1) Analyse secondary information on the competition between

Westinghouse and Edison to supply electricity to cities.

Edison:
-

Thomas Edison used a direct current system, and was the first to establish
a business supplying electricity to cities. The electricity was mainly used
for lighting in streets and homes.
The DC generator was called a dynamo and used a split ring commutator
to give a dc output. This proved to be a problem with the high speed,
steam driven generators of the 1890s.
His station could only supply areas a few kilometres away.
Power losses in power lines vary directly with the square of the current in
the lines and with the resistance of the lines.
Edison used thick copper cables to reduce resistance of the wire

Westinghouse:
-

George Westinghouse purchased the patent rights for Nikola Teslas AC

generator and transmission system. Including generators and motors that
worked with AC
AC lines were able to provide electricity to a city a distance of 180
kilometres with only a loss of 23% of original power.

Competition:
-

The Edison research facility hired Harold P. Brown to create an AC powered

electric chair.
This was used to demonstrate how dangerous AC currents are.

2) Purpose of transformers in electrical circuits.

The purpose of transformers in electrical circuits is to either increase or
decrease AC voltages. Transformers consist of two coils of insulated wire
called the primary and secondary coils. These coils can be wound together on
the same soft iron core, or linked by a soft iron core. Transformers are
designed so that almost all the magnetic flux produce in the primary coil
threads the secondary coil. When an alternating current flows through the
primary coil, a constantly changing magnetic flux threads the secondary coil.
This induces an AC current at the terminals of the secondary coil with the
same frequency of the AC flowing through the primary coil. Structure and
circuit symbol:
3) Compare Step-up and Step-down transformers
The secondary coils voltage of the transformer could be less than or more than
that of the primary coil. The magnitude of the secondary voltage depends on the
number of turns of wire on the primary coil, n p, and the secondary coil, ns. If the
transformer is 100% efficient, the energy input of the primary coil would equal

the energy output of the secondary coil. The rate of change of flux is common to
both coils (

t ).

Faradays law states that the secondary voltage is:

Vs = n s t
Faradays law also states that the primary input voltage is:

Vp = n p t
Thus, dividing the two equations will yield the transformer equation:

V p np
=
V s ns
4) Discuss role of transformers in electricity sub stations
Power loss occurs in transmission lines. If a large current is running through a
power line, there would be a significant voltage drop. This could result in greatly
decreased voltages once the power reaches a city. Transformers are used to step
up the voltage before transmission, thus lessening the current. Power loss can be
measured by:

Ploss = I2R
Therefore, if we double the voltage, the current would be reduced by half and the
power loss would decrease by a factor of four. Thus, stepping up the voltage can
reduce power loss.
Using transformers enables electricity to be supplied over a large distance
without losing too much energy. If transformers were not implemented, then the
distance between the power stations and cities would have to be extremely
small. Thus fossil fuel stations would dump pollution on the nearby cities.
Power substations can perform three tasks:
-

Step down voltage using transformers

Split the distribution voltage to go in different directions
Enable, using circuit breakers and switches, the disconnection of the
substation from the transmission grid or sections of the distribution grid to
be switched on and off.

5) Discuss why some electrical appliances in the home that are

connected to the mains domestic power supply use a transformer
Australian homes are supplied with 240V of AC electricity. Most electrical
appliances, however, are designed to operate on low DC voltages of between 3V
and 12V. Therefore, transformers are used to step down the voltages and rectify
the AC current into DC current. This prevents devices from experiencing high
amounts of voltage that might damage the circuitry and components due to
overheating and hence melting components.
6) Discuss the need of transformers in the transfer of electrical
energy from a power station to its point of use.
Transformers are used to reduce power loss. Power loss occurs in transmission
lines. If a large current is running through a power line, there would be a
significant voltage drop. This could result in greatly decreased voltages once the
power reaches a city. Transformers are used to step up the voltage before
transmission, thus lessening the current. Power loss can be measured by:

Ploss = I2R
Therefore, if we double the voltage, the current would be reduced by half and the
power loss would decrease by a factor of four. Thus, stepping up the voltage can
reduce power loss.
Using transformers enables electricity to be supplied over a large distance
without losing too much energy. If transformers were not implemented, then the
distance between the power stations and cities would have to be extremely
small. Thus fossil fuel stations would dump pollution on the nearby cities, if
located so close.
7) Identify some of the energy transfer and transformations
involving the conversion of electrical energy onto more useful
forms in the home and industry
Electrical energy can be transformed and applied in many industrial and
domestic settings. Electrical energy can be transformed into: kinetic energy
through motors; light energy through light bulbs, LEDs, computer monitors; heat
energy in air dryers, ovens, toasters, electric kettles, induction cooktops;
8) Discuss how difficulties of heating caused by eddy currents in
transformers may be overcome
Eddy currents are circular movements of electrons due to a changing flux
passing through the metal. The currents transform electrical energy into heat
energy due to the resistance in the metal. This heat energy can be undesirable,
as it has the potential to damage equipment. Also, eddy currents take away
precious electrical energy by transforming it into heat energy which is dissipated.
Thus, by constructing an iron core of several layers separated by insulating
material, the size of the eddy currents is reduced. It is known as a laminated iron

core. The layers are formed perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic flux,
so the size of the eddy currents is greatly reduced. Another material which
minimises eddy currents is ferrite, complex oxides of iron and other materials.
9) Explain why voltage transformations are related to conservation
of energy
The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created nor
destroyed but can be transformed from one form into another. Thus, the energy
input into the primary coil cannot be less than the energy output of the
secondary coil, as energy would be created. Additionally, there is a decrease in
the amount of useable energy as some of it is dissipated as heat energy caused
by eddy current. The Voltage transformations involved the conservation of
energy