Exercises: Motors, generators and transformers

1. a) Explain the fundamental difference between an alternator and a dynamo: what type of current each produces and which connecting element (slip rings or split-ring commutator) determines it.
2. b) What physical phenomenon are both devices based on?

When a loop rotates at a constant angular speed in a uniform magnetic field, an alternating current is generated, as shown in the figure.

1. a) Explain, based on how the magnetic flux through the loop varies, why the emf continually changes value.
2. b) Reason why the emf changes sign every half turn.

In a bicycle with a dynamo, the light turns on when pedalling.

1. a) Explain how the dynamo generates the current that powers the bulb.
2. b) According to Lenz's law, the induced current opposes the rotation of the dynamo: explain where the energy consumed by the bulb ultimately comes from, and why more resistance is felt when pedalling with the dynamo connected.

The rectangular loop of a DC motor is between the poles of a magnet and carries a current.

1. a) Draw the magnetic forces on the two sides of the loop perpendicular to the field in your notebook and explain why they form a couple that makes the loop rotate.
2. b) What role does the split-ring commutator play? What would happen to the loop upon reaching the dead centre if it did not exist?

You can do it on paper and send a photo with your answer.

A transformer has two coils wound on the same iron core. Explain, based on Faraday's law, why connecting the primary to a constant direct current produces no voltage in the secondary, whereas connecting it to alternating current does.

The primary of a transformer has $N_1 = 1000$ turns and is connected to $V_1 = 230\ \text{V}$. The secondary has $N_2 = 50$ turns.

1. a) Write the turns ratio, $\frac{V_1}{N_1} = \frac{V_2}{N_2}$.
2. b) Calculate the secondary voltage and state whether the transformer is step-up or step-down.

Mains voltage, $230\ \text{V}$, needs to be transformed to $12\ \text{V}$ to power a model circuit.

1. a) Calculate the required turns ratio, $\frac{N_1}{N_2}$.
2. b) If the secondary has $30$ turns, how many turns must the primary have?

Electricity companies transport energy at voltages of hundreds of kilovolts.

1. a) Write the relationship between power, voltage and current, $P = V \cdot I$, and explain why, to transport the same power, a high voltage implies a low current.
2. b) The power lost due to the Joule effect in the cables is $I^2 \cdot R$: explain why it is so important for the transported current to be small.

The alternator of a small power plant is equivalent to a coil of $200$ turns of $100\ \text{cm}^2$ rotating at a frequency of $50\ \text{Hz}$ in a field of $0,5\ \text{T}$ (take $\pi \approx 3,14$).

1. a) Calculate the angular speed of rotation, $\omega = 2 \cdot \pi \cdot f$.
2. b) Calculate the maximum generated emf, $\varepsilon_0 = N \cdot B \cdot S \cdot \omega$.
3. c) Write the expression $\varepsilon(t)$ assuming that at $t = 0$ the flux is maximum and the emf is zero.

A drill connected to $230\ \text{V}$ draws a current of $2\ \text{A}$ and delivers a useful mechanical power of $400\ \text{W}$.

1. a) Calculate the electrical power it absorbs from the mains.
2. b) Calculate its efficiency, as a percentage.
3. c) Name two mechanisms by which a real motor loses energy and briefly explain them.

An ideal transformer has $N_1 = 460$ turns in the primary and $N_2 = 40$ in the secondary. The primary is connected to $230\ \text{V}$. Observe the diagram:

1. a) Calculate the secondary voltage.
2. b) A current of $2,3\ \text{A}$ flows through the secondary circuit: calculate the power delivered by the transformer.
3. c) In an ideal transformer, the primary power is equal to the secondary power: calculate the current drawn by the transformer from the mains.

A toy electric train operates at $18\ \text{V}$ with a current of $2,5\ \text{A}$, using an ideal transformer connected to the $230\ \text{V}$ mains.

1. a) Calculate the turns ratio of the transformer.
2. b) Calculate the power consumed by the train.
3. c) Calculate the current drawn by the transformer from the mains.

A town consumes $50\ \text{kW}$ and the supply line feeding it has a total resistance of $2\ \Omega$.

