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Summary Notes - Topic 4 Energy Resources and Transfers - Edexcel Physics IGCSE

This document summarizes key concepts about energy transfers and resources for Edexcel Physics IGCSE. It describes the different ways energy can be transferred, such as mechanically, electrically, and through heating. It also discusses different types of energy resources and how energy is transferred during electricity generation through processes like burning fossil fuels, nuclear fission, and converting kinetic energy from the wind or waves. Conservation of energy and concepts like efficiency and power are also defined.

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Redwanul Islam
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118 views4 pages

Summary Notes - Topic 4 Energy Resources and Transfers - Edexcel Physics IGCSE

This document summarizes key concepts about energy transfers and resources for Edexcel Physics IGCSE. It describes the different ways energy can be transferred, such as mechanically, electrically, and through heating. It also discusses different types of energy resources and how energy is transferred during electricity generation through processes like burning fossil fuels, nuclear fission, and converting kinetic energy from the wind or waves. Conservation of energy and concepts like efficiency and power are also defined.

Uploaded by

Redwanul Islam
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Edexcel Physics IGCSE

Topic 4: Energy Resources and Energy


Transfers
Summary Notes
(Content in ​bold​ is for physics only)

This work by PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc


https://bit.ly/pmt-edu-cc CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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Energy transfers
Energy​ can be transferred between different stores including ​chemical, kinetic, gravitational,
elastic, thermal, magnetic, electrostatic ​and​ nuclear ​as a result of an event or process.

Energy can be transferred in various ways including:


● Mechanically​ e.g. when gravity accelerates an object and gives it kinetic energy.
● Electrically​ e.g. when a current passes through a lamp and it emits light and heat.
● By heating​ e.g. when a fire is used to heat up an object.
● By radiation​ e.g. when vibrations cause waves to travel through the air as sound, or an
object emits electromagnetic radiation.

Energy is always ​conserved.​ The total energy before is equal to the total energy after.

The ​efficiency​ is the ​ratio​ of the​ useful energy


output ​to the ​total energy supplied,​ often
expressed as a percentage.
usef ul energy output
ef f iciency = total energy input ×100%

Sankey diagrams ​can be used to represent the


transfer​ of input energy into useful energy and
wasted energy. For example, the diagram on the
left shows the Sankey diagram for a lamp.

Conduction:
● Thermal energy in ​solids​ and​ liquids ​can be transferred by the vibration of particles - this
is known as ​conduction.
● Non-metals are usually poor conductors known as​ thermal insulators.
As a substance is heated up, the molecules​ vibrate more​ hitting and cause adjacent
molecules to vibrate more too,​ transferring heat energy​ from hot parts to cooler parts.
Because insulators transfer heat much more slowly, they are used to ​reduce unwanted energy
transfer ​such as in homes.
● Metals are usually good conductors. The electrons can leave the atoms and move freely
among positively charged ions. As the metal is heated, the ions and electrons ​vibrate
more.​ The ​free electrons collide with ions ​throughout the metal and​ transfer heat
energy​ from hot parts to cooler parts.

Convection:
● Thermal energy in​ fluids​ (liquids and gases) can be transferred by ​convection.
● Convection occurs when molecules in a fluid (which are not fixed together by forces
between molecules like in a solid) move from an area of high to low thermal energy.
Preventing the circulation of the fluid can help reduce unwanted energy transfer by
convection.
● When part of a fluid is heated, it expands - the particles move further apart - and becomes
less dense.​ It therefore​ rises​ up to less dense areas in the fluid. Denser, colder fluid falls
down to take its place.
● Examples of convection include in ​water boilers ​and ​hot air balloons.

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Radiation

● Thermal energy is also transferred by ​infrared radiation​ which does ​not require a
medium.​ Infrared radiation is part of the ​electromagnetic spectrum.
● Black​ bodies with a ​dull ​texture are the​ best absorbers and emitters​ of radiation. ​White
bodies with a ​shiny​ texture are the ​best reflectors​ of radiation. Shiny surfaces can be
used to ​reduce unwanted energy transfer ​such as on the surface of a vacuum flask.
● The ​higher the temperature​ and the ​greater the surface area​ of a body the ​more
infrared radiation​ emitted.

Work and power


Work​ is done when a ​force​ moves something through a ​distance ​(whenever energy changes
forms).​ ​The work done is ​equal​ to the energy transferred.

work done = f orce × distance W = Fd

The conservation of energy produces a link between gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy
and work. ​For example, when a ball is dropped, gravity does ​work​ on it and its ​gravitational
potential energy​ becomes ​kinetic energy​ as it accelerates downwards:

● k inetic energy = 21 ×mass×speed2


E k = 21 mv 2
● g ravitational potential energy = mass ×gravitational f ield strength×height
E p = mgh

Power​ is the ​rate at which energy is transferred​ or the ​rate at which work is done.​ For
example, a lamp with a greater power will be brighter because it transfers more energy from
electrical energy to light and heat energy in a given time.

work done W
power = time taken P = t

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Energy resources and electricity generation
● Renewable ​energy is energy which can be ​replenished ​as quickly as it is used.
Examples include:
o Wind
o Water (hydroelectricity, waves, tides)
o Geothermal
o Solar (heating systems and cells)
All have a ​potentially infinite ​energy supply, but they are usually ​more costly ​(e.g. the
manufacture and implementation of solar panels is very expensive) and ​less reliable
(e.g. the wind is intermittent and solar energy relies on good weather).

● Non-renewable​ energy is used more for large-scale energy supplies due to the ​large
energy output ​but will eventually ​run out. ​Examples include:
o Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
▪ Cheaper​ than most renewable sources but harmful for the environment
because they release ​greenhouse gases ​which cause ​global warming.
o Nuclear power
▪ A ​small amount ​of radioactive material produces a ​lot of energy, ​but
they produce ​highly toxic nuclear ​waste which needs to be safely
stored underground for many years.

Energy transfers​ take place in the generation of electricity. For example:


- In burning fossil fuels: ​chemical energy ​in chemical bonds
- In nuclear reactors: ​nuclear energy ​in atomic nuclei
- In a solar cell, ​light energy ​from the sun
- In geothermal energy: heat energy from the Earth’s core
- In wind energy: ​kinetic energy​ from the moving wind
- In HEP: ​kinetic energy ​of the moving waves or ​GPE ​of water stored high up
… is transferred into​ kinetic energy​ in a turning turbine, then into ​electrical energy.

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