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Year 10 - Science

Calculating efficiency (in terms of useful output energy transfer)

Energy of moving objects

Unit Summary

This unit covers energy changes in systems through heating, forces, and electrical work. It includes energy storage, efficiency, and transfer methods like insulation. Emphasis is on calculating energy, conducting experiments, interpreting data, and communicating findings accurately.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to calculate the efficiency of an energy transfer and describe ways in which energy is dissipated.

Key Notes

  • Energy is dissipated due to friction which causes particles to vibrate more quickly and heats up the surroundings.
  • Energy is dissipated due to drag which causes particles in the surroundings to move more quickly.
  • Efficiency = useful output energy transfer / total input energy transfer
  • Efficiency can be increased by lubrication, bearings or wheels

Vocabulary To Learn

  • dissipate: Friction can cause energy to dissipate (spread out and becomes unusable) into the surroundings, causing them to heat up.
  • efficiency: Efficiency is the fraction of energy supplied to an object or system that is usefully transferred by it.
  • useful output energy transfer: The amount of energy usefully transferred by an object or system is the useful output energy transfer.
  • total input energy transfer: The total amount of energy transferred to an object or system is the total input energy transfer.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may not realise that energy transfers usually result in the heating of the surroundings and therefore some energy ends up in a thermal store.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Energy is dissipated due to friction which causes particles to vibrate more quickly and heats up the surroundings. Energy is dissipated due to drag which causes particles in the surroundings to move more quickly.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'dissipate'

Friction can cause energy to dissipate (spread out and becomes unusable) into the surroundings, causing them to heat up. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may not realise that energy transfers usually result in the heating of the surroundings and therefore some energy ends up in a thermal store. Correction: Pupils should have opportunity to identify and describe places in a system where energy is dissipated and transferred into a thermal store.

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