impact unit 2.

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Unit 2 Energy and our Universe

LO

Be able to investigate energy

transformations

• Since the Earth was formed, the only

source of additional energy is the Sun;
the energy you use has been recycled
from other forms in the past
• Sources of renewable energy include
cow dung, and peat cut from bogs
and dried
• Many refrigerated lorries are painted
light colours; this reduces energy
absorbed by thermal radiation so the
energy needed to keep lorries cool
is reduced
• The Three Gorges Dam in China will
be the world’s largest hydroelectricity
scheme; its reservoirs will destroy
towns, forests, habitats of native
animals and disrupt the flow of water
above and below the dam; however,
flooding from the river which has
killed thousands in previous years will
be easier to control
46
LO
Know the properties and
applications of waves and radiation
• The first radio broadcast of a voice
t
was in 1906; a message was sen
from Boston, America and received
in Machrihanish, Scotland
• Different animals see different etic
frequencies of the electromagn
spectrum; humans see visible light;
ng
some snakes, fish and birds “see” usi
infrared radiation; some fish, birds and
insects like bees can see using
ultraviolet radiation
• Our biggest exposure to ionising ;
radiation is from our surroundings
e
people living in regions where granit
es
is found are likely to have higher rat
on
of lung cancer due to radioactive rad
gas emitted from the rock
impact unit 2.qxp:impact unit 2 3/25/10 6:07 PM Page 47

LO
Know how electrical energy that is
produced… can be transferred…

• Pacemakers contain tiny electrical circuits

that send a signal to the heart to keep it
beating in the correct rhythm
• Abergeirw in Wales was the last village
in the UK to get a supply of mains
electricity in 2008; before then they
used noisy diesel generators that could
not be left on all the time
• During the day there are surges in
demand for electricity; people
controlling the National Grid anticipate
these surges and shut down or startup
power stations to match the demand
with the supply

LO

Know the components

of the solar system
and the way the Univers
e is changing
• Our Solar System has 8 planets
Pluto, Ceres, Eris and Mak and 4 dwarf planets –
emake
• Most of the mass of the Solar Sy
99.86% stem is the Sun –

• The future of the Universe depe

matter is in it; too little nds on how much
matter and it will keep
expanding, or too much
and it will start to contra
again and we will have th ct
e Big Crunch

47
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Types of energy Your assessment criteria:

P1 Carry out practical
investigations that
demonstrate how various
Energy and sport types of energy can be
transformed
You’re at a large sporting
event. The spectators Practical
jump to their feet as the M1 Describe the energy
players run and shout, transformations and the
and the sound system efficiency of the
blasts out a loud transformation process in
announcement. these investigations
Lots of different types of D1 Explain how energy
energy are involved. losses due to energy
transformations in the home
or workplace can be
minimised to reduce the
P1 Types of energy impact on the environment
The main types of energy are listed here.
• Thermal energy – everything has thermal energy.
Hotter objects have more thermal energy. Know more
• Light energy – anything glowing, such as light bulbs, gives Energy is measured in joules (J).
out light energy. You use about one joule of
• Sound energy – anything making a noise gives out sound energy picking up a football.
energy.
• Chemical energy – found in food and fuels. Fuels give out
energy when burned.
• Electrical energy – equipment that uses a plug or batteries
uses electrical energy.
• Kinetic energy – moving objects have kinetic energy.
• Potential energy – another word for stored energy. Energy is
stored when things are lifted up or when stretchy objects are
stretched or squashed.
• Nuclear energy – this is stored inside atoms. Inside the Sun,
nuclear energy is changed into thermal and light energy.
Nuclear reactions in the Sun provide
Whenever anything happens, energy changes take place. all our energy on Earth
These can be energy transformations (when the energy
changes from one type to another), or energy transfers
(when the energy moves from one object to another, or Know more
one region to another). Several types of energy can be
• A car engine transforms chemical energy into kinetic energy. involved. An exploding firework
gives out heat, light and
• A kettle transfers thermal energy from its heating element to sound, as well as particles with
the water. kinetic and potential energy.

48 …types of energy
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Unit 2: Energy and Our Universe

Energy transformations M1
Energy changes can take place in more than one stage.
• Chemical energy in food eaten by a tennis player is
transformed into kinetic energy when she serves.
Kinetic energy is transferred from the player to the racket,
then to the tennis ball.
More than one main energy transformation can take place.
• An electric bulb transforms electrical energy into light energy
and thermal energy.
• A climber transforms chemical energy into kinetic energy,
Many different energy changes take and potential energy.
place in a tennis match
• A solar powered fan changes light to electrical energy, which
is changed into mechanical energy.
useful
light energy
• A battery powered electric drill changes chemical energy to
electrical energy and then into mechanical energy.
electrical • A nuclear power station changes nuclear energy to thermal
energy wasted
heat energy, then mechanical energy and then electrical energy.
energy

Block diagrams are helpful in showing

energy changes
Energy losses D1
If the energy changes into types that we can’t easily use, such
as sound or thermal energy, it is called wasted energy.
Think about Some energy is wasted at each energy change. Machines that
List all the energy changes that cause energy changes in several stages waste a lot of energy.
take place on your journey to • A light bulb gives out light energy and unwanted thermal
school. energy because it heats up as it glows.
• A car engine causes wasted sound energy and thermal
energy (as the wheels and engine parts warm up).

Discuss
Which forms of transport shown
here waste the least energy?

…energy transformation 49
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Heat transfers Your assessment criteria:

P1 Carry out practical
investigations that
demonstrate how various
Controlling the heat types of energy can be
transformed
Keeping buildings at the right temperature is difficult when lots of
Practical
people are coming and going.
M1 Describe the energy
transformations and the
efficiency of the
transformation process in
these investigations
D1 Explain how energy losses
due to energy
transformations in the home
or workplace can be
Both buildings are designed to control heat transfers; the materials used, the shapes minimised to reduce the
of doors and windows, and the size of rooms all have an effect impact on the environment

P1 Types of heat transfer

Thermal energy (or heat) always moves from hot places to
cooler places. Buildings lose heat in winter because it is cooler
outside. The three ways that heat is transferred are conduction,
convection and radiation.

Conduction
• If one part of a solid object is heated, particles inside the
solid vibrate more. The vibration passes thermal energy to
nearby particles which vibrate more, and so on.
The car heats up quickly because metal
• Some materials, especially metals, transfer thermal energy and glass are good heat conductors
quickly. They are good heat conductors.
• Other materials transfer thermal energy only very slowly.
Building materials such as wood and uPVC slow down heat
losses