Energy, power and efficiency
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Name the energy stores and the transfers in a simple system
- Calculate power from energy and time, and convert between W and kW
- Calculate efficiency as a percentage of useful output over total input
- Use the kinetic and gravitational potential energy formulae in simple cases (extension)
- Use conservation of energy to find a missing energy value
You should already know
- Energy stores and transfers, Sankey diagrams (Year 8 Science, Chapter 11)
- Units of energy in the domestic context (Year 7 and Year 8 Science)
Where this leads
- Electrical circuits in Chapter 10, where power and energy are used for lamps and resistors
National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 3 science, Year 9. Content: 9P1 energy stores and transfers revisited (deepens Year 8, Chapter 11), 9P1 power as the rate of energy transfer, in watts (W) and kilowatts (kW), 9P1 efficiency = useful energy output / total energy input, as a percentage, 9P1 energy calculations in simple cases; kinetic and gravitational potential energy in simple cases (EXTENSION: formulae flagged), 9P1 conservation of energy in all transfers.
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. Multiply 2 by 300.
- Multiply. Two lots of 300 is 600.2 x 300 = 600
- Write the answer. 600
Check. 600 divided by 2 is 300. ✓
Method. Convert minutes to seconds.
- Multiply. One minute has 60 seconds, so 5 x 60.5 x 60
- Calculate. So 5 minutes is 300 seconds.5 x 60 = 300
- Write the answer. 300
Check. 300 / 60 = 5 minutes. ✓
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. A moving object has energy in its kinetic store.kinetic store
- Write the answer. kinetic store
Check. Faster movement means more kinetic energy. ✓
Method. Recall the unit.
- Recall. Energy is measured in joules, J.joules
- Write the answer. joule
Check. The symbol is J. ✓
Method. Subtract 35 from 100.
- Subtract. One hundred take away 35 is 65.100 - 35 = 65
- Write the answer. 65
Check. 65 + 35 = 100. ✓
Energy stores and transfers, revisited
Energy is stored in stores, and moves between them by transfers. Common stores are the kinetic store (movement), the gravitational potential store (height), the thermal store (temperature), the chemical store (fuels and food) and the elastic store (stretched or squashed objects).
A transfer can happen by heating, by a force moving an object, by an electrical current, or by radiation such as light. Energy is not used up in a transfer; it is spread out.
Key ideas
- Stores: kinetic, gravitational potential, thermal, chemical, elastic.
- A transfer moves energy from one store to another.
- Energy is conserved in every transfer.
- Energy spreads out to the surroundings as it is transferred.
Method. Think about the height.
- Think. An object high above the ground has energy because of its height.because of its height
- Name it. This is the gravitational potential store.gravitational potential store
- Write the answer. gravitational potential store
Check. Height gives gravitational potential energy. ✓
Method. Think about the movement.
- Think. The falling book is moving faster as it falls.moving faster
- Name it. Its kinetic store gains energy.kinetic store
- Write the answer. kinetic store
Check. The gravitational store falls as the kinetic store rises. ✓
Method. Think about what the impact does.
- Think. The impact warms the book and the floor a little.warms
- Name it. The thermal store of the surroundings gains energy.thermal store
- Write the answer. thermal store
Check. Some energy is spread out as sound too. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: energy is never used up. Say that energy is transferred between stores, not that it is “used”.
Exam tip
Exam tip. In a transfer, name the store that falls and the store that rises.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, hold a rubber ball and drop it onto the bench from a low height. Describe the stores and transfers from the moment you let go to the moment it bounces back. Use a small, safe height only.
Exercise 9A Energy stores and transfers, revisited
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. A stretched object stores energy in its elastic store.elastic store
- Write the answer. elastic
Check. Stretching transfers energy into the elastic store. ✓
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. A battery stores energy in its chemicals.in its chemicals
- Write the answer. chemical
Check. Fuels and food also use the chemical store. ✓
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. The thermal store depends on the temperature of an object.depends on temperature
- Write the answer. thermal
Check. A hotter object has more thermal energy. ✓
Method. Recall the transfer.
- Recall. An electric current transfers energy around a circuit.electric current
- Write the answer. current
Check. Current carries energy to the components. ✓
Method. Recall the transfer.
