power

plants already produce electricity in the
format of AC , which is compatible with
existing AC power requirements.

Possible Shortcomings:
1. Issues in the fundamental frequency may disturb the
production of alternating current, which could have
arised due to improper synchronization.
2. Since AC generators contain rotating parts with
which they operate on, this would lead to
maintenance issues in the long run.
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 3. Unavoidable miscellaneous discharges of current
produced as an output of the generator during
transmission or within the generator itself.

PROCEDURE:

1. Make a base to act as a frame to hold the

spinning components.

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2. The neodymium magnets are arranged around
the spinning frame area such that it encloses
the spinning arms and facilitates rotation.
3. A length of copper coil required to wind the
entire arm of the frame is wounded.

The principle behind this is that the output

voltage will be maximised, while on a
downside, will increase the resistance of the
circuit,

Doing so will reduce the current in the circuit

due to the induced emf, which is however
sufficient to display the functioning principle
of AC motors.

4. The mounted coil is now connected to the ends

of a connecting wire with alligator clips at
their ends to attach with the circuit fan.
5. It should be attached so that it does not restrict
the free flow spinning of the rotating frame of
copper wire.

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 6. The relative motion of the magnet
continuously varies the projection of the
magnetic field, and thus the rotating coil
should be made to spin freely.
7. To test the working of the model, manually
spinning the rotating arm would induce emf as
explained in the working principle, and cause
the fan attached, to spin.
8. Varying the spin speed would vary the amount
of current passes. Once primary connection is
established, proceed to optimise and adjust the
coil orientation for maximum performance.

PRECAUTIONS:-

● Ensuring that the area of performing the experiment

is organised and well ventilated.

● The performer is well acquainted with the

functioning of electrical equipment and fully aware

of the objectives of the experiment.

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 ● Inspection of equipment, replacing faulty equipment

if any.

● Ensuring that all connections are made properly.

● Handling magnets carefully, to maximise their

magnetic retention.

CONCLUSION:-

The course of this report focused on providing the

reader a concise insight on the functioning of AC
current and AC powered appliances, while also
highlighting its imminent advantages and
shortcomings after discussing its working principles
and the ways it is being used to benefit human life,
also feeding the thought of any possible future
applications.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1) https://www.generatorsource.com/
How_Generators_Work.aspx
2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-
and-planetary-sciences/ac-generator
3) https://energyeducation.ca/
Alternating_current
4) https://www.electronicshub.org/alternate-
current-vs-direct-current/

5) https://www.circuitbasics.com/what-is-
alternating-current/

6) https://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?
p=eddy-currents

7) https://motorspecialty.com/news/basics-of-
armatures/

8) https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/
University_Physics/Book%3A

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THANK
YOU

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