Force, Energy &

Communication
Lesson 10 & 11

TRANSFORMERS

Lesson Objectives

Appreciate the role of transformers

Understand how to make and use a
transformer
To be distinguish between a step-up and
step-down transformer.
To understand and be able to use the
transformer equation

NO! Not one of these!

Thats better, one of these!

PHYSICS TEXT BOOK

Turn to page 94

PHYSICS TEXT BOOK

Turn to page 94

Come round the front bench!

Really they are just too camp!

Transformers

The job of a transformer is to change the

voltage in a circuit.

Transformers

A step down
transformer REDUCES
the voltage in a circuit.
The input voltage is
higher than the output
voltage.
e.g. transformers found
in electrical substations

Transformers

A step up transformer
increases the voltage in
a circuit.
The input voltage is
lower than the output
voltage.
e.g. transformers used
to convert USA voltage
to UK voltage

What a transformer is made of

Consists of two coils of wire wrapped around

a soft iron core.
The coil attached to the INPUT voltage is
called the PRIMARY coil
The coil attached to the OUTPUT voltage is
called the SECONDARY coil.

This is a STEP-UP transformer (more coils in the

secondary than primary coil)

Collect an experiment
sheet and carry out
your own investigation
into transformers.

Calculating the output voltage

The output voltage can be calculated using

this formula:

Calculating the output voltage

The output voltage can be calculated using

this formula:

secondary (output) voltage

primary (input) voltage

no. of turns on secondary coil

no. of turns on primary coil

Worked example

A transformer has 960 turns on the primary

coil and 16 turns on the secondary coil. The
primary coil is connected to 230V a.c.. What
will be the output?

Worked example

A transformer has 960 turns on the primary

coil and 16 turns on the secondary coil. The
primary coil is connected to 230V a.c.. What
will be the output?
secondary voltage =
16
230 V
960

Worked example
A transformer has 960 turns on the primary
coil and 16 turns on the secondary coil. The
primary coil is connected to 230V a.c.. What
will be the output?
secondary voltage
=
16
230 V
960
So the secondary voltage = 230 X (16/960)
=

Worked example
A transformer has 960 turns on the primary
coil and 16 turns on the secondary coil. The
primary coil is connected to 230V a.c.. What
will be the output?
secondary voltage
=
16
230 V
960
So the secondary voltage = 230 X (16/960)
= 3.9 V

Collect The transformer data analysis

Carry out all the exercises on this sheet.

Collect The transformer data analysis

Carry out all the exercises on this sheet.

HW
Complete the questions on the sheet
TRANSFORMERS hand in on Thursday.

Lesson Objectives

Appreciate the role of transformers

Understand how to make and use a
transformer
To be distinguish between a step-up and
step-down transformer.
To understand and be able to use the
transformer equation