- Recall. Radiation transfers energy by waves, such as light and infrared.by waves
- Write the answer. radiation
Check. The Sun warms the Earth by radiation. ✓
Method. Recall the rule.
- Recall. Energy is conserved, so it is transferred, not used up.transferred
- Write the answer. no
Check. Energy is spread out, not lost. ✓
Method. Think about the movement.
- Think. The car moves faster as it goes down.moves faster
- Name it. So its kinetic store gains energy.kinetic store
- Write the answer. kinetic store
Check. Its gravitational potential store falls. ✓
Method. Think about the water.
- Think. The water gets hotter.gets hotter
- Name it. So the thermal store of the water gains energy.thermal
- Write the answer. thermal
Check. Heating increases the thermal store. ✓
Method. Think about the height.
- Think. The ball gets higher, so its height increases.gets higher
- Name it. Its gravitational potential store gains energy.gravitational potential store
- Write the answer. gravitational potential store
Check. Its kinetic store falls as it rises. ✓
Method. Think about the store that falls.
- Think. The kinetic store falls as the object slows.kinetic store falls
- Conclude. The energy is transferred to the thermal store of the surroundings by friction.by friction
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying kinetic energy is transferred to the thermal store of the surroundings by friction.
Check. Friction transfers energy to the thermal store. ✓
Method. Follow the energy in each bounce.
- Think. Each impact transfers energy to the thermal store and to sound.thermal store and sound
- Conclude. So less energy is left in the kinetic store, and the ball rises less.rises less
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying some energy is transferred to the thermal store and sound each bounce, so less kinetic energy is left.
Check. Energy is spread out by each bounce. ✓
Power: the rate of energy transfer
Power is the rate at which energy is transferred. It is measured in watts, W. One watt is one joule of energy transferred each second. The equation is power = energy transferred / time, or P = E / t. One kilowatt (kW) is 1000 W.
Energy transferred is found by multiplying power by time: E = P x t. Time must be in seconds to give energy in joules.
| Appliance | Power (W) | Time used (s) | Energy transferred (J) |
|---|---|---|---|
| kettle | 2000 | 300 | 600000 |
| lamp | 60 | 600 | 36000 |
| fan | 50 | 120 | 6000 |
Key ideas
- Power = energy transferred / time (W = J per second).
- Energy transferred = power x time, with time in seconds.
- 1 kW = 1000 W.
- Convert minutes to seconds before using the equation.
Method. Use P = E / t.
- Write. P = 60 / 2.60 / 2
- Calculate. So the power is 30 W.60 / 2 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 30 W x 2 s = 60 J. ✓
Method. Multiply the kilowatts by 1000.
- Write. 1 kW = 1000 W, so 2 kW = 2 x 1000.2 x 1000
- Calculate. So the power is 2000 W.2 x 1000 = 2000
- Write the answer. 2000
Check. 2000 / 1000 = 2 kW. ✓
Method. Use E = P x t.
- Write. E = 2000 x 300.2000 x 300
- Calculate. So the energy is 600 000 J.2000 x 300 = 600000
- Write the answer. 600000
Check. 600000 / 300 = 2000 W. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: convert minutes to seconds first. 5 minutes is 300 seconds, not 5 seconds.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Write the equation, then the numbers with units, then the answer with its unit.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, use a 60 W lamp and a stopwatch to see how long a fully charged battery or a timer takes to run. Discuss which of these two numbers is power and which is energy.
Exercise 9B Power: the rate of energy transfer
Method. Recall the unit.
- Recall. Power is measured in watts, W.watts
- Write the answer. W
Check. One watt is one joule per second. ✓
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. Power is the rate at which energy is transferred.rate at which energy
- Write the answer. energy transfer
Check. Power is energy divided by time. ✓
Method. Recall the prefix.
- Recall. Kilo means one thousand.one thousand
- Write the answer. 1000
Check. 1 kW = 1000 W. ✓
Method. Recall the equation.
- Recall. Power is energy transferred divided by time.divided by time
- Write the answer. power = energy transferred / time
Check. P = E / t. ✓
Method. Use P = E / t.
- Write. P = 100 / 4.100 / 4
- Calculate. So the power is 25 W.100 / 4 = 25
- Write the answer. 25
Check. 25 x 4 = 100. ✓
Method. Use E = P x t.
