Step-down substation: Build your own electricity distribution system Activity card
Students can use small audio transformers to replicate a step-up and step-down transformer arrangement as used in electricity transmission and distribution networks.
It will be useful to explain to students that they can determine which side of the transformer has the most coils by measuring resistance.
It is important that only a low voltage supply is used and that students are told to be careful of hot wires. It is recommended that you try this experiment with the equipment you have available before letting students do it to check that excessive currents or temperatures are not likely to occur.
After completing this activity students will:
- Understand how transformers are used in electricity distribution and transmission networks.
- Understand how to calculate electrical power.
- Understand that losses in an electrical distribution or transmission network are mostly due to electrical heating of components.
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