The Challenge: Make a Transmitter and Receiver |
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
How is a transformer
made?
The transformer is
made up of two coils of wire (a primary and a secondary coil) wound around
each other, usually on a metal former to make it more efficient. How much
a transformer will change the voltage depends on the ratio of the number of
turns of wire in the
two coils. If both sets of coils have the same number of turns then the
voltage and current that go in will be the same as the voltage and current
that go out. If the secondary coil has 100 times the number turns as the primary
coil, then the transformer will in principle step up the voltage by 100 times. In
reality, the efficiency is somewhat lower due to heat loss.
However, a transformer
will not work with the direct current (DC) from a battery it will only
work with an alternating current (AC - one that changes constantly).
To convert the DC
voltage of the battery from DC to AC we built a buzzer.
This is a device that constantly interrupts the direct current flowing
and produces a crude AC current. This current was then fed to the transformer
which boosted the voltage, producing a much bigger spark.

The Rough Science transmitter 
|