- Write. E = 60 x 10.60 x 10
- Calculate. So the energy is 600 J.60 x 10 = 600
- Write the answer. 600
Check. 600 / 10 = 60 W. ✓
Method. Use E = P x t.
- Write. E = 50 x 120.50 x 120
- Calculate. So the energy is 6000 J.50 x 120 = 6000
- Write the answer. 6000
Check. 6000 / 120 = 50 W. ✓
Method. Multiply the kilowatts by 1000.
- Calculate. 2.5 x 1000 = 2500.2.5 x 1000 = 2500
- Write the answer. 2500
Check. 2500 / 1000 = 2.5 kW. ✓
Method. Use P = E / t.
- Write. P = 3000 / 60.3000 / 60
- Calculate. So the power is 50 W.3000 / 60 = 50
- Write the answer. 50
Check. 50 x 60 = 3000. ✓
Method. Convert the power and the time, then multiply.
- Power. 2 kW = 2000 W.2000 W
- Time. 5 minutes = 300 s.300 s
- Calculate. E = 2000 x 300 = 600 000 J.600000
- Write the answer. 600000
Check. 600000 / 300 = 2000 W. ✓
Method. Compare the powers for the same time.
- Compare. For the same time, the higher power transfers more energy.higher power
- Decide. So the kettle transfers more energy.kettle
- Write the answer. kettle
Check. Power is the rate of transfer. ✓
Method. Use E = P x t.
- Think. Energy depends on power and on time.power and time
- Conclude. A low-power lamp left on long enough can transfer more energy.more energy
- Write the answer. Accept yes, with a reason that energy is power multiplied by time.
Check. Both power and time matter. ✓
Efficiency
Efficiency is the fraction of the energy input that becomes useful energy output. It is found by:
efficiency = useful energy output / total energy input x 100%
An efficiency of 100% would mean all of the energy is useful. In practice, some energy is always wasted, usually as thermal energy in the surroundings. A good device has a high efficiency, so less energy is wasted.
| Device | Energy in (J) | Useful energy out (J) | Efficiency (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| electric motor | 200 | 150 | 75 |
| light bulb (energy as light) | 100 | 10 | 10 |
| kettle | 500 | 450 | 90 |
Key ideas
- Efficiency = useful energy output / total energy input x 100%.
- Wasted energy = total input minus useful output.
- Efficiency is always less than 100%.
- A higher efficiency means less energy is wasted.
Method. Divide the useful output by the input, then multiply by 100.
- Divide. 150 / 200 = 0.75.150 / 200 = 0.75
- Convert. 0.75 x 100 = 75%.0.75 x 100 = 75
- Write the answer. 75
Check. 75% of 200 J is 150 J. ✓
Method. Subtract the useful output from the input.
- Subtract. 100 - 10 = 90 J.100 - 10
- Write. So 90 J is wasted.90
- Write the answer. 90
Check. 10 + 90 = 100 J. ✓
Method. Find 90% of the input.
- Convert. 90% = 90 / 100 = 0.9.0.9
- Multiply. 0.9 x 500 = 450 J.0.9 x 500 = 450
- Write the answer. 450
Check. 450 / 500 = 0.9, which is 90%. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: efficiency is a percentage of the input, not of the output. Divide by the input.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Always write the efficiency formula first, then substitute the useful output and the total input.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, compare how much energy a battery-powered torch or a small fan wastes as heat when it runs. Use a thermometer on the case, and say which part of the device gets warm, and why this is wasted energy.
Exercise 9C Efficiency
Method. Recall the formula.
- Recall. Efficiency is the useful output over the total input, as a percentage.useful output over total input
- Write the answer. useful energy output divided by total energy input, times 100
Check. Multiply by 100 for a percentage. ✓
Method. Recall the rule.
- Recall. Some energy is always wasted, so no device is 100% efficient.always wasted
- Write the answer. no
Check. Some energy is always lost to the surroundings. ✓
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. Wasted energy is usually spread out as thermal energy.thermal energy
- Write the answer. thermal
Check. Warming of the surroundings is usually the waste. ✓
Method. Divide and multiply by 100.
- Divide. 40 / 80 = 0.5.40 / 80 = 0.5
- Convert. 0.5 x 100 = 50%.0.5 x 100 = 50
- Write the answer. 50
Check. 50% of 80 J is 40 J. ✓
Method. Divide and multiply by 100.
