Motors and generators Experiments

Please note all experiments are taken from HSC online Physics section (retrieved
11:01 28/04/2015)
Make notes of observations and answer questions on board in books please.
Experiment 1
One of the simplest and safest ways to produce the motor effect is to show how
a wire that is free to move will move when a current is passed through it while it
is in a magnetic field.

Clamp two strong bar magnets horizontally with opposite poles no more than a
centimetre apart. Suspend a wire vertically through the space between the
magnets, so that its lower end is free to move. Connect the ends of the wire to a
DC power supply with light, flexible leads that allow the wire to move. Switch the
current on briefly, then off, observing any movement of the suspended wire. Any
movement of the wire would demonstrate the motor effect.

Experiment with various voltage settings on the power supply, the direction of
the magnetic field and the direction of the current in the wire. You could use
electromagnets, instead of permanent magnets. Systematically observe and
record the effects of any changes you make to the variables in the procedure.

Experiment 2
An electric current can be produced either by moving a magnet inside a coil or by moving a
coil near a magnet, for example, by rotating it.
Connect an air-cored solenoid coil to a centre-reading galvanometer graduated in
microamperes (A). The coil should have a large number of turns or loops of fine wire,
around 300500, and have space to fit a bar magnet through it.

Select the strongest bar magnet or disc magnet that will fit into the coil. Move the magnet
inside the coil and observe any movement of the galvanometer needle. A reading on the
galvanometer demonstrates that an electric current has been generated.
Alternatively, a hand-operated demonstration AC/DC generator, of the kind found in most
school science laboratories, can be used. The coil is rotated between the poles of either a
horseshoe magnet or a pair of bar magnets with oppositely orientated poles.
Output from the generator can be tested in various ways:

Connect a lamp across the output terminals, with a centre-reading galvanometer

Connect the output terminals to a CRO or a digital voltmeter.

Turn the generator by hand at different speeds and in each direction. Use the switch on the
generator to change between AC and DC. Systematically observe and record the effects of
any changes you make to the variables in the procedure.

Experiment 3
Distance between magnet and coil, strength of magnet and relative motion between coil and
magnet are all independent variables. Each of these will be varied in turn while the others are
held constant. The dependent variable, the current generated, will be measured with a
centre-reading galvanometer graduated in microamperes (A) which will indicate both the
direction and the magnitude of any current generated. Choose a coil with a large number of
turns, around 300500, of fine insulated wire and with a cross sectional diameter large
enough to fit a bar magnet through it. Select a pair of bar magnets that are of similar
dimensions but different strength.
Varying the distance between the magnet and the coil
Lay a plastic ruler flat on the bench along the length of the coil as a distance guide for the
magnet. Place the magnet at right angles to the coil against the edge of the ruler and slide it
smoothly. Now turn the ruler on its edge so that only the thickness of the ruler separates the
magnet from the coil, and slide the magnet along the ruler again.
For each trial, try to predict the effect of the change you make. Observe and record the
direction and maximum deflection of the galvanometer needle to verify your prediction.
Control other variables by using the same end of the same magnet and moving it at the same
speed and in the same direction for each trial.

Varying the relative motion between the magnet and the coil
Using the experimental set-up just described, with the ruler on its edge, vary the relative
motion between the magnet and the coil by:

moving the magnet smoothly at different speeds;

moving the magnet smoothly at the same speed in each direction;

using each pole of the magnet in turn.

Other variables are controlled by using the ruler to maintain the same distance between the
magnet and the coil and by using the same magnet in each trial.

Now insert one end of the magnet into the coil and vary the relative motion between the
magnet and the coil by:

moving the magnet smoothly into the coil at different speeds;

moving the magnet smoothly at the same speed into the coil and out of the coil;

using each pole of the magnet in turn;

moving the magnet right through the coil and out the other end.

Control other variables by using the same magnet for each trial and by keeping the end of
the magnet within and central to the coil to minimise the effect of changing distance.

For each trial, try to predict the effect of the change you make. Observe and record the
direction and maximum deflection of the galvanometer needle to verify your prediction.
Varying the relative motion by rotating the coil in the field
Use a hand-operated demonstration AC/DC generator, of the kind found in most school
science laboratories, to investigate the effect of changing the relative motion between the coil
and the field by rotation of the coil. The coil is rotated between the poles of either a
horseshoe magnet or a pair of bar magnets with oppositely orientated poles. Observe the
orientation of the coils to the magnetic field. When the plane of the coil is parallel to the
direction of the field, the long sides of the coil are moving at right angles to the field. When
the plane of the coil is perpendicular to the field, the long sides of the coil are moving parallel
to the field.
Connect a microammeter to the generator output terminals and turn the generator slowly.
Observe the size of the induced current when the long sides of the coil are moving
perpendicular to the field, parallel to the field and at intermediate angles.
Using magnets of different strength
Repeat any of the above procedures using another magnet of different strength. Try to
predict the effect of changing to a stronger or weaker magnet. Observe and record the
direction and maximum deflection of the galvanometer needle to verify your prediction.
Control other variables by using two magnets of similar dimensions.
Sample observations

For a magnet of constant strength and the same relative motion between the coil and the
magnet, the generated electric current increases as the distance between the coil and magnet
decreases.
For a constant distance between the coil and the magnet, and the same relative motion
between the coil and the magnet, the generated electric current increases as the strength of
the magnet increases.
For a constant distance between the coil and the magnet and for a magnet of constant
strength:

the direction of the generated electric current changes when the direction of the
relative motion between the coil and the magnet is reversed;

the direction of the generated electric current changes when the polarity of the
magnet is reversed; and

the magnitude of the generated electric current increases as the speed of the relative
motion between the coil and the magnet is increased.

