S C H O O L NAME

(SESSION: 2023-2024)

P HYS I CS INVESTIGATORY
P RO J E C T
(Transformer)

Submitted to: Submitted by:

T E AC H E R NAME STUDENT NAME
Class: XII
Roll No:

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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that

Student Name
has successfully completed his/her
Physics
project titled
Transformer

under the supervision and guidance of

TEACHER NAME

in the partial fulfillment of the

Physics practical
assessment conducted during
the academic year
2023-2024.

EXAMINER TEACHER

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my immense gratitude to my

physics teacher Teacher Name for the help and
guidance he/she provided for completing this
project.

I also thank my parents who gave their ideas and

inputs in making this project. Most of all I thank
our school management, for providing us the
facilities and opportunity to do this project.

Lastly, I would like to thanks my classmates who

have helped me in this project. Their support made
this project fruitful.

- Stu dent Name

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 INDEX

CONTENT PAGE NO

Certificate 02

Acknowledgement 03

Topic 05

Introduction 06
Principle 07

Construction 08

Theory 9-11

Working 12

Material Required 14

Procedure 15

Observation 16
Application 18

Conclusion 19

Precaution 20
Bibliography 21

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 TOPIC

Investigatory project on Transformer

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 INTRODUCTION

The transformer is a device used for converting a low alternating

voltage to a high alternating voltage or a high alternating voltage into
a low alternating voltage. It is a static electrical device that transfers
energy by inductive coupling between its winding circuits.
Transformers range in size from a thumbnail-sized coupling
transformer hidden inside a stage microphone to huge units weighing
hundreds of tons used in power plant substations or to interconnect
portions of the power grid. All operate on the same basic principles,
although the range of designs is wide. While new technologies have
eliminated the need for transformers in some electronic circuits,
transformers are still found in many electronic devices. Transformers
are essential for high-voltage electric power transmission, which
makes long-distance transmission economically practical. A
transformer is most widely used device in both low and high current
circuit. In a transformer, the electrical energy transfer from one circuit
to another circuit takes place without the use of moving parts. A
transformer which increases the voltages is called a step-up
transformer. A transformer which decreases the A.C. voltages is
called a step-down transformer. Transformer is, therefore, an essential
piece of apparatus both for high and low current circuits.

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 PRINCIPLE

The electric transformer works on the fundamental principle of

electromagnetic induction, a concept first discovered by Michael
Faraday in the 19th century. The transformer consists of two coils of
wire, known as the primary and secondary windings, which are
usually wound around a common magnetic core. When an alternating
current (AC) flows through the primary winding, it generates a
changing magnetic field around the coil. According to
Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, this changing
magnetic field induces an electromotive force (EMF) or voltage in
the secondary winding. The key principle here is that the transformer
relies on the mutual induction between the primary and secondary
windings through the magnetic flux linkage.

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 CONSTRUCTION

A transformer consists of a rectangular shaft iron core made of

𝑃1 & 𝑃2 and 𝑆1 & 𝑆2are wound on the same core, but are well
laminated sheets, well insulated from one another. Two coils

from the core, the source of alternating e.m.f is connected to 𝑃1𝑃2,

insulated with each other. Note that the both the coils are insulated

the primary coil and a load resistance R is connected to 𝑆1𝑆2, the

secondary coil through an open switch S. thus there can be no current
through the sec. coil so long as the switch is open. For an ideal
transformer, we assume that the resistance of the primary & secondary
winding is negligible. Further, the energy loses due to magnetic the
iron core is also negligible. For operation at low frequency, we may
have a soft iron. The soft iron core is insulating by joining thin iron
strips coated with varnish to insulate them to reduce energy losses
by eddy currents. The input circuit is called primary. And the output
circuit is called secondary.

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 THEORY

When an altering e.m.f. is supplied to the primary coil 𝑝1𝑝2 , an

alternating current starts falling in it. The altering current in the
primary produces a changing magnetic flux, which induces altering
voltage in the primary as well as in the secondary. In a good-
transformer, whole of the magnetic flux linked with primary is also
linked with the secondary, and then the induced e.m.f. induced in each

primary. Thus, if 𝐸𝑝 and 𝐸𝑠 be the instantaneous values of the

turn of the secondary is equal to that induced in each turn of the

e.m.f.’s induced in the primary and the secondary coil and 𝑁𝑝 and
𝑁𝑠 are the no. of turns of the primary and secondary coils of the