- Divide. 120 / 300 = 0.4.120 / 300 = 0.4
- Convert. 0.4 x 100 = 40%.0.4 x 100 = 40
- Write the answer. 40
Check. 40% of 300 J is 120 J. ✓
Method. Find 75% of the input.
- Convert. 75% = 0.75.0.75
- Multiply. 0.75 x 200 = 150 J.0.75 x 200 = 150
- Write the answer. 150
Check. 150 / 200 = 0.75. ✓
Method. Subtract the useful output from the input.
- Subtract. 500 - 100 = 400 J.500 - 100 = 400
- Write the answer. 400
Check. 100 + 400 = 500 J. ✓
Method. Find the useful output, then subtract.
- Useful. 0.9 x 500 = 450 J.450 J
- Wasted. 500 - 450 = 50 J.500 - 450 = 50
- Write the answer. 50
Check. 450 + 50 = 500 J. ✓
Method. Compare the three percentages.
- Compare. The highest percentage is 90%.90%
- Decide. So the kettle is the most efficient.kettle
- Write the answer. kettle
Check. Higher efficiency means less wasted. ✓
Method. Look at the wasted energy.
- Think. Only 10% of the energy becomes light.10%
- Conclude. So 90% is wasted as thermal energy.wasted as thermal energy
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying most of the energy is wasted as thermal energy, not used as light.
Check. A more efficient bulb wastes less. ✓
Method. Work out the wasted fraction.
- Find. If the efficiency is 90%, then 100% - 90% = 10% is not useful.100% - 90% = 10%
- Conclude. So 10% of the energy is wasted.wasted
- Write the answer. Accept yes, with a reason that the 10% that is not useful is wasted.
Check. Efficiency and wasted fraction add up to 100%. ✓
Kinetic and gravitational potential energy (extension)
Extension (not in the KS3 programme text). The kinetic energy of a moving object is KE = 0.5 x m x v2, where m is the mass in kilograms and v is the speed in metres per second. The gravitational potential energy of an object raised above the ground is GPE = m x g x h, where g is the gravitational field strength (10 N/kg here) and h is the height in metres.
Both are in joules. In a simple system with no losses, the GPE lost as an object falls is equal to the KE gained.
Key ideas
- Extension: KE = 0.5 x m x v2, with m in kg and v in m/s.
- Extension: GPE = m x g x h, with g = 10 N/kg and h in metres.
- Both give energy in joules (J).
- With no losses, GPE lost = KE gained.
Method. Use KE = 0.5 x m x v2.
- Square the speed. 32 = 9.3 x 3 = 9
- Multiply. KE = 0.5 x 2 x 9 = 9 J.0.5 x 2 x 9 = 9
- Write the answer. 9
Check. Check: 0.5 x 2 = 1, and 1 x 9 = 9. ✓
Method. Use GPE = m x g x h, with g = 10 N/kg.
- Write. GPE = 5 x 10 x 4.5 x 10 x 4
- Calculate. So GPE = 200 J.5 x 10 x 4 = 200
- Write the answer. 200
Check. 200 / 10 / 4 = 5 kg. ✓
Method. Use GPE = m x g x h.
- Write. GPE = 50 x 10 x 2.50 x 10 x 2
- Calculate. So the GPE gained is 1000 J.50 x 10 x 2 = 1000
- Write the answer. 1000
Check. 1000 / 10 / 2 = 50 kg. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: kinetic energy uses the speed squared, so doubling the speed makes KE four times as large.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Square the speed before multiplying. Use metres for height and metres per second for speed.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, roll a toy car down a short ramp from two different heights, and measure the distance it rolls on the bench. Say which store gained energy at the top, and which store had the energy at the bottom. This is an extension activity.
Exercise 9D Kinetic and gravitational potential energy (extension)
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. A moving object has energy in its kinetic store.kinetic store
- Write the answer. kinetic store
Check. Movement stores kinetic energy. ✓
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. A raised object has energy in its gravitational potential store.gravitational potential store
- Write the answer. gravitational potential store
Check. Height stores gravitational potential energy. ✓
Method. Look at the formula.
