1.2.2

Energy Losses & Efficiency 2

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Reducing Unwanted Energy Transfer

We take steps to reduce the amount of energy wasted.

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Lubrication

  • Lubrication reduces frictional forces.
  • A moving object normally has at least one frictional force acting against it. This causes some energy to be dissipated.
  • Lubricants can reduce the friction between the surfaces of objects that are rubbing together.
  • Lubricants are normally liquids.
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Thermal insulation

  • Heat will be lost through the roof, windows, walls and floor.
  • To reduce the energy transfer, we might:
    • Fit loft insulation (the roof).
    • Use double glazing (windows).
    • Use cavity wall insulation (walls).
    • Fit carpets (floors).
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Walls in homes

  • We can decrease the rate a house cools down by:
    • Having thicker walls.
    • Having walls made from a material with a lower thermal conductivity.
  • The more heat that a material conducts (the higher its thermal conductivity is), the higher the rate of energy transfer by conduction across the material.

Power

Power (P) is the rate of energy transfer to a component. This is the same as saying power is the energy transferred per second. It is also equal to the rate at which work is done.

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Power - energy transfer

  • Power (watts, W) = energy transferred (joules, J) ÷ time (seconds, s)
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Power - work done

  • Power (watts, W) = work done (joules, J) ÷ time (seconds, s)

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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