2.
Circuit breakers
A circuit breaker is basically a more modern adaptation to the fuse. They work using
electromagnets, which open a switch if the current gets too high, and this breaks
the circuit. Many different current ratings are available.
Although the large circuit breaker box used in many homes is expensive, the
advantage is that the switches can be easily reset.
Electromagnetic induction
If a wire is moved across a magnetic field at right angles (to cut across lines of
flux), voltage is induced or generated in the wire this is called electromagnetic
induction.
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This can be demonstrated using the following experiment
a) When the magnet is moved into the coil, the galvanometer deflects in one
direction. If the magnet is pulled away from the coil, the galvanometer deflects in
the opposite direction showing that the induced current flows in the opposite
direction.
b) If the magnet is stationary, the galvanometer
point is at zero and there’s no current induced
in the circuit.
c) If you move the magnet slowly, then small
deflection if you move it quickly, then large
deflection.
d) If you move a weak magnet, then small
deflection if you move a strong magnet, then
large deflection.
cut off or interference between two magnetic field ( magnetic field magnet
and magnetic field of coil ) so change in magnetic field line so induced
voltage or induced current
if it move parallel to magnetic field (no cut off) no current is induced
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To increase induced current
1. Using coil with more turns (increases the peak value not the frequency).
2. Using a stronger magnet or a powerful electromagnet or winding the coil round
a soft-iron core so that the field is stronger (increases the peak value not the
frequency).
3. Rotating the coil faster (increases both the peak value and the frequency).
Direction of deflection
Used to determine the direction of the induced current
The direction of induced current is opposite to the change
causing it
if the south pole is approaching the coil it should be
repelled so a south pole close to the south pole of the
magnet will be induced and vice versa
Fleming right hand rule
This rule is used to indicate the direction of current caused by induced E.M.F
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A.C. Generator
The a.c. generator converts kinetic energy into
electrical energy.
The induced e.m.f. in an a.c. generator varies
with time (alternating) because the rate of
change in magnetic flux around the sides of
the coil varies as the coil rotates within the magnetic field.
To increase induced current
1- Using coil with more turns (increases the peak value not the frequency).
2- Using a stronger magnet or a powerful electromagnet or winding the coil round
a soft-iron core so that the field is stronger (increases the peak value not the
frequency).
3- Rotating the coil faster (increases both the peak value and the frequency).
The diagram shows how the varying voltage corresponds to the
different positions of the coil:
The voltage is largest when the coil is horizontal (cutting through the field is
maximum as the coil is perpendicular to the field).
The voltage is zero when the coil is vertical (no cutting through magnetic field
lines as the coil is parallel to the field).
The direction of the induced current is reversed every half a rotation. This is
because the sides of the coil reverse their direction of motion across the field
every half a rotation.
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Questions
1. Describe the conditions necessary for induction to occur.
Answer
Movement
Of a wire / coil / conductor..
Through a magnetic field /cutting through field lines / perpendicular to a
magnetic field.
2. An a.c. generator consists of a rotating coil in a magnetic field as shown in
figure
a) State one way the output voltage from the generator can be
increased.
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b) Explain why an alternating voltage is produced.
c) Explain why there is a point in the rotation where no voltage is
produced.
Answer
a) To make the voltage higher, you can
either increase the strength of the magnets /
magnetic field, rotate the coil faster, or use more
turns on the coil.
b) An a.c. voltage is produced because any one
side of the coil moves up then down through the field as it rotates, making the
direction of the induced voltage change constantly.
c) At one point of the rotation, the sides of the coil are moving parallel to the field, so
no field lines are cut. Therefore, no voltage is induced
Magnetic Effect of a Current (electromagnetism)
When a current flows through a wire a magnetic field is created around the wire.
This is called Electromagnetism.
To make a powerful electromagnet, you need three
things
A coil, like the solenoid, that will produce a
concentrated field inside.
A current flowing through the coil.
A soft magnetic material core inside the coil that
will be magnetized when the current is turned on, and quickly lose its
magnetism when switched off.
