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Alternating Current - Transformers

Grade 12CBSEPhysics

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

A transformer is an electrical device based on the principle of mutual induction used to increase or decrease the alternating voltage.

It consists of two coils: the primary coil (input) and the secondary coil (output), wound on a laminated soft iron core.

The principle of operation relies on Faraday's Law of Induction: a changing current in the primary coil creates a changing magnetic flux, which induces an emf in the secondary coil.

In a Step-up Transformer, the number of turns in the secondary coil NsN_s is greater than the primary coil NpN_p (Ns>NpN_s > N_p), resulting in Vs>VpV_s > V_p and Is<IpI_s < I_p.

In a Step-down Transformer, the number of turns in the secondary coil NsN_s is less than the primary coil NpN_p (Ns<NpN_s < N_p), resulting in Vs<VpV_s < V_p and Is>IpI_s > I_p.

Energy losses in a real transformer include Copper loss (I2RI^2R heating), Eddy current loss (minimized by lamination), Hysteresis loss (minimized by using soft iron), and Flux leakage.

For an ideal transformer, there is no power loss, meaning input power equals output power: VpIp=VsIsV_p I_p = V_s I_s.

📐Formulae

VsVp=NsNp=K\frac{V_s}{V_p} = \frac{N_s}{N_p} = K

For an ideal transformer: IpIs=VsVp=NsNp\text{For an ideal transformer: } \frac{I_p}{I_s} = \frac{V_s}{V_p} = \frac{N_s}{N_p}

Efficiency (η)=Output PowerInput Power×100%=VsIsVpIp×100%\text{Efficiency } (\eta) = \frac{\text{Output Power}}{\text{Input Power}} \times 100\% = \frac{V_s I_s}{V_p I_p} \times 100\%

Induced emf in primary: εp=Npdϕdt\text{Induced emf in primary: } \varepsilon_p = -N_p \frac{d\phi}{dt}

Induced emf in secondary: εs=Nsdϕdt\text{Induced emf in secondary: } \varepsilon_s = -N_s \frac{d\phi}{dt}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

A step-down transformer has a primary coil with 20002000 turns and a secondary coil with 100100 turns. If the primary voltage is 2200 V2200\text{ V} and the output current is 10 A10\text{ A}, calculate the secondary voltage and the primary current, assuming the transformer is 100%100\% efficient.

Solution:

Given: Np=2000N_p = 2000, Ns=100N_s = 100, Vp=2200 VV_p = 2200\text{ V}, Is=10 AI_s = 10\text{ A}.

  1. To find VsV_s: Using the turn ratio formula VsVp=NsNp    Vs=Vp(NsNp)=2200×(1002000)=110 V\frac{V_s}{V_p} = \frac{N_s}{N_p} \implies V_s = V_p \left(\frac{N_s}{N_p}\right) = 2200 \times \left(\frac{100}{2000}\right) = 110\text{ V}.
  2. To find IpI_p: For an ideal transformer VpIp=VsIs    Ip=VsIsVp=110×102200=0.5 AV_p I_p = V_s I_s \implies I_p = \frac{V_s I_s}{V_p} = \frac{110 \times 10}{2200} = 0.5\text{ A}.

Explanation:

Since it is a step-down transformer, the voltage decreases from 2200 V2200\text{ V} to 110 V110\text{ V} while the current increases from 0.5 A0.5\text{ A} in the primary to 10 A10\text{ A} in the secondary to conserve power.

Problem 2:

A transformer has an efficiency of 90%90\%. It is used to deliver 4.5 kW4.5\text{ kW} of power to a device at 220 V220\text{ V}. If the primary voltage is 1100 V1100\text{ V}, find the primary current.

Solution:

Given: η=0.90\eta = 0.90, Pout=4.5 kW=4500 WP_{out} = 4.5\text{ kW} = 4500\text{ W}, Vp=1100 VV_p = 1100\text{ V}. Efficiency is defined as η=PoutPin    0.90=4500Pin    Pin=45000.90=5000 W\eta = \frac{P_{out}}{P_{in}} \implies 0.90 = \frac{4500}{P_{in}} \implies P_{in} = \frac{4500}{0.90} = 5000\text{ W}. Now, Pin=VpIp    5000=1100×Ip    Ip=500011004.55 AP_{in} = V_p I_p \implies 5000 = 1100 \times I_p \implies I_p = \frac{5000}{1100} \approx 4.55\text{ A}.

Explanation:

In a real transformer, the input power must be higher than the output power to account for energy losses. The primary current is calculated based on this total input power requirement.

Transformers - Revision Notes & Key Formulas | CBSE Class 12 Physics