Abstract
The experiment is aimed at constructing a step-up transformer. This is due to the type of materials being used and the number of rolls that the wire is rolled on the U-shaped material. This can easily be related to the alternating current that is tapped from one source to the other. This current can easily be measured in respect to the size of the voltage that is alternated in between the primary transformer and that of the secondary transformer. The number of coils in the primary material is two; the other secondary coil has four coils. The material used to design this experiment is aluminum. Aluminum is most efficient is transforming kinetic energy to potential energy without any relative hindrance to the rate at which this power is being converted. The width and length of this material is essential for the experiment; a thinner material will transform energy quite efficiently while a shorter material will keep more energy and cannot it easily.
Introduction
Transformers are electrical devices that can be used to regulate the amount of electricity going through the current line. This is done in for both commercial and domestic usage depending on the transformer that is set-up. There are two types of transformers; step-up and step-down transformers. Both have them have different uses relative to the nature of their names. A step-up transformer is used to regulate a normal voltage line of 250V to heights of 50,000V for commercials purposes. This is due to the type of machines that is needed to power them. Step-up transformer is usually found in regions where commercial industries are set-up. A set-up transformer is determined by the number of coils that move around the material used as a core. The huge number of coils will determine the size of magnetic flux that will rotate around the coils. On the other hand, a step-down transformer is usually used for domestic applications. A step-down transformer is used to regulate large energy of up to 5000V to normal energy of 250V in order to be used effectively in homes. Transformers are not only located along power lines; it is also found in homes in the various appliances that use electricity. This transformer is fittedthe electrical appliances in order to step-up or step-down the electricity being relayed into the appliance depending on the use. A magnetic flux is created by the size of the number of coils that pass through the U-shaped material. When electricity is allowed to pass through these coils, a magnetic effect is felt. The strength of this magnetic effect can be determined by the number of coils that go through the material, the higher the number of coils, the higher the magnetic flux. An ideal transformer is a simple set-up of a real-life transformer using laboratory available tools.
This experiment is aimed at constructing a step-up transformer. Therefore, an oscilloscope is needed for measuring the size of magnetic flux. The experiment will use a normal currency flux and a simple set-up of an aluminum material that will carry the size of coils that will be tied around it. Several steps and procedures need to be followed in order to achieve the desired results. This will be determined by the results from the experiment.
Methods/Procedures
- Assemble two steel U-shaped apparatus parallel to one another. Set the frequency rate to be around 100-300 Hz
- Connect an oscilloscope to these steel U-shaped solids. Do not introduce a core to the apparatus. Set the time knob to be at 5 ms/div. use power supply to relay power to this experimental set-up. Use an oscilloscope to measure the rate of current that is being relayed in the screen. The screen should show a wave-like diagram. If the wave doesn’t appear then use maybe the connections are not in order.
- Pass a transformer core through the first steel U-shaped material and note the extent of its voltage. Do this again for the secondary U-shaped material and do note down the size of the voltage.
N/B: an oscilloscope is used in the experiment to measure the size of the voltage being relayed out of the step-up transformers. A proper setup of a step-up of a step-up transformer will yield measurable voltages from the experiment. A wave-like diagram will also be relayed on the screen. This wave-like diagram can be attributed to the alternating current that is supplied from the power supply kit.
Results
Voltages; without a transformer core
Primary coil voltage: 0.11 V
Secondary coil Voltage: 0.0325 V
Voltages; with a transformer core
Primary coil voltage: 2.05 V
Secondary coil voltage; 3.1 V
Primary transformer ratios;
Voltage ratio: 0.2959
Winding ratio: 2
Efficiency; 14.7 %
Secondary transformer ratio:
Voltage ratio: 1.51
Winding ratio: 2
Efficiency; 75.5 %
Conclusion
The case by which the transformer is closest to an ideal is the secondary step-up transformer. This is due to the number of coils that run through the U-shaped material. The transformer is not closer to 100% efficiency due to the currency and voltages lost in the material. The experimental setup is not in a closed environment; therefore, this allows some energy to be lost to the environment through ionization. The size of the transformer core also affects the efficiency of the transformer. The material can also be attributed to the lack of 100% efficiency from the experiment. The length of the coiling material that is being used is another factor that affects the efficiency. The core construction allows the magnetic flux to be converted into electrical current. There is only one change that can be made in the experiment; using a core material that does not lose the energy quite fast.