- Look. The speed, v, is squared in the formula.speed
- Write the answer. v
Check. The mass is not squared. ✓
Method. Recall the value.
- Recall. The programme uses g = 10 N/kg on Earth.10 N/kg
- Write the answer. 10
Check. Used in the GPE formula. ✓
Method. Use KE = 0.5 x m x v2.
- Square. 42 = 16.4 x 4 = 16
- Multiply. KE = 0.5 x 2 x 16 = 16 J.0.5 x 2 x 16 = 16
- Write the answer. 16
Check. 0.5 x 2 = 1, so 1 x 16 = 16. ✓
Method. Use KE = 0.5 x m x v2.
- Square. 22 = 4.2 x 2 = 4
- Multiply. KE = 0.5 x 3 x 4 = 6 J.0.5 x 3 x 4 = 6
- Write the answer. 6
Check. 0.5 x 3 = 1.5, and 1.5 x 4 = 6. ✓
Method. Use GPE = m x g x h.
- Write. GPE = 5 x 10 x 4.5 x 10 x 4
- Calculate. So GPE = 200 J.5 x 10 x 4 = 200
- Write the answer. 200
Check. 200 / 4 / 10 = 5 kg. ✓
Method. Use GPE = m x g x h.
- Write. GPE = 10 x 10 x 3.10 x 10 x 3
- Calculate. So GPE = 300 J.10 x 10 x 3 = 300
- Write the answer. 300
Check. 300 / 10 / 3 = 10 kg. ✓
Method. Double the speed, so the KE is multiplied by four.
- Think. Doubling the speed multiplies v2 by 4.multiplies by 4
- Calculate. 9 x 4 = 36 J.9 x 4 = 36
- Write the answer. 36
Check. Check: 0.5 x 2 x 62 = 36. ✓
Method. Use conservation of energy.
- Think. With no losses, the energy lost by one store is gained by another.gained by another
- Conclude. So the KE gained is 20 J.20
- Write the answer. 20
Check. 20 J out of GPE, 20 J into KE. ✓
Method. Think about the formula.
- Think. KE is proportional to the speed squared.speed squared
- Conclude. So doubling the speed makes the KE four times larger.four times
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying kinetic energy depends on the square of the speed.
Check. Speed has a larger effect than mass. ✓
Method. Compare the GPE lost with the KE gained.
- GPE. GPE lost = 4 x 10 x 5 = 200 J.4 x 10 x 5 = 200
- Compare. The KE gained is 200 J, the same, so energy is conserved.same, so energy
- Write the answer. yes
Check. 200 J lost, 200 J gained. ✓
Conservation of energy in all transfers
The law of conservation of energy says the total energy before a change equals the total energy after it. Energy is only transferred or stored in other stores. In a transfer, the total of all the useful and wasted energy outputs equals the total energy input.
To find a missing value, add the known outputs and subtract from the input.
Key ideas
- Total energy in = total energy out (useful plus wasted).
- Missing energy = total in minus the known outputs.
- Energy is never created or destroyed.
- Energy spreads out, so it becomes harder to use.
Method. Subtract the light from the input.
- Subtract. 300 - 120 = 180 J.300 - 120
- Write. So 180 J is given out as heat.180
- Write the answer. 180
Check. 120 + 180 = 300 J. ✓
Method. Subtract every known output from the input.
- Subtract. 400 - 250 - 50 = 100.400 - 250 - 50
- Write. So 100 J is wasted as heat.100
- Write the answer. 100
Check. 250 + 50 + 100 = 400 J. ✓
Method. Find the useful output, then subtract.
- Useful. 80% of 1000 = 800 J.0.8 x 1000 = 800
- Wasted. 1000 - 800 = 200 J.1000 - 800 = 200
- Write the answer. 200
Check. 800 + 200 = 1000 J. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a missing value is found by subtraction. Do not add the outputs to the input.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Write the energy in and the energy out as a sum, then solve for the missing value.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, use a low-voltage battery pack, a bulb and a small fan. Describe where the energy goes in each device, and which output is useful. Do not connect mains electricity.
Exercise 9E Conservation of energy in all transfers
Method. Recall the law.
- Recall. The law is called conservation of energy.conservation of energy
- Write the answer. conservation of energy
Check. Energy is conserved in every transfer. ✓
Method. Recall the law.
