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Alternating-Current Generators

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
50 views8 pages

Alternating-Current Generators

Uploaded by

Ayman ​
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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P15.

6
Student activity
Name ........................................................................ Class ................... Date ......................

Alternators and dynamos


Specification references
• P7.3.2 Uses of the generator effect
• MS 5a
• WS 3.5, 4.1

Aims
In this activity you will learn about the two types of generator used to generate
electricity using electromagnetic induction: alternators, which generate a.c., and
dynamos, which generate d.c.

Learning outcomes
After completing this activity, you should be able to:
• describe the operation of an alternator in simple terms
• describe the operation of a d.c. generator
• identify the period and peak output voltage for generators from an oscilloscope
trace
• describe the output of an alternator, linking this to the position of the coil
relative to the magnetic field, and to the speed of rotation
• explain the operation of a d.c. generator and its output
• explain why the peak voltage of an a.c. generator is produced when the plane
of the coil is parallel to the magnetic field lines.

Task
Your teacher will demonstrate an alternator (a.c. generator) and a dynamo
(d.c. generator). Observe the induced potential difference closely for each type of
generator and look at how they are constructed. Then answer the questions below.

Questions
Alternator
1 a Sketch the output potential difference of the alternator from the demonstration.

(2 marks)
b What is the peak potential difference?

(1 mark)

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements


This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 1
P15.6
Student activity
Name ........................................................................ Class ................... Date ......................

c What is the period of the output?

(1 mark)

2 Why is the potential difference you observed in the demonstration described


as ‘alternating’?

(1 mark)

3 The diagram shows an alternator. Label the following parts: magnets, coil, slip
rings, brushes. (4 marks)

4 State which of the following parts move when the alternator is in operation:
magnets, coil, slip rings, brushes.

(1 mark)

5 State which of the following parts are attached to each other: magnet, coil, slip
rings, brushes.

(1 mark)

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements


This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 2
P15.6
Student activity
Name ........................................................................ Class ................... Date ......................

6 Describe the two functions of the slip rings and brushes.

(2 marks)

7 The graph shows the output potential difference of an alternator during one full
turn of the coil.

a Which two positions on the graph match the coil angle labelled a?

(1 mark)

b Which two positions on the graph match the coil angle labelled b?

(1 mark)

8 Explain why:
a the alternator generates a potential difference

(1 mark)

b the potential difference is alternating.

(3 marks)

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements


This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 3
P15.6
Student activity
Name ........................................................................ Class ................... Date ......................

Dynamo
9 a Sketch the output potential difference of the dynamo from the demonstration.

(2 marks)

b What is the peak potential difference?

(1 mark)

c What is the period of the output?

(1 mark)

10 The diagram shows a dynamo. Label the following parts: magnets, coil, split-
ring commutator, brushes. (4 marks)

11 State which of the following parts move when the dynamo is in operation:
magnets, coil, split-ring commutator, brushes.

(1 mark)

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements


This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 4
P15.6
Student activity
Name ........................................................................ Class ................... Date ......................

12 State which of the following parts are attached to each other: magnets, coil,
split-ring commutator, brushes.

(1 mark)

13 Describe the function of the split-ring commutator and brushes.

(3 marks)

14 The graph shows the output potential difference of a dynamo during one full
turn of the coil.

a Which two positions on the graph match the coil angle labelled a?

(1 mark)

b Which two positions on the graph match the coil angle labelled b?

(1 mark)

15 Explain why:
a the dynamo generates a potential difference

(1 mark)

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements


This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 5
P15.6
Student activity
Name ........................................................................ Class ................... Date ......................

b the potential difference does not change direction.

(3 marks)

Student follow-up
1 Describe the effect on the current in a circuit if the potential difference is
alternating.

(1 mark)

2 Describe the difference between a.c. and d.c.

(1 mark)

3 Complete the sentences by underlining the correct words.


a Dynamo/generator/alternator is the general term for a device that
induces a potential difference. (1 mark)
b Dynamos/generators/alternators generate direct potential difference. (1 mark)
c Dynamos/generators/alternators generate alternating potential
difference. (1 mark)

4 Some bicycle lights are powered by a dynamo instead of a battery. The


magnets inside the dynamo are connected to the pedals so that the magnets
rotate when the pedals turn.
a Explain why the lights go out when the bicycle stops moving.

(2 marks)

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements


This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 6
P15.6
Student activity
Name ........................................................................ Class ................... Date ......................

b Explain why the dynamo works even though the magnets move instead of
the coil.

(1 mark)

5 What does it mean to ‘increase the output’ of a generator?

(1 mark)

6 One way to increase the output of a generator is to increase the number


of turns in the coil. Describe two other ways to increase the output of a
generator.

(2 marks)

Extension
7 Explain both of the ways of increasing output that you described in your
answer to Question 6.

(3 marks)

8 Compare a.c. and d.c. generators, describing their differences and similarities.

(5 marks)

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements


This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 7
P15.6
Student activity
Name ........................................................................ Class ................... Date ......................

9 The output of a dynamo can be described as d.c., but it is different from the
output from a battery, which is also described as d.c. Describe the difference
between the output of a dynamo and the output of a battery.

(2 marks)

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements


This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 8

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