Considering the below transformer U-Core:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/U_core.png
When "Closing the U-Core" by placing a bar across the top (as per a recent experiment completed), what effect does changing the surface area of the bar in contact with one of the top segments (flat surface) of the U-Core. During the experiment one side of the U-Core - the secondary winding side was kept fully in contact with the bar "closing" the core, while the other side had varying overlaps of 10%, 50% and 100%. Voltage was increased from 0 --> 130V in steps of 10V. What appeared to happen was that the larger the overlap was the smaller the current in the primary current was and of course as the voltage increased so did the current. Is there any explanation to this - that the larger the surface area in contact with the primary winding results in a smaller current in the primary winding? Or any mathematics to tie into it. Any help greatly appreciated to help in my understanding.