Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes

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Apuntes de la lección

Energy Stores

  • Energy is stored in objects in different energy stores.
  • Kinetic store: moving objects have energy in their kinetic store.
  • Gravitational potential store: objects gain energy here when lifted through a gravitational field.
  • Elastic potential store: stretched, squashed or bent objects have energy here.
  • Thermal store: all objects have energy here; the hotter the object, the more energy it has.
  • Other stores include chemical, nuclear, magnetic and electrostatic.

Eight energy stores, each shown with one everyday example.

Eight energy stores, each shown with one everyday example.

Energy Transfer Pathways

  • Energy is transferred between stores by different energy transfer pathways.
  • The four pathways are mechanical working, electrical working, heating and radiation.
  • Mechanical working: a force acts on an object (e.g. pulling, pushing, stretching, squashing).
  • Electrical working: a charge moves through a potential difference (e.g. current).
  • Heating: energy is transferred from a hotter object to a colder one (e.g. conduction).
  • Radiation: energy is transferred by electromagnetic waves (e.g. visible light).

Energy-transfer pathways and pendulum motion

Energy-transfer pathways and pendulum motion

Systems and Conservation of Energy

  • A system is an object or a group of objects.
  • When there is a change in a system, energy is transferred.
  • The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one store to another.
  • In a closed system, the total amount of energy remains constant.
  • Total energy in = useful energy out + wasted energy.
  • Energy is never 'lost'; it can be dissipated (spread out) to the surroundings, often by heating and radiation.

Conservation of energy: a bat hitting a ball

Conservation of energy: a bat hitting a ball

Energy Transfer Diagrams

  • Energy flow diagrams show the stores and the transfer pathways taking place within a system.
  • Sankey diagrams represent energy transfers using arrows whose widths are proportional to the amount of energy transferred.
  • The flat left-hand end of the arrow represents the energy transferred into the system.
  • The straight arrow pointing right represents the useful energy output.
  • Arrows that bend away represent the wasted energy.
  • A more efficient device has less wasted energy, shown by a smaller arrow bending away.

Changes in Energy

  • Energy can be transferred by heating, by mechanical work done by forces, or by electrical work done when a current flows.
  • Heating increases the energy in the kinetic store of the particles, which increases the thermal store of the object; this can raise temperature or cause a change of state.
  • Mechanical work is done when a force acts over a distance, e.g. pushing a box across the floor.
  • When a current flows, energy is transferred electrically from the power supply to the components in the circuit.
  • Changes in speed are related to kinetic energy; changes in height are related to gravitational potential energy; changes in shape are related to elastic potential energy.

Energy is transferred to an object's gravitational store as it is lifted through a height: ΔEp = mgΔh.

Energy is transferred to an object's gravitational store as it is lifted through a height: ΔEp = mgΔh.

Work Done and Energy

  • Work is done when an object is moved over a distance by a force applied in the direction of its displacement.
  • If a force is applied but there is no movement, no work is done.
  • Work done = energy transferred.
  • The equation is E = F × d, where E is work done or energy transferred in joules (J), F is force in newtons (N), and d is distance in metres (m).
  • Example: a car's brakes apply a force of 500 N to stop the car over 23 m; work done = 500 × 23 = 11 500 J.

Work is done when a force moves an object over a distance: W = Fd

Work is done when a force moves an object over a distance: W = Fd

Gravitational Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy

  • Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object has due to its height in a gravitational field.
  • The change in gravitational potential energy is calculated using ΔGPE = m × g × Δh, where m is mass in kg, g is gravitational field strength in N/kg, and Δh is change in vertical height in m.
  • Kinetic energy is the energy an object has as a result of its mass and speed.
  • Kinetic energy is calculated using KE = ½ × m × v², where m is mass in kg and v is speed in m/s.
  • In a perfect energy transfer (no wasted energy), ΔGPE = KE; this is useful for finding speed or height when resistance is ignored.

