Name: Larry Xue

Class: Physics 2
Period: 2
Group #: 2
Lab # and Title: Electromagnetic Induction and Transformers
Laboratory Report
Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to determine what factors affect how efficiently a transformer can pass an
induced magnetic field from one coil to another. This will be done by testing different configurations for
the transformer set-up, the voltage being supplied to the primary coil, and the frequency at which the
power supplier changes the direction of the current. The end goal will be to compare the input voltage
going into the primary coil and the output voltage from the secondary coil.
Equipment Used
PASCO Capstone, PASCO 550 Universal Interface, two AC voltage sensors, two SF-8610 400-turn
coils, one SF-8614 U-shaped core, and two SF-8615 E-shaped cores.
Background
Alternating currents are currents that rapidly switch the direction of their current multiple times per
second. Thus, when an alternating current is run through a coil of wire, or the primary coil, it results in a
magnetic field that is also constantly changing. Transformers take this one step further by wrapping the
coil around a conductor, as the changing magnetic fields magnetize the metal. As the magnetic field
passes through a secondary coil wrapped around the same conductor, this coil experiences a changing
magnetic flux. The changing magnetic flux results in an electromotive force (emf) defined by Faraday’s
Law of Induction, which states that:
Δϕ
𝜀=
Δ𝑡
In this equation, 𝜀 is the emf, Δϕ is the change in flux, and Δ𝑡 is the change in time. The changing
magnetic flux and the subsequent emf allows a current to be induced within the secondary coil despite
not being directly attached to the primary coil.
Procedure
Part 0: Setting up the lab
1. Connect the two voltage sensors to the PASCO 550 Universal Interface. One should plug into the A
Analog Input, whereas the other two individual wires (one red, one black) should plug into the inputs on
the far right. Make sure to turn the machine on before continuing.
2. Log into the computer and open up PASCO Capstone.
 3. To create a new experiment, drag the “Scope” icon located in the toolbox on the far right onto the
screen.
4. Click on “Hardware Setup” (located on the far left). Configure the output sensors by clicking on the
yellow circle located on the far right of the interface and choose “Output Voltage Sensor”.
5. Click on the yellow circle with the letter A above it (this corresponds to the A Analog Input), scroll
down, and choose “Voltage Sensor”.
6. To configure the x-axis, click on “Select Measurement” located below the x-axis and choose “Time (s)”.
7. To configure the y-axis, click “Select Measurement” located on the side of the y-axis and choose
“Voltage. Ch A (V)”. Then, go to “Add Similar Measurement” located in the same menu and choose
“Output Voltage. Ch V (V)”.
8. Set up the coils and cores in the configuration shown below. Use the 400-turn coils from the box.

Part 1: Power supplier voltage

1. Click on “Signal generation” and set the frequency to 60 Hz and the amplitude to 1 V.
 2. Click “Record”. You should see two sine waves being generated.
3. Click on the Delta Tool in the toolbox (Tip: it’s an icon resembling a cross). This will pull up a box that
you can then drag around and use to measure the values of the sine waves.
4. Measure the crest of each sine wave. This value will be used to represent the voltage of the coil
associated with that given sine wave.
5. Repeat 3 times with an amplitude of 3, 5, and 7 V.
6. Record your data in the table below. The voltage closest to the initial amplitude is the primary voltage.
Amplitude (V) Primary (Input) Voltage Secondary (Output) 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
(V) Voltage (V) 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒

1 .991 .671 .677

3 2.983 2.255 .756

5 4.973 3.969 .798

7 6.963 5.782 .830

Part 2: Current frequency

1. Set the frequency to 30 Hz and the amplitude to 3 V.
2. Repeat steps 2 - 4 of Part 1.
3. Repeat 3 times with a frequency of 60, 120, and 240 Hz.
4. Record your data in the table below.
Frequency (Hz) Primary (Input) Voltage Secondary (Output) 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
(V) Voltage (V) 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒

30 2.980 2.400 .805

60 2.977 2.284 .767

120 2.984 2.151 .721

240 2.980 2.000 .671

Part 3: Transformer configuration

1. Set the frequency to 60 Hz and the amplitude to 3 V.
2. The coils should already be set up in the configuration below. This will be “Configuration 1”.

3. Repeat steps 2 - 4 of Part 1.

4. Set up the coils in the configuration below. This will be “Configuration 2”.

5. Repeat steps 2 - 4 of Part 1.

6. Repeat 2 more times; for these trials, set up your own configurations for the coils with the goal of
maximizing the efficiency of the transformer (i.e. minimizing the ratio between the output voltage and
the input voltage).
7. Attach pictures of your configuration for trials 3 and 4.
Configuration 3

Configuration 4
8. Record your data in the table below.
Configuration Primary (Input) Voltage Secondary (Output) 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
(V) Voltage (V) 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒

1 2.983 2.255 .756

2 2.984 0.759 .254

3 2.911 1.825 .626

4 2.986 2.469 .827

Analysis Questions
1. The power supplier used in this lab passes an alternating current (AC) through the primary coil. Had it
instead used a direct current (DC), how would the output voltage of the secondary coil be affected?

There would an initial voltage when the DC was switched on, and then the output voltage would
have dropped to zero. Inducing a current requires a flux, which creates emf in the secondary
coil. With a DC, there would be no change in the magnetic field generated by the primary coil.

2. Consider the ratio between the output voltage and the input voltage in all 3 parts. How does changing
the amplitude affect this ratio? The frequency? The configuration?

Increasing the amplitude increases the ratio between output voltage and input voltage.
Increasing the frequency decreases the ratio between output voltage and input voltage.
The configuration effects the ratio in different ways depending on the configuration. Ratio
increases as configuration reflects the magnetic field of the primary coil.

3. You may notice that the values for the ratio between the output voltage and the input voltage is never
precisely 1. Using data from this lab and your own knowledge of electromagnetic fields, develop a
theory for why this discrepancy occurs.

Not all of the flux goes through the secondary coil, therefore the opposing magnetic field
generated is weaker than the change in magnetic field created by the AC. This causes the output
voltage to always be less than the input voltage.

4. Based on the data from Part 3, which configuration had the highest efficiency when passing an induced
magnetic field? Why was it more efficient than the others? Use the theory you developed in Question 2
to support your answer.

Our fourth configuration was more efficient than the others in inducing a current in the
secondary coil. This configuration was best suited to conducting the magnetic field generated by
the primary coil.