AC Generator

Aim:
Research, design and build an electric AC generator. Control and record the effects of changing two variables (varying the space between the magnets and the armature, the velocity of relative motion between the coil and the magnets).

Hypothesis:
As we spin the coil relative to the magnets, the coils should created an electric current that lights up our light bulb or makes movement on the galvanometer. The more coils we add, the greater the current produced when in action. The closer the magnets relative to the armature, the greater the magnetic field on the armature and the greater the current produced when in action. The faster the velocity of relative motion between the coil and the magnets, the greater the current produced.

Equipment:
2 Magnets (to produce a magnetic field in the coils) Insulated copper wire (for the current to flow through) Wood block (for the base) Metal axel (for the armature to spin on) Wood core (cylinder shape to act as the armature) 2 thin metal rectangular pieces (act as the brushes) 2 metal slip rings (to connect to the brushes) Light Bulb (test if its producing current) Tape and glue (stick stuff together) 2 small wood pieces (to support the axel at either end) Electric hand drill (spin the generator) Galvanometer (test the current)

Method:
1. Construct all the parts together as in the diagram below. 2. Make a hole in the middle of the cylinder shape wood piece and put the axel threw that hole (the wood piece should be near the end of the axel as seen in the diagram below). Glue the ends so it doesnt move (see diagram). 3. Wrap 50 times around the wooded piece (armature) the insulated copper wire and hold it in place with the tape or glue (see diagram). 4. Glue the two metal slip rings to the axel. Connect one end of the copper wire to one of the slip rings and the other end to the other slip ring (see diagram) 5. Make a hole in both the small pieces of wood to support the axel at either end. Glue the pieces to the big block base wood (see diagram). 6. Get the two thing metal pieces (brushes) and bend the tips of one end for each brush. Glue each one down to the base under a slip ring each so that they just touch (see diagram). 7. Connect one a wire from the bottom of a brush to the positive hole of the light bulb and another wire from the other brush to the negative hole of the light bulb (see diagram). 8. Glue down the light bulb to the base (see diagram). 9. Position the two magnets on opposite sides of the armature (3 cm away) so that a north pole faces a south pole (see diagram). 10. Now you are ready to test it. Connect wires from the 2 brushes to a galvanometer. Spin from any side with an electric hand drill. Record the current reading . 11. Now move the side magnets 5 cms away from their original position relative to the armature and test it. Record the current reading. Then move them 2 cms towards the armature from their original position and test it. Record the current reading. 12. Now for the other variable, turn the hand drill to a faster velocity and record the current reading. Then turn

the hand drill to a slower velocity from the original velocity and record the current reading.

Results:
Distance of Magnets Current reading on from Armature (cm) Galvanometer (A) 3 (default)

8 (further) 1 (closer) Velocity of the Hand Drill Current reading on Galvanometer (A)

Medium (default) Faster Slower

Risk Assessments Procedure:

Be careful not to spin the axel to fast, it could cause a short circuit or destroy the whole project. Keep the hand drill on a safe speed .

Resources:
Jacaranda HSC Physics Spotlight HSC Physics http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/HSCmotors.html http://www.amasci.com/amateur/coilgen.html

Testing and Modifications:

The way I placed the magnets failed to get the generator producing current so I had to get more magnets and place them around the whole armature. A week before the due date, I borrowed a galvanometer from school to test my generator at home. Results:
milli Volts (mV) Speed Slow Medium Trail 1 10 15 Trail 2 Trail 3 Trail 4 12 20 13 18 11 20 Average 11.5 18.25

Fast

31

34

35

33

33.25

Conclusion:
The hypothesis stated: As we spin the coil relative to the magnets, the coils should created an electric current that lights up our light bulb or makes movement on the galvanometer. The faster the velocity of relative motion between the coil and the magnets, the greater the current produced. As we spined the axle, spinning the coil on the armature relative to the magnets, the coils created an electric current that gave readings on the galvanometer. From our results we can conclude that the faster the velocity of relative motion between the coil and the magnets, the greater the current produced. Therefore our results support the hypothesis stated earlier and the hypothesis was true.

