energy Flashcards
(88 cards)
What is the definition of a system in physics?
An object or group of objects that is defined to narrow the parameters to focus on relevant observations.
What happens to a system in equilibrium?
Nothing changes, and so nothing happens.
What occurs when there is a change to a system?
Energy is transferred.
What is stored in the kinetic energy store?
Moving objects have energy in their kinetic store.
How is energy gained in the gravitational potential store?
Objects gain energy when lifted through a gravitational field.
What is the elastic potential energy store?
Objects have energy in their elastic potential store if they are stretched, squashed, or bent.
What type of energy is found in magnetic materials?
Energy in their magnetic store.
What does the electrostatic energy store contain?
Energy from charged objects interacting with one another.
What happens during chemical reactions in terms of energy?
Energy is transferred into or away from a substance’s chemical store.
What is released from atomic nuclei during nuclear reactions?
Energy from their nuclear store.
What is the thermal energy store?
All objects have energy in their thermal store; the hotter the object, the more energy it has.
What are the pathways for energy transfer?
- Mechanical
- Electrical
- Heating
- Radiation
What is an example of energy transfer by heating?
A cup of hot coffee heating up cold hands.
What is the principle of conservation of energy?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred from one store to another.
What does the total energy in a closed system equal?
The total energy transferred into the system must equal the total energy transferred out.
What is wasted energy?
Energy dissipated to the surroundings that is not useful.
What is efficiency in an energy transfer?
A measure of the amount of wasted energy in an energy transfer.
How is efficiency calculated?
Efficiency = (useful energy output / total energy output) × 100%
What do Sankey diagrams represent?
Visual representations of energy transfers with arrows showing proportions of energy transfers.
What characterizes a good conductor?
A material that transfers energy by heating effectively.
What is an insulator?
A material that does not transfer energy by heating.
What happens during conduction in solids?
Atoms vibrate and bump into each other, transferring energy from atom to atom.
What is the main method of energy transfer by heating in solids?
Conduction.
What occurs when a fluid is heated?
The fluid expands, becomes less dense, rises, and cooler fluid moves in to take its place.