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To make a powerful electromagnet, you need a large number of turns in the coil, a
high current, and a highly magnetic material like a soft iron core, notice the 3 'C's
Remember Coil, Current, Core.
Relay switch
allow a small current to switch on or off a large current
when small current , usually supplied with a low voltage passes through the coil
( electromagnet ) it is magnetized and attracts the spring metal to close the
second circuit which has separate power supply (high current)
Solenoid
Is basically a long coil of wire When a current passes through it, a strong magnetic
field is produced in the center of the coil as shown in figure Outside the coil, the
field is much weaker.
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Properties of the magnetic field around a solenoid
1. The magnetic field around a solenoid is the same as that around a bar magnet.
One end of the coil is a north pole and the other is a south pole.
2. The magnetic field inside a solenoid consists of close, equally spaced and parallel
flux lines “it is a strong uniform field”.
3. If the direction of the current flowing through the solenoid is reversed, so too are
the positions of the poles.
The strength of the magnetic field around a solenoid can
be increased by
1. Increasing the current flowing through the solenoid.
2. Increasing the number of turns on the solenoid – this does not mean making the
coil longer but packing more turns into the same space to concentrate the field.
3. Wrapping the solenoid around a magnetically soft core such as iron. Iron is easily
magnetized when current flows and is easily demagnetized when no current flows
in the solenoid
reversing the direction of the current reverse the direction of the magnetic
field
The right hand grip rule
Hold out your right hand with your thumbs tucked in and your
thumb pointing upwards:
the thumb is equal to the direction of current
the fingers are equal to the magnetic field direction
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DC electric motor
Motor consists of
1. a rectangular coil
2. N-S poles of a permanent magnet,
3. split ring commutators
4. Carbon brushes.
As current passing to coil by two carbon brushes magnetic field is created
around the coil
Repulsion Force between magnetic field of coil and magnetic field of permanent
magnet , the coil turn 180 0 half turn
split ring commutator reverse direction of current every half turn , to reverse
magnetic field of coil to complete rotation of coil ( complete turn )
To increase the rate of motor (the speed of rotation)
1. Increase the number of turns or loops of wire
2. Increase the strength of the magnetic field (use a stronger magnet).
3. Increase the current flowing through the loop of wire.
If the direction of the current, or the poles of the magnet are reversed,
rotation will proceed in the Opposite direction.
Loudspeaker
The interact of the magnetic field generated by the coil and magnetic field of
permanent magnet apply force on the cone so that it moves in
certain frequency which produce sound
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Questions
1. A loudspeaker is connected to an a.c. electrical supply and produces a sound
wave. Suggest one way the speaker or supply could be modified or changed to
produce:
a) A louder sound.
b) A higher frequency sound.
Answer
a) To make the sound louder, you can increase the current (or voltage) from the
supply, increase the strength of the magnet / field used in the speaker, or use more
turns on the coil.
b) To produce a higher frequency sound, the frequency of the a.c. supply must also
be increase
2. A simple motor rotates due to the 'motor effect' forces acting on the coil.
Suggest two ways of increasing the force on the coil, and hence the speed of
rotation.
Answer
Increase the current (or supply voltage).
Increase the magnetic field strength produced by the magnets.
Increase the length of the wire in the field, by having more turns on the coil.
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Fleming's left-hand rule
The Thumb indicates the thrust (a force) on the current carrying
conductor.
The First finger indicates the magnetic field (remember field lines go from
north to south).
The second finger indicates the current.
The magnetic field is always directed from north to south.
Note that all three fingers in the left-hand rule are perpendicular to each other.
If there is a situation where the current is parallel to the magnetic field, then
there is no force.
Questions
1. A metal wire has a current flowing through it, and
is placed between two permanent magnets as shown
here:
a) Use the left-hand rule to predict the force on the wire. Draw an arrow
on the diagram to show the direction of this force. Label the arrow 'F'.
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b) Describe a method of increasing the size of the force F without
replacing the magnets.