1. a) If transmission were carried out at $1000\ \text{V}$, calculate the current through the line and the power lost in it, and express this loss as a percentage of the transmitted power.
2. b) Repeat the calculations assuming transmission is carried out at $10\ \text{kV}$.
3. c) Draw a conclusion as to why it is advantageous to transmit energy at high voltage.

In a hydroelectric power plant, water rotates the turbine, which drives the alternator rotor at a frequency of $25\ \text{Hz}$ (take $\pi \approx 3,14$). The alternator winding is equivalent to $100$ turns of $0,2\ \text{m}^2$ rotating in a field of $0,8\ \text{T}$.

1. a) Calculate the angular speed of the rotor.
2. b) Calculate the maximum generated emf, $\varepsilon_0 = N \cdot B \cdot S \cdot \omega$.
3. c) Describe the chain of energy transformations from the dammed water to the electrical energy leaving the power plant.

The loop of a toy motor measures $10\ \text{cm}$ in length and $5\ \text{cm}$ in width, carries a current of $3\ \text{A}$ and is in a field of $0,4\ \text{T}$ perpendicular to its axis of rotation, as shown in the figure.

1. a) Calculate the magnetic force on each of the long sides of the loop, $F = I \cdot l \cdot B$.
2. b) Explain why these two forces, acting in opposite directions, form a couple that rotates the loop instead of translating it.
3. c) What happens to the couple when the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the field (dead centre) and how does the split-ring commutator solve this?

A power station generates electricity at $6\ \text{kV}$. A step-up transformer increases it to $132\ \text{kV}$ for transmission and, in the city, another transformer steps it down to $230\ \text{V}$ for consumption. Observe the diagram:

1. a) Calculate the turns ratio $\frac{N_2}{N_1}$ of the step-up transformer.
2. b) Calculate the turns ratio $\frac{N_1}{N_2}$ of the city step-down transformer.
3. c) Explain why the step-up transformer is installed next to the power station and the step-down transformer next to the points of consumption, and not the other way round.

A wind farm generates $10\ \text{MW}$ and transmits it at $220\ \text{kV}$ over a line with a total resistance of $40\ \Omega$.

1. a) Calculate the current flowing through the line.
2. b) Calculate the power dissipated in the line and express it as a percentage of the generated power.
3. c) Repeat the calculations assuming transmission were carried out at $25\ \text{kV}$.
4. d) Explain the dual role played by transformers (and therefore alternating current) in making long-distance electrical power transmission viable.

The domestic voltage of $230\ \text{V}$ is the rms value of an alternating current of $50\ \text{Hz}$ whose maximum value is $325\ \text{V}$ (take $\pi \approx 3,14$ and $\sqrt{2} \approx 1,41$). The graph of voltage against time is shown in the figure.

1. a) Calculate the angular frequency $\omega$ and write the expression for emf as a function of time, $\varepsilon(t) = \varepsilon_0 \cdot \sen(\omega \cdot t)$.
2. b) Verify that the rms value satisfies the relationship $\varepsilon_{\text{ef}} = \frac{\varepsilon_0}{\sqrt{2}}$.
3. c) If the power station alternator works with a field of $0,6\ \text{T}$ and turns of $0,05\ \text{m}^2$, calculate how many turns its winding needs to generate that maximum emf, $\varepsilon_0 = N \cdot B \cdot S \cdot \omega$.

When starting a $12\ \text{V}$ motor whose internal resistance is $0,5\ \Omega$, with the shaft still at rest, the initial current is $24\ \text{A}$.

1. a) Verify this value by applying Ohm's law and explain why, at startup, the motor behaves as a simple resistor.
2. b) When the motor runs at full speed, the rotation of its coils in the field generates an induced emf of $10\ \text{V}$ (back electromotive force): calculate the current at full speed, $I = \frac{V - \varepsilon'}{R}$.
3. c) Explain using Lenz's law why this induced emf has the opposite sign to the supply voltage.
4. d) In light of the previous sections, explain why it is dangerous to stall the shaft of a running motor and what happens to its winding.

