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Explanation of how an AC transformer works. Also refer to physics, Alternating Current, DC, direct current, magnetism, voltage, electromagnet, house current, high voltages, School for Champions, Kurtus echnologies, !ilwaukee, "isconsin. Copyright #estrictions

AC Transformers
$y #on Kurtus %&' !arch ())&* A ma+or advantage of alternating current or AC electricity over direct current %DC* is the fact that the potential energy can $e changed from one voltage to another through the use of a transformer. his device not only changes high voltages to house current, $ut it also is used to change the voltage from house current to that used $y low voltage items, such as mini,tape recorders. -uestions you may have a$out AC transformer are. /ow does the transformer work0 "hat are the principles of electricity and magnetism involved0 "hat are some uses of transformers0

his lesson will answer those 1uestions and explain the concepts concerning alternating current electricity. here is a mini,1ui2 is at the end of this lesson.

Basic principles
A transformer com$ines several ma+or characteristics of electricity and magnetism to allow the changing of AC voltages. 3irst of all, you need to know the principles for creating an electromagnet and creating electricity.

Creating an electromagnet
A wire with DC electric current flowing through it has a magnetic field around it. his can $e demonstrated $y placing a compass near a wire and o$serving the needle move when the DC current is turned on. 4y wrapping the wire around a piece of iron, the magnetic field is increased many times due to the realignment of the iron atoms,each which acts as a tiny magnet. he iron core and wire wrapping is called an electromagnet. Relation to voltage he greater the current through the wire %or the higher the voltage* the greater the strength of the electromagnet. he strength is approximately proportional to the voltage used. Dou$le the voltage and you dou$le the strength of the electromagnet. Relation to turns of ire

he greater the num$er of turns around the iron core the greater the strength of the electromagnet. he strength is approximately proportional to the num$er of turns. riple the num$er of turns and you triple the strength of the electromagnet. !Experiment idea" measure the change of strength of an electromagnet #y changing the voltage and$or num#er of turns%& 'irection of magnetism he direction of the magnetic field is determined $y the direction of the current and the direction of the turns around the iron core. 5f you change the direction of the current, the north and south poles of the electromagnet will switch. "ith DC electricity, you must physically change the wires to change the direction of the current. "ith AC electricity, the direction changes with each cycle. hus, one end of an AC electromagnet is switching from north to south and $ack again 6) times per second in the 7.S. or 8) times per second in some other countries.

Creating electricity
Electricity is created either when a wire is moved through a magnetic field or when a magnetic field is moved past a wire. !oving the magnetic field past the wire can $e done $y physically moving a magnet past the wire or $y somehow changing the amount of the magnetic field.

Transforming the voltage

o transform or change the voltage of AC electricity, you use an AC electromagnet and the principles descri$ed a$ove.

AC electromagnet
An AC electromagnet continually changes the direction of its magnetic field. his means the field goes from 2ero to 9 to 2ero to S and so on. 5f you would put an AC electromagnet near a wire, then its changing magnetic field should create a current in the wire. :r $etter yet, why not wrap the wire around the iron core of the electromagnet0 his is how a transformer works.

Transformer
A transformer can $e a long piece of iron with wire,,with AC current going through it,,wrapped around it near one end and wire in which to create current wrapped around it at the other end. A more common configuration is a s1uare or donut shaped iron core with the wire wrapping on $oth sides.

ransformer changes voltage

Output proportional to turns

he strength of the magnetic field is proportion to the input voltage and the num$er of turns around the core %called the primary coil*. 4y reversing the rule, the output voltage is proportional to the strength of the changing magnetic field and the num$er of turns %called the secondary coil*. 3or example, if you wanted to increase your house voltage from &&) volts %&&);* to ((); in order to power your electric stove, you could use a transformer with twice the turns in the secondary coil as in the primary coil. he relationship is written as. input volts $ input turns ( output volts $ output turns &&); < 8 turns = (( = ((); < &) turns

)sing transformers
ransformers are used to lower voltage to $e safer to use in your house. >ou may also use an adapter to lower the voltage even more for some devices you use. DC transformers are now availa$le, $ut they won?t replace AC transformers.

House voltage
9ormally, the current in the electrical lines outside your house are around &&));. he reason it is so high is that the electricity travels more effectively over long distances at higher voltages. /igh voltage lines carry up to &),))) volts. he transformer near to top of the electrical pole changes the voltage to a safer &&); for your house.

Adapters

!ost people use adapters when they power devices that also use $atteries. An adapter is a transformer that changes the &&); house current to &(; or @; that is used $y the device. 5t also changes the AC to DC, $ecause the device works on $atteries. Changing AC to DC is done $y electronic circuitry called a rectifier. 5t essentially chops off &<( of the AC current to make it similar to DC. Some of the lost AC current is turned into heat. hat is one reason your adapters sometimes get warm.

DC transformers
>ou can see that DC voltages could not $e changed with the configuration of the transformer. his is $ecause the DC current would not $e changing the magnetic field the way AC current does. And this was the reason that AC won over DC when electricity started to $e used around the world. Since then, electrical engineers have developed DC transformers, primarily using special circuitry. Since most everyone now uses AC, it is too late to change the system.

*n conclusion
he principles for creating an AC electromagnet and how a changing magnetic field lead to how a transformer works. he output voltage of a transformer is proportional to the ratio of the num$er of turns of the coils. ransformers reduce the high voltage to a safer home voltage, as well as to reduce &)); to what can $e used in some $attery,powered devices. Also see Reader+s ,uestions and -eed#ac.

Arow in wisdom and $e great

/ini01ui2 to chec. your understanding

%9ote. >our $rowser must $e a$le to use BavaScript for this 1ui2 to function properly.* 3% *f you cut the voltage in half #ut dou#le the num#er of turns of hat happens to the strength of the electromagnet 5 5t switches direction 5t is ( &<( times $efore 5t stays approximately the same ire4

6% 7hy does an alternating magnetic field create electricity in a near#y ire5 AC magnetism is the same as AC electricity he changing field is similar to moving a magnet $ack and forth past the wire he magnetism causes the wire start to moving 8% 7hy does an adapter get arm5

7nused AC energy from going to DC is expended as heat /eat is needed for it to work properly DC is warmer than AC 5f you got all three correct, you are on your way to $ecoming a champion in science. 5f you had pro$lems, you had $etter look over the material again.

7hat do you thin.5

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he "e$ address of this page is %school0for0champions%com$science$actransformers%htm . Clease include it as a reference in your report, document, or thesis. 5f you would like to contri$ute a report, short article, lesson material or helpful tips on physical science, please check contri$utor information for details on what to do and the $enefits you can receive. Also, tell a friend a$out this material.

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AC Transformers Also see" Electromagnetism 'irect Current Electricity Reader+s ,uestions and -eed#ac. Tric.s for Good Grades Succeed in 7riting Succeed ith Biographies 99 Previous | :ext ;;

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