Energy transer & transformations Flashcards
(8 cards)
What is energy transformation? (or conversion)
Energy transformation is when energy changes form.
The process of changing energy from one form into another.
It is transformed from one type of energy to another.
Give examples of energy transformation
- TV: Transforms electrical energy into light, sound & heat energy.
- Solar panel: Light energy is converted into electrical energy.
- Light bulb: Electrical energy is converted into light and heat energy.
- Car engine: Chemical energy from gasoline is converted into kinetic energy and heat energy.
What are the types of energy loss?
Heat, light, sound energy
How does heat cause energy to be lost in electrical or mechanical systems?
Electrical: Heat causes energy to be lost through resistance in the wires and components, which converts part of the electrical energy into thermal energy. When current flows through a conductor, it encounters resistance, which creates friction between electrons and the atoms of the conductor, converting electrical energy into heat.
Mechanical: Heat causes energy to be lost through friction between moving parts. This friction converts kinetic energy into heat, which is then wasted.
How does friction lead to energy loss in moving parts of a machine?
Friction slows down moving objects and generates heat. Friction is a force that opposes motion. When an object is moving, or trying to move, friction acts in the opposite direction, slowing it down. It converts some of the input kinetic energy into heat because it acts as a force of resistance.
Friction causes heat.
Why does energy lost as sound or heat reduce the efficiency of a device?
Energy lost as sound or heat reduces the efficiency of a device because the input energy is not being used for the intended purpose, wasting the energy in forms such as sound or heat. This means more energy input is required for a lower amount of output energy for the intended purpose, and more energy is lost or wasted.
Explain why no energy transfer or transformation is 100% efficient.
Energy transfer isn’t 100% efficient because whenever energy is transferred or transformed, some of it is always lost as heat. This means that some energy is always “lost” or wasted during the process, making it impossible to achieve perfect efficiency.
How do energy losses from heat and friction affect the overall efficiency of an energy transfer?
Because they transform part of the input energy into unwanted forms, rather than converting it all into useful output. Heat and friction reduce the amount of useful energy that can be achieved because they always convert a part of the energy input into wasted energy.