- Recall. Energy is conserved, so the total out equals the total in.total out equals
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Including the wasted energy. ✓
Method. Recall the wasted energy.
- Recall. The wasted energy is usually spread out as thermal energy.thermal energy
- Write the answer. thermal
Check. Heating the surroundings is the usual waste. ✓
Method. Subtract the light from the input.
- Subtract. 300 - 120 = 180.300 - 120 = 180
- Write the answer. 180
Check. 120 + 180 = 300. ✓
Method. Subtract the known outputs from the input.
- Subtract. 500 - 300 - 100 = 100.500 - 300 - 100 = 100
- Write the answer. 100
Check. 300 + 100 + 100 = 500. ✓
Method. Subtract the useful output from the input.
- Subtract. 150 - 120 = 30.150 - 120 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 120 + 30 = 150. ✓
Method. Find 90% of the input.
- Convert. 90% = 0.9.0.9
- Multiply. 0.9 x 2000 = 1800 J.0.9 x 2000 = 1800
- Write the answer. 1800
Check. 1800 / 2000 = 0.9. ✓
Method. Subtract the useful output from the input.
- Subtract. 2000 - 1800 = 200.2000 - 1800 = 200
- Write the answer. 200
Check. 1800 + 200 = 2000. ✓
Method. Find the useful output, then the efficiency.
- Useful. 80 - 20 = 60 J.80 - 20 = 60
- Efficiency. 60 / 80 = 0.75, which is 75%.60 / 80 = 0.75 = 75%
- Write the answer. 75
Check. 75% of 80 J is 60 J. ✓
Method. Think about where the energy goes.
- Think. The energy goes to light and thermal energy.light and thermal
- Conclude. So it is transferred, not lost, and the total is the same.transferred
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying the energy is transferred to the surroundings as light and thermal energy.
Check. Energy is transferred, not destroyed. ✓
Method. Think about the thermal store.
- Think. The energy goes into the thermal store of the machine and surroundings.thermal store
- Conclude. It is conserved, but spread out so it is harder to use.spread out
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying the energy is transferred to the thermal store of the machine and surroundings, so it is conserved but spread out.
Check. Energy is not lost; it is spread out. ✓
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Stores and transfers | Energy moves between stores (kinetic, gravitational potential, thermal, chemical, elastic); it is conserved. |
| Power | Power = energy transferred / time, in W; energy = power x time (time in s); 1 kW = 1000 W. |
| Efficiency | Useful output / total input x 100%; wasted energy = input minus useful output. |
| Kinetic energy (extension) | KE = 0.5 x m x v2, in joules, with m in kg and v in m/s. |
| Gravitational potential energy (extension) | GPE = m x g x h, with g = 10 N/kg and h in metres. |
| Conservation | Total energy in equals total energy out, including the wasted energy. |
Can you…?
- I can name the energy stores and describe the transfers in a simple system
- I can calculate power from energy and time, and convert between W and kW
- I can calculate efficiency as a percentage of useful output over total input
- I can use the kinetic and gravitational potential energy formulae in simple cases (extension)
- I can use conservation of energy to find a missing energy value
Key terms
- energy store
- a place where energy is held, such as kinetic, thermal or chemical
- energy transfer
- the movement of energy from one store to another
- power
- the rate at which energy is transferred, in watts
- watt
- a unit of power: one joule per second
- efficiency
- the percentage of the energy input that becomes useful output
- useful energy output
- the energy that is transferred to where it is wanted
- wasted energy
- the energy transferred to stores that are not wanted, usually thermal
- kinetic energy
- the energy of a moving object (extension: 0.5 x m x v squared)
- gravitational potential energy
- the energy of an object raised above the ground (extension: m x g x h)
- joule
- the unit of energy
Exercise 9Z Check-up
Method. Recall the unit.
- Recall. Power is measured in watts, W.watts
- Write the answer. W
Check. One watt is one joule per second. ✓
Method. Use P = E / t.
- Divide. 100 / 4 = 25.100 / 4 = 25
- Write the answer. 25
Check. 25 x 4 = 100. ✓
Method. Multiply the kilowatts by 1000.
- Calculate. 3 x 1000 = 3000 W.3 x 1000 = 3000
- Write the answer. 3000
Check. 3000 / 1000 = 3 kW. ✓
Method. Use E = P x t.
