4 Energy resources and energy transfers

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  1. Energy resources and energy transfers units

    1. Use the units kilogram (kg), joule (J), metre (m), metre per second (m/s), metre per second squared (m/s²), newton (N), second (s) and watt (W).

  2. (b) Energy transfers

    1. 4.2Energy stores and transfers

      Describe energy transfers involving energy stores: • energy stores: chemical, kinetic, gravitational, elastic, thermal, magnetic, electrostatic, nuclear • energy transfers: mechanically, electrically, by heating, by radiation (light and sound)

    2. 4.3Conservation of energy

      Use the principle of conservation of energy

    3. 4.4Efficiency equation

      Know and use efficiency = useful energy output ÷ total energy output × 100%.

    4. 4.5Energy transfer devices

      Describe a variety of everyday and scientific devices and situations, explaining the transfer of the input energy in terms of the above relationship, including their representation by Sankey diagrams

    5. 4.6Thermal energy transfer

      Describe how thermal energy transfer may take place by conduction, convection and radiation

    6. 4.7Convection

      Explain the role of convection in everyday phenomena

    7. 4.8Radiation emission and absorption

      Explain how emission and absorption of radiation are related to surface and temperature

    8. 4.9Thermal transfer practical

      Practical: investigate thermal energy transfer by conduction, convection and radiation

    9. 4.10Reducing unwanted energy transfer

      Explain ways of reducing unwanted energy transfer, such as insulation

  3. (c) Work and power

    1. Know and use work done = force × distance moved in the force direction, W = Fd.

    2. Know that work done is equal to energy transferred

    3. Know and use gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × height, GPE = mgh.

    4. Know and use kinetic energy = ½ × mass × speed², KE = ½mv².

    5. Understand how conservation of energy produces a link between gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy and work

    6. Describe power as the rate of transfer of energy or the rate of doing work

    7. Use power = work done (energy transferred) ÷ time taken, P = W/t.

  4. (d) Energy resources and electricity generation

    1. Describe the energy transfers involved in generating electricity using: • wind • water • geothermal resources • solar heating systems • solar cells • fossil fuels • nuclear power

    2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of methods of large-scale electricity production from various renewable and non-renewable resources