My expected results:

As we spin the coil relative to the magnets, the coils should created an electric current that lights up our light bulb or makes movement on the galvanometer. The faster the velocity of relative motion between the coil and the magnets, the greater the current produced.

Researched results:
My researched results were very similar to my expected results, only they were more accurate then mine since the way I tested my variables werent that precise. I found out that the more rotations per minute the higher the voltage, therefore the faster the velocity of relative motion between the coil and the magnets, the greater the current produced as stated in my expected results. Also from the formula Torque = nBIAcosx Where: n = number of coils B = strength of the magnetic field I = amount of current A = the area of the coil we can clearly see how if we increased the torque, meaning the faster the velocity of relative motion between the coil and the magnets, then the current (I) show also go up. Since we only changed the speed, therefore we can say (n), (B) and (A) were constant. Therefore the torque is proportional to the current and as the torque increases so should the current. References:
Author : Ken J Williams and Janet Pemberton Publisher : Science Press Published : 2002 Book : Spotlight Physics HSC Author : Walter Fendt Published : April 27, 2006 Website http://www.wvic.com/how-gen-works.htm

If given more time and resources I would of: Got stronger magnets since the greater the magnetic field the greater the current. It would have made it easier since the generator needed a strong magnetic field or a relatively fast torque; therefore it was hard to test it with small speeds. Got a smoother material for the axle since there was too much friction and it made the whole generator very inefficient. Thus making it harder to produce a current. More suitable way of measuring the speeds since the hand drill wasnt very accurate in determining the speed, I couldnt speed a constant for each speed limit for each trails thus it couldnt be accurate.

Edison VS Westinghouse
In the late nineteenth century Edison chose generating and supplying direct current (DC). In the same period of time as Edison with DC, Westinghouse promoted the use of alternating current (AC) Edison had the initial advantage that the technology for generating DC was well established and DC worked well over short distances, therefore leading to huge and expensive energy losses over distances of more than 1 or 2 kilometres. This required many power stations throughout the city and an unattractive large number of wires. AC could be transmitted over greater distances than DC, with smaller energy losses and power stations could be fewer and conductors lighter. Edison owned hundreds of DC power stations and all of his electrical inventions to that time ran on DC. In 1892 he attempted to prove that AC was very dangerous by electrocuting animals and convincing authorities to use AC for the first electric chair. The economic advantages of AC, such as the smaller energy losses and the fewer power stations further apart, along with the unattractive web of wires required with DC, supported Westinghouses solution over Edisons DC. AC also got a boost in popularity with Teslas invention of the induction motor which could operate only on AC. Edison tried to have AC banned, though at the end he failed and AC became the dominant form in which electricity is generated world-wide.

AC vs. DC
AC Generators:
Advantages easily transformed permitting transmission over long distances with less energy loss requires less maintenance and is more reliable than a DC generator the roles of the rotor and the stator can be reversed for the output current Disadvantages more deadly than DC has losses through electromagnetic radiation or magnetic induction.

brushes do not wear as fast as in a DC generator no possibility of creating an electrical short circuit between segments in an alternator because the slip rings are already continuous most commercial generators are AC generators better suited to high current demands

DC Generators:
Advantages output can be made smoother by the arranging many coils in a regular pattern around the armature use with equipment that needs a steady voltage rather than varying voltage (AC) doesnt cause losses through electromagnetic radiation or magnetic induction. Disadvantages not good for transmission over long distances without great energy losses more complicated to make and maintain limited usefulness of DC generators to relatively low current applications large currents through the commutator-brush connection increases the likelihood of electric arcs forming as the brush breaks contact with each bar in turn

References:
Author : Ken J Williams and Janet Pemberton Publisher : Science Press Published : 2002 Book : Spotlight Physics HSC Author: SmokedSalmon Published: 29 Oct 2003, 5:01 AM Website: http://community.boredofstudies.org/264/motors-generators/16970/westinghouse-vsedison.html

By: Mohamad Kobeissi