Electromagnetic Induction, AC and Transformers Explorer for A Level Physics

Explore magnetic flux linkage and generator emf, sinusoidal AC and oscilloscope controls, transformer ratios and high-voltage power transmission with live A Level Physics calculations.

Learning guide and suggested activities

What this tool shows

  • Why rotating-coil flux linkage and induced emf are a quarter-cycle apart
  • How field strength, turns, area and rotation frequency set generator emf
  • How rms, peak and peak-to-peak values appear on an oscilloscope
  • How time-base and y-gain settings turn divisions into frequency and voltage
  • How transformer turns ratio, efficiency and transmission voltage affect power loss

OCR A relevance

  • OCR A Module 6.3.2: Electromagnetic induction
  • Alternating current, transformers and power transmission
  • Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law and flux linkage

AQA relevance

  • AQA 7408 sections 3.7.5.3 to 3.7.5.6
  • Magnetic flux, induction and rotating-coil generators
  • Alternating currents, oscilloscopes, transformers and transmission losses

Try these tasks

  • Rotate the coil through one cycle and compare the zeros and extrema of flux linkage and emf.
  • Use the oscilloscope controls to display exactly two cycles and calculate the signal frequency.
  • Change an rms voltage into its peak and peak-to-peak values.
  • Increase transmission voltage by a factor of ten and explain the factor-of-one-hundred fall in I²R loss.