𝒅𝜱𝒃/𝒅𝒕 = rate of change of flux in each turn of the coil at this

transformer and,

instant,
we have,
𝐸𝑝 = −𝑁𝑝𝑑𝛷ь /𝑑𝑡 -----------------------(1) and

𝐸𝑠 = −𝑁𝑠𝑑𝛷ь /𝑑𝑡 -----------------------(2)

Since the above relations are true at every instant,

so by dividing 2 by 1 we get,

𝐸𝑠⁄𝐸𝑝 = −𝑁𝑠⁄𝑁𝑝 -------------------------(3)

As 𝐸𝑝 is the instantaneous value of back e.m.f induced in the

primary coil p1, so the instantaneous current in primary coil is due to
the difference (𝐸 − 𝐸𝑝) in the instantaneous values of the applied
and back e.m.f. further if 𝑅𝑝 is the resistance of 𝑝1𝑝2 , coil, then the
instantaneous current 𝐼𝑝 in the primary coil is given by:

𝐼𝑃 = 𝐸 − 𝐸𝑝⁄𝑅𝑝
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𝐸 − 𝐸𝑝 = 𝐼𝑝𝑅𝑝
When the resistance of the primary is small, 𝐼𝑝𝑅𝑝 can be neglected
so therefore,
𝐸 − 𝐸𝑝 = 0 or 𝐸 = 𝐸𝑝

Thus, 𝐵𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑒. 𝑚. 𝑓 = 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑒. 𝑚. 𝑓

Hence equation (3) can be written as,

𝐸𝑠 ⁄ 𝑝 = 𝐸𝑠 ⁄𝐸 = 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 =𝑁 =
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑒.𝑚.𝑓 𝑠
𝑝 𝐾
𝐸 𝑒.𝑚.𝑓
⁄𝑁
Where K is constant, called turn or transformation ratio.

In a step-up transformer

𝐸𝑠 > 𝐸 𝑠𝑜 𝐾 > 1, ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑁𝑠 > 𝑁𝑝

In a step-down transformer

𝐸𝑠 < 𝐸 𝑠𝑜 𝐾 < 1, ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑁𝑠 < 𝑁𝑝

If 𝐼𝑃 = Value of primary current at the same instant 𝑡

and
𝐼𝑠 = Value of secondary current at this instant,
then Input power at the instant 𝑡 = 𝐸𝑝𝐼𝑝 and
Output power at the same instant = 𝐸𝑠𝐼𝑠
If there are no losses of power in the transformer, then
Input power = output power or

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𝐸𝑝𝐼𝑝 = 𝐸𝑠𝐼𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝐸𝑠⁄𝐸𝑝 = 𝐼𝑝⁄𝐼𝑠 = 𝐾

In a step-up transformer
As 𝐾 > 1, 𝑠𝑜 𝐼𝑝 > 𝐼𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝐼𝑠 < 𝐼𝑝

I.e. current in secondary is weaker when secondary voltage is higher.

Hence, whatever we gain in voltage, we lose in current in the same
ratio. Similarly, it can be shown, that in a step-down transformer,
whatever we lose in voltage, we gain in current in the same ratio.
Thus, a step-up transformer in reality steps down the current & a step-
down transformer steps up the current.

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 WORKING

A Transformer based on the Principle of mutual induction according

to this principle, the amount of magnetic flux linked with a coil
changing, an e.m.f is induced in the neighbouring coil that is if a
varying current is set-up in a circuit induced e.m.f. is produced in the
neighbouring circuit. The varying current in a circuit produce varying
magnetic flux which induces e.m.f. in the neighbouring circuit.
The transformer consists of two coils. They are insulated with each
other by insulated material and wound on a common core. For
operation at low frequency, we may have a soft iron. The soft iron
core is insulating by joining thin iron strips coated with varnish to
insulate them to reduce energy losses by eddy currents. The input
circuit is called primary. And the output circuit is called secondary.

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 EFFICIENCY

Efficiency of a transformer is defined as the ratio of output power to

the input power i.e.

𝜂 = 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟⁄𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝐸𝑠𝐼𝑠⁄𝐸𝑝𝐼𝑝

Thus, in an ideal transformer, where there is no power losses, η = 1.

But in actual practice, there are many power losses; therefore, the
efficiency of transformer is less than one.

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 Material Required

 Iron Rod

 Voltmeter

 Ammeter

 Copper wire

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

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 PROCEDURE

1. Take thick iron rod and cover it with a thick paper and wind a
large number of turns of thin Cu wire on thick paper (say 60).
This constitutes primary coil of the transformer.