For a coil rotating in a magnetic field, the induced current varies smoothly from a maximum
when the long sides of the coil are moving at right angles to the field, to zero when the long
sides are moving parallel to the field

Experiment 4
An electric current can be produced by moving a wire in a circuit near a permanent magnet or
by moving the magnet near the wire. The magnet can be either moved back-and-forth or
rotated end-for-end. As the magnet is moved one way, a current is induced: as it is moved
the other way, a current is induced in the opposite direction. The current can be detected by
a galvanometer.
A coil shows the effect more clearly than a single wire, as the effect is enhanced by having
the magnetic flux cutting the many turns of wire in a coil. The current produced is usually
small and is best indicated with a microammeter or a galvanometer scaled in microamps
(mA). A centre-reading galvanometer will also indicate the direction of the current.
Connect the ends of the coil to the terminals of the galvanometer. Stand the permanent
magnet on its end on the bench and place the coil vertically over the magnet. Move the coil
upwards and note the direction of movement of the galvanometer needle. Move the coil
downwards and again note the direction of movement of the galvanometer needle. Now move
the coil rhythmically up and down while observing the galvanometer needle. Record all of
your observations. Movement of the galvanometer needle back and forth indicates the
production of an alternating current.

Change the speed at which you move the coil up and down, and change the displacement
with each movement. Repeat the investigation with a stronger magnet or with a coil of a
different number of turns. Each time you make a change, record your observations and try to
account for any changes you notice in the magnitude or the frequency of the alternating
current you produce.

Experiment 5
Look at a dismantled transformer that has been removed from the circuit of a household
appliance to familiarise yourself with the essential parts of a transformer. A transformer
usually consists of two coils of wire wound on the same iron core. Identify the primary coil,
the secondary coil and the laminated iron core that inductively couples the two coils. The
primary coil is the input coil connected to the electricity supply. The secondary coil is the
output coil connected to the device using the electricity at a voltage other than the supply. It
is often possible to identify the parts without destroying the transformer.

Safety Note!
Under no circumstances should a transformer be connected to the power when it is being
removed, dismantled or examined, nor should a transformer be reassembled and used again
after examination. If you open it up to take a look at it, throw it away.

-----------Make your own simple model transformer by winding two separate coils of insulated wire onto
an iron ring and connecting them into separate complete circuits. Have a significantly
different number of turns in each coil.

Connect one coil to the power supply as the primary coil and input a low AC voltage into it.
Check with a multimeter whether a voltage is induced in the second coil with the power
supply switched on and with it switched off. Compare the output voltage from the secondary
coil with the input voltage to the primary coil for several settings of the power supply voltage.
Calculate the ratio of the output voltage to the input voltage and compare this with the ratio
of the number of turns in each coil.

Reverse the connections to the two coils, so that the secondary coil becomes the primary coil,
and repeat the above investigation. Determine which arrangement models a step-up
transformer, with secondary voltage higher than primary voltage, and which a step-down
transformer.
If you have access to a multi-channel datalogger or a dual-trace oscilloscope, you may be
able to simultaneously record or observe the voltage and frequency of both the primary and
secondary currents, and also any phase difference between them. Be careful to set the
datalogger to a sampling frequency much higher than the input frequency, say 1000 Hz, or
the CRO to a much shorter time base, say 1 ms, to avoid the problem of frequency aliasing
which can give false readings of frequency.
Use your observations to determine what must happen for a voltage to be detectable in the
secondary coil of a transformer. Determine also the relationship between the secondary
voltage and the primary voltage in terms of the number of turns in each coil. Comment also
on the relationship between the frequency and phase of the primary and secondary voltages.
An alternative method of performing this investigation involves making your model
transformer by using a dissectible transformer kit available in many school science
laboratories. Such a kit allows you to assemble various configurations of laminated iron core
with a limited variety of ready-made coils that fit over the iron core. The number of turns is
printed on the outside of each coil, and external terminals allow the coils to be connected into
a circuit with a power supply, ammeter, voltmeter, etc. Try various combinations of coils with
different core arrangements.

Experiment 6
One of the simplest and safest ways to demonstrate the principle of an AC induction motor is
to show how an aluminium disc that is free to rotate will rotate when a permanent magnet is
rotated close to it.
Cut the bottom of an aluminium drink can so that you end up with a round disc. Attach a long
fine thread to the centre of the disc so that the disc is balanced and can hang horizontally.
Attach the free end of the thread to a high support, such as the edge of a table, so that the
disc is hanging freely.
Attach a bar magnet firmly to the end of a pencil so that it forms a T with the pencil. Mount
the pencil vertically in the chuck of a hand drill so that the magnet is close beneath the
suspended aluminium disc. Rotate the hand drill to make the magnet spin in one direction.

Replace the permanent magnet with an unmagnetised piece of iron or other non-magnetic
material. Alternatively, replace the aluminium disc with discs of other metallic and nonmetallic materials. Rotate the apparatus at different speeds and in each direction.
Systematically observe and record the effects of any changes you make to the variables in
the procedure.
Explanation of the model
In this model the rotating magnetic field of the bar magnet induces a current in the
aluminium disc that produces a magnetic field opposing that of the bar magnet. The
interaction between the two magnetic fields causes the aluminium disc to spin, chasing the
rotating permanent magnet.