Answer
a) Your first finger on your left hand should point right, from
N to S. Your second finger should point into the 'page'. This
leaves your thumb pointing downwards. Your thumb
indicates the motion and hence the force. Draw an arrow downwards as shown here
b) You can increase the force by increasing the current. Alternatively, wrapping the
wire into a loop or coil with only one edge inside the field will effectively increase
the length of the wire. (Note that the magnets cannot be replaced in the question, so
you cannot increase the field strength).
Summary
Transformers
A transformer is a device that can change the potential difference or voltage of an
alternating current AC
a step-up transformer increases the voltage
In a step-up transformer,( Vs > Vp ) &( Ns > Np )
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a step-down transformer reduces the voltage
In a step-Down transformer ( Vs < Vp ) & ( Ns < Np )
Structure of a transformer
A basic transformer is made from two coils of wire, a primary coil from the
alternating current (ac) input and a secondary coil leading to the ac output. The
coils are not electrically connected. Instead, they are wound around an iron core.
This is easily magnetized and can carry magnetic fields from the primary coil to the
secondary coil
The alternating voltage causes an alternating magnetic field to be set up
inside the iron core. This in turn induces an alternating voltage in a
secondary coil
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input (primary) voltage [V] number of primary turns
=
output (secondary) voltage [V] number of secondary turns
Vp Np
=
Vs Ns
Questions
1. A phone charger uses a transformer with 5 000 turns on the primary coil
and 250 turns on the secondary. It is plugged into the mains supply with an
input voltage of 240 V.
a) Explain if this is a step-up or step-down transformer.
b) Calculate the output voltage of the transformer.
Answer
a) There are fewer turns on the secondary coil than the primary, so this is a step-
down transformer.
b)
Vin np
240 5000
= =
Vout ns Vout 250
240 x 250 Vout
=
5000 1
So Vout = 12 V
2. A very high voltage is required for 'spark' plugs that ignite the petrol in any
car engine. The transformer used to do this has an input voltage of 12 V and an
output voltage of 4800 V. The primary coil has only 10 turns.
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Calculate the number of secondary turns required to produce 4800 V.
Answer
V n 12 10
p p =
= 4800 ns
Vs ns
ns 4800 x 10
=
1 12
So ns = 4000
Transformers and efficiency
The formula for electrical power is P = I x V as We also know that energy cannot be
created Assuming the transformer is 100% efficient and no power is lost, then
the output power must match the input power.
Input power = output power
Vp x Ip = Vs x Is
Questions
3. A school power supply is used to run a heating element for an experiment.
The heating element runs on 12 V, and has a power output of 60 W.
The transformer used in the power supply has 240 V input and 800 turns on
the primary coil.
Calculate:
a) The number of turns on the secondary coil of the transformer.
b) The current output to the heating element.
c) The current input to the transformer.
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Answer
Vp np
240 800
= =
Vs ns 12 ns
and rearranging this gives
12 x 800
ns =
240
So ns= 40
b) P = I x V,
so 60 = I x 12 Therefore I = 5 A
c) Using the second transformer equation Vp x Ip = Vs x Is gives:
Vp x Ip = Vs x Is
240 x Ip = 12 x 5 (from part b)
Therefore:
12 x 5
Ip =
240
Ip = 0.25 A
The national Grid system
It is a network of wires and cables that carries electrical energy from power
stations to consumers such as factories and homes. To transfer the energy from
the power station to your home we use A high voltage and a low current.
Because if the current flowing through the wire is kept to a minimum, the heat
losses are also reduced This is done with transformers at each end of the Grid
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system to step-up the voltage and keep the current very low. This is the main
reason for using a.c. in the Grid (transformers do not work with d.c.).
The step down transformer at the end of the transmission line reduces the
voltage back to safe usable levels at the consumer end
Questions
4. The diagram below shows the main stages in a local power distribution
system:
a) State the name of the type of transformer used at X and Y.
b) Explain why these transformers are required.
Answer
a) X is a step-up transformer, Y is a step-down transformer.
b) A step-up transformer increases the voltage and decreases the current. A lower
current leads to less power loss in the cables. (The high voltage and low current
makes the transmission more efficient).
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The step-down transformer is required to reduce this high voltage back down to
safe levels for domestic use.
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