2. Cover the primary coil with a sheet of paper and wound

relatively smaller number of turns (say 20) of thick copper wire
on it. This constitutes the secondary coil. It is a step-down
transformer.

3. Connect 𝑝1, 𝑝2 to A.C main and measure the input voltage

and current using A.C voltmeter and ammeter respectively.

𝑆1 and 𝑆2.
4. Similarly, measure the output voltage and current through

5. Now connect 𝑆1 and 𝑆2 to A.C main and again measure

voltage and current through primary and secondary coil of step
up transformer.

6. Repeat all steps for other self-made transformers by changing

number of turns in primary and secondary coil.

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 OBSERVATION

1. We will find that ratio of 𝑉𝑝 and 𝑉𝑠 across the two coils is

equal to the ratio of number of turns in the coil P to that in the
coil S. i.e., 𝑉𝑝⁄𝑉𝑠 = 𝑁𝑝⁄𝑁𝑠 ---------------- (1)

2. The coil P (to which AC voltage is applied) is called the

primary and coil S (in which AC is induced) is called the
secondary.

3. Since coil S is placed very close to the coil P, the power in the
primary is transferred into the secondary through mutual
induction.

4. It is clear from equation 1, that by appropriate choice of the turn

ratio i.e., 𝑁𝑝⁄𝑁𝑠, we can obtain a higher voltage or lower
voltage in S compared to that in P.

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 ENERGY LOSS

In practice, the output energy of a transformer is always less than the

input energy, because energy losses occur due to a number of reasons
as explained below.

 Loss of Magnetic Flux: The coupling between the coils is

seldom perfect. So, whole of the magnetic flux produced by the
primary coil is not linked up with the secondary coil.

 Iron Loss: In actual iron cores in spite of lamination, Eddy

currents are produced. The magnitude of eddy current may,
however be small. And a part of energy is lost as the heat
produced in the iron core.

 Copper Loss: In practice, the coils of the transformer possess

resistance. So, a part of the energy is lost due to the heat
produced in the resistance of the coil.

 Hysteresis Loss: The alternating current in the coil tapes the

iron core through complete cycle of magnetization. So, Energy
is lost due to hysteresis.

 Magneto restriction: The alternating current in the

Transformer may be set its parts in to vibrations and sound may
be produced. It is called humming. Thus, a part of energy may
be lost due to humming.

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 APPLICATION OF TRANSFORMER

1. Electric Power Transmission: Transformers are crucial in power

transmission networks to step up voltage for efficient long-distance
transmission and step-down voltage for distribution to end-users.

2. Voltage Regulation: Transformers help maintain a stable voltage

level by adjusting the voltage as needed, ensuring consistent and
reliable electrical supply.

3. Power Distribution: They are used in power distribution systems

to provide various voltage levels suitable for residential,
commercial, and industrial applications.

4. Power Supply Units: Transformers are employed in power supply

units of electronic devices, converting AC power from outlets to
the DC power needed by devices like computers and chargers.

5. Voltage Transformation: Transformers change the voltage levels,

allowing electricity to be transmitted at high voltages to reduce
energy losses and then be distributed at lower voltages for use.

6. Industrial Applications: Transformers power various industrial

machinery and equipment by adapting electrical voltage to meet
specific operational requirements.

7. Electrical Appliances: Many electronic devices and appliances

use transformers to convert electricity to the required voltage for
their operation.

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 CONCLUSION

 The output voltage of the transformer across the secondary coil

depends upon the ratio (𝑁𝑠⁄𝑁𝑝) with respect to the input

voltage.

 The output voltage of the transformer across the secondary coil

depends upon the ratio (𝑁𝑠⁄𝑁𝑝) with respect to the input

voltage.

 There is a loss of power between input and output coil of a

transformer.

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 PRECAUTION

1. Ensure proper insulation between primary and secondary coils

to prevent short circuits.

2. While taking the readings of current and voltage the A.C should
remain constant

3. Use appropriate safety measures when working with AC mains,

including insulated tools and gloves.

4. Securely fasten all connections to prevent accidental

disconnections during the experiment.

5. Verify the insulation on the iron rod to avoid electrical shocks

and ensure a safe working environment.

6. Double-check the circuit connections before applying AC

mains to avoid potential hazards.

7. Keep the experimental setup well-ventilated to dissipate any

heat generated during the experiment.

8. Have firefighting equipment nearby and follow emergency

procedures in case of unexpected events.

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 REFERENCE

 NCERT textbook class 12

 NCERT physics lab Manuel

 www.google.com

 Wikipedia.com

 https://www.electrical4u.com

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