- Multiply. 60 x 10 = 600 J.60 x 10 = 600
- Write the answer. 600
Check. 600 / 10 = 60 W. ✓
Method. Divide and multiply by 100.
- Divide. 150 / 200 = 0.75.150 / 200 = 0.75
- Convert. 0.75 x 100 = 75%.0.75 x 100 = 75
- Write the answer. 75
Check. 75% of 200 is 150. ✓
Method. Subtract the useful output from the input.
- Useful. 0.9 x 500 = 450 J.450 J
- Wasted. 500 - 450 = 50 J.50
- Write the answer. 50
Check. 450 + 50 = 500. ✓
Method. Recall the store.
- Recall. A raised object has gravitational potential energy.gravitational potential
- Write the answer. gravitational potential store
Check. Height stores energy. ✓
Method. Subtract the light from the input.
- Subtract. 300 - 120 = 180.300 - 120 = 180
- Write the answer. 180
Check. 120 + 180 = 300. ✓
Method. Recall the law.
- Recall. Energy is conserved; it is only transferred.conserved
- Write the answer. no
Check. It is transferred to other stores. ✓
Method. Think about the wasted energy.
- Think. Some energy is always transferred to the thermal store of the surroundings.thermal store
- Conclude. So the output is always less than the input.always less
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying some energy is always wasted, usually as thermal energy.
Check. Efficiency is always below 100%. ✓
Total 22 marks. Allow about 22 minutes.
Exercise 9X Practice test questions
Method. Recall the unit.
- Recall. Energy is measured in joules, J.joules
- Write the answer. J
Check. One joule is one watt-second. ✓
Method. Use P = E / t.
- Divide. 60 / 2 = 30.60 / 2 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 30 x 2 = 60. ✓
Method. Multiply by 1000.
- Calculate. 2.5 x 1000 = 2500 W.2.5 x 1000 = 2500
- Write the answer. 2500
Check. 2500 / 1000 = 2.5. ✓
Method. Recall the equation.
- Recall. Efficiency is the useful output over the total input, times 100.useful output over total input
- Write the answer. useful energy output / total energy input x 100%
Check. The answer is a percentage. ✓
Method. Convert the power to watts, then use E = P x t.
- Convert. 2 kW = 2000 W.2000 W
- Calculate. E = 2000 x 300 = 600 000 J.2000 x 300 = 600000
- Write the answer. 600000
Check. 600000 / 300 = 2000 W. ✓
Method. Divide and multiply by 100.
- Divide. 300 / 400 = 0.75.300 / 400 = 0.75
- Convert. 0.75 x 100 = 75%.0.75 x 100 = 75
- Write the answer. 75
Check. 75% of 400 J is 300 J. ✓
Method. Find the useful output, then subtract.
- Useful. 0.8 x 250 = 200 J.200 J
- Wasted. 250 - 200 = 50 J.250 - 200 = 50
- Write the answer. 50
Check. 200 + 50 = 250. ✓
Method. Use KE = 0.5 x m x v2.
- Square. 42 = 16.4 x 4 = 16
- Multiply. KE = 0.5 x 3 x 16 = 24 J.0.5 x 3 x 16 = 24
- Write the answer. 24
Check. 0.5 x 3 = 1.5, and 1.5 x 16 = 24. ✓
Method. Think about the shares.
- Think. Efficiency is the share of the input that becomes useful.share of the input
- Conclude. So a bigger share is useful, and the wasted share is smaller.wasted share is smaller
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying a bigger share of the input becomes useful output, so less is wasted.
Check. The wasted share is what is left. ✓
Method. Use GPE = m x g x h.
- Write. GPE = 5 x 10 x 4.5 x 10 x 4
- Calculate. So the GPE is 200 J.5 x 10 x 4 = 200
- Write the answer. 200
Check. 200 / 10 / 4 = 5 kg. ✓
Method. Subtract, then explain.
- Subtract. 500 - 350 = 150 J wasted.500 - 350 = 150
- Explain. The input equals the useful plus wasted energy, so none is lost.useful plus wasted
- Write the answer. Accept any answer giving 150 J with a sentence saying the input equals the useful plus wasted energy.
Check. 150 + 350 = 500 J. ✓