A boy holding a brick out at arm's length has given it potential energy; the brick on the ground has none.

A boy holding a brick out at arm's length has given it potential energy; the brick on the ground has none.

Dissipation of Energy

  • Wasted energy transfers are inevitable; there is no such thing as a perfect energy transfer.
  • Most wasted energy transfers result in heating of the objects and the surroundings.
  • Energy that is spread out to the thermal store of the surroundings is said to be dissipated.
  • Work done against air resistance, friction, and resistance in wires all result in heating.
  • Once energy is in the thermal store of the surroundings, it cannot be gathered for any specific use, so it is called wasted energy.
  • Friction is a major cause of wasted energy in machines; it can be reduced by lubrication.

Reducing Unwanted Energy Transfers

  • Unwanted energy transfers include keeping a house warm, keeping a hot drink hot or cold, and friction of mechanical parts.
  • Insulation reduces energy transfers by conduction.
  • The effectiveness of an insulator depends on its thermal conductivity (lower is better), its density (lower is better), and its thickness (thicker is better).
  • In a denser material, particles are closer together so they transfer energy more easily.
  • Loft insulation is often made from fibreglass; the air trapped between the fibres makes it a good insulator.
  • Cavity wall insulation fills the gap between external walls with foam, lowering conduction of heat through the walls.

Power and Efficiency

  • Power is the rate of energy transfer, or the rate of work done.
  • Power is calculated using P = E / t, where P is power in watts (W), E is energy transferred or work done in joules (J), and t is time in seconds (s).
  • 1 watt = 1 joule per second (1 W = 1 J/s); 1 kilowatt (kW) = 1000 W.
  • Efficiency is the ratio of useful energy output to total energy output.
  • Efficiency = useful energy transferred by the device / total energy supplied to the device, or useful power output / total power input.
  • Efficiency can be a decimal (0 to 1) or a percentage (0 to 100%); it has no units.
  • A system with high efficiency transfers most of its energy usefully; a system with low efficiency wastes most of it.

Diapositivas

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Preguntas de práctica

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  1. 1.Which energy store is associated with the position of an object in a gravitational field?

    Easy
    • AGravitational potential store
    • BKinetic store
    • CThermal store
    • DElastic potential store
  2. 2.Energy can be created and destroyed.

    Easy

    True or false?

  3. 3.A ball is thrown upwards. Which energy transfer takes place as the ball rises?

    Medium
    • AKinetic store → gravitational potential store
    • BGravitational potential store → kinetic store
    • CKinetic store → thermal store
    • DGravitational potential store → elastic potential store
  4. 4.A car of mass 1200 kg is travelling at 15 m/s. Calculate its kinetic energy.

    Medium
    • A135 000 J
    • B270 000 J
    • C18 000 J
    • D9 000 J
  5. 5.Which of the following are energy transfer pathways? (Select all that apply)

    Medium
    • AMechanical working
    • BElectrical working
    • CHeating by radiation
    • DKinetic store
    • EGravitational potential store
  6. 6.Put the energy transfers in order for a ball being dropped from a height and bouncing back up (ignoring air resistance).

    Medium
    • Gravitational potential store at the top
    • Kinetic store as it falls
    • Elastic potential store as it deforms on impact
    • Kinetic store as it bounces back up
    • Gravitational potential store at the top of the bounce
  7. 7.Match each energy store with its correct description.

    Medium
    • Kinetic store
    • Gravitational potential store
    • Elastic potential store
    • Thermal store
    • Energy of a moving object
    • Energy due to height in a gravitational field
    • Energy of a stretched or squashed object
    • Energy related to the temperature of an object
  8. 8.Which of the following statements about energy stores are correct? (Select all that apply)

    Medium
    • AA moving object has energy in its kinetic store
    • BA stretched spring has energy in its elastic potential store
    • CA hot object has more energy in its thermal store than a cold object
    • DEnergy can be created when a force acts
    • EMagnetic materials interacting have energy in a magnetic store

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