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Summary Notes - Topic 13 Edexcel Physics GCSE PDF

Edexcel GCSE Physics covers electromagnetic induction, including how current is induced in a conductor moving through a magnetic field. It also discusses the production of electricity through large-scale generators and factors affecting the size of the current produced. Transformers are explained as using changing magnetic fields to induce alternating currents in coils to either increase or decrease voltage depending on the number of coils. The national grid transfers electricity at high voltages from power stations before transforming it to lower voltages for domestic use to improve transmission efficiency and safety.

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215 views

Summary Notes - Topic 13 Edexcel Physics GCSE PDF

Edexcel GCSE Physics covers electromagnetic induction, including how current is induced in a conductor moving through a magnetic field. It also discusses the production of electricity through large-scale generators and factors affecting the size of the current produced. Transformers are explained as using changing magnetic fields to induce alternating currents in coils to either increase or decrease voltage depending on the number of coils. The national grid transfers electricity at high voltages from power stations before transforming it to lower voltages for domestic use to improve transmission efficiency and safety.

Uploaded by

alishaluthfiya
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Edexcel GCSE Physics

Topic 13: Electromagnetic induction


Notes
(Content in bold Higher Tier only)

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Current Induction (Physics only)
- Current is induced if a wire is moved in a magnetic field
- The Conductor (wire) forms a potential difference (electrons move to one side of the
conductor as the field changes)
- If the conductor is connected in a circuit, a current will flow
o (This current will produce its own magnetic field)
o (The direction of this new field is in the opposite direction to the first field)
▪ (I.e. it opposes the original change)

Production (Physics only)


- Small-scale
o Spinning a coil of wire in between two permanent magnets will cause a current to
flow in the wire, which can be shown by a sensitive ammeter (only milliamps will
be generated)
o Passing a wire through a field will also show a deflection in an ammeter (a
reading).
- Large-scale
o In a thermal power station, water heats up and evaporates to form steam
▪ Combustion of fossil fuels / nuclear fission may cause this
o The steam is put under pressure and forced into a turbine
o This causes the turbine to rotate, which is connected to a massive coil of wire in a
strong magnetic field (the generator)
o Current is generated in the coil by the spinning
motion of the coil through the field.

Factors that affect the size of the current/voltage


produced:
- Number of coils of wire
- Speed of rotation
- Magnetic field strength

Alternator
- Every half turn, the current switches direction, as the
wire will be in the opposite orientation compared to
its starting position (see figure).
o Use the Left Hand Rule to show the direction of the
current induced switches as it moves up or down
- This produces AC.

Dynamo
- Same set up as an alternator.
- At end of the coil, there is a ‘commutator’
o A metal ring that reverses the sign of the current that flows from the coil –
ensuring current output remains positive
o Every half-turn the commutator switches the sign of the current, so it remains
positive
- This produces DC.

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Microphones and Loudspeakers
- Produce a current which is proportional to the sound signal
- Fixed magnet is at the centre, and the coil of wire around the magnet is free to move
- Pressure variations in the sound waves cause the coil to move, and as it moves current is
induced in the coil (because it passes through the magnetic field)
- This current is then sent to a loudspeaker

- The Loudspeaker setup is identical


- Current flows into the coil
- The magnetic field from magnet and from current interact, causing the coil to move
- The cone therefore moves
- Producing pressure variations, making sound

Transformers
- AC in first coil creates a changing magnetic field
- This changing magnetic field cuts through the secondary coil
- This induces a current in the secondary coil
o Which is also AC
o If primary current was DC, magnetic field produced will be constant, not inducing
anything in the secondary coil
- (Physics only) More coils on secondary? Step up transformer, as voltage will be increased,
as changing field will cut through more of the secondary wire inducing a larger pd
- (Physics only) Fewer coils on secondary? Step down transformer, as smaller pd forms on
secondary

𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚


=
𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒚

𝑵𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑽𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚
=𝑽
𝑵𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒚

National Grid
- Electrical energy is transferred at high voltages from power stations
- In domestic uses, electrical energy is transformed to lower voltages
o This is done to improve the efficiency of the transmission
o The larger the current, the greater the heating effect occurs in wires
o So this means a large current means lots of energy is lost
o So as P = IV and power is constant, increasing the voltage out of the power station
and so reduces the current
▪ However high voltages are very dangerous
o So when it is close to towns (etc.) the voltage is decreased (and so current increases)
o This means it is safer to use
▪ As well as making sure less energy is lost as it is carried from power stations

Transformer Summary
- Step-up transformers increase the voltage
- Step-down transformers decrease the voltage

Power for a transformer with 100% efficiency: power of primary circuit = power in secondary
𝑉×𝐼 =𝑉×𝐼
𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦

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