A laptop charger delivers $19\ \text{V}$ and $38\ \text{W}$ to the laptop, and its transformer has an efficiency of $95\%$. The charger is connected to the $230\ \text{V}$ mains.

1. a) Calculate the current flowing through the secondary.
2. b) Calculate the power drawn by the charger from the mains and the corresponding primary current.
3. c) Calculate the power lost inside the charger.
4. d) Explain the two main causes of losses in a real transformer: eddy currents in the core (which is why it is made of stacked, insulated laminations) and the Joule effect in the windings.

A $1500\ \text{kg}$ electric car travels at $72\ \text{km/h}$. On releasing the accelerator, its motor acts as a generator and recharges the battery (regenerative braking).

1. a) Express the speed in $\text{m/s}$ and calculate the kinetic energy of the car.
2. b) If the system recovers $60\%$ of that energy, how much energy returns to the battery?
3. c) During braking, the motor winding ($300$ turns) undergoes a flux variation of $0,4\ \text{Wb/s}$ in each turn: calculate the generated emf.
4. d) Explain using Lenz's law why the induced current slows down the car instead of accelerating it.

The pickup of an electric guitar is a small magnet surrounded by a coil of $2000$ turns of $1\cdot10^{-5}\ \text{m}^2$ each. When the metal string is plucked (A note, $440\ \text{Hz}$), the field through the coil oscillates, with a variation of $1\cdot10^{-3}\ \text{T}$ in each quarter period. Observe the diagram:

1. a) Calculate the duration of a quarter of a period of the vibration.
2. b) Calculate the average induced emf during that interval, in millivolts.
3. c) Explain qualitatively how the electrical signal reaching the amplifier is generated and reason why the string must be made of a ferromagnetic material.

A wireless charger has a transmitter coil of $20$ turns powered at $12\ \text{V}$ with alternating current of $100\ \text{kHz}$; the phone's coil has $15$ turns. Observe the diagram:

1. a) Calculate the induced voltage in the phone's coil assuming ideal coupling, using the relationship $\frac{V_1}{N_1} = \frac{V_2}{N_2}$.
2. b) Explain how this system resembles a transformer and what fundamental difference there is regarding the core compared to a conventional one.
3. c) Reason, based on Faraday's law, why such a high frequency is used instead of the $50\ \text{Hz}$ mains frequency: what happens to $\frac{\Delta \Phi}{\Delta t}$ and to the required size of the coils?

A popular science article proposes "transporting electricity directly at $230\ \text{V}$ to save the cost of transformers". A city requires a power of $1\ \text{MW}$ and the line would have a resistance of $1\ \Omega$.

1. a) Calculate the current that would have to be transmitted.
2. b) Calculate the power that would be lost in the line and compare it with the power intended for transmission.
3. c) In light of the result, explain why the proposal is unfeasible and how the combination of alternating current and transformers solves the problem.

Unit challenge. How does electromagnetic induction transform our daily lives, from the power grid to medicine? Become a technical consultant and prepare a report addressing the following stages:

1. Generation in the grid: Access the official website of Red Eléctrica de España (RedOS), check the wind and hydroelectric power in real time, and explain how the induced emf ($\varepsilon = -\mathrm{d}\Phi/\mathrm{d}t$) is generated in their alternators.

2. Home laboratory: Use a magnetometer app (such as Phyphox) on your smartphone to measure the magnetic field $B$ emitted by a transformer or induction hob at distances $d$ between $5,0$ and $25,0\text{ cm}$ (intervals of $5,0\text{ cm}$). Assign reasonable uncertainties (e.g., $\Delta d = \pm 0,2\text{ cm}$ and $\Delta B$). Present a table with your measurements and plot $B$ versus $d$.

3. Technological applications and health: Analyse the role of eddy currents in induction cooking and compare it with the physical principle of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Propose a well-founded safety recommendation for people with pacemakers.

4. Final proposal: Write a short report (maximum two pages) integrating your calculations, the graph, and your conclusions on electromagnetic safety.

Assessment criteria:

• Conceptual rigour when stating and applying Faraday's and Lenz's laws.

• Technical quality of the home experiment (uncertainty estimation, table, and graph).

• Precise physical justification of the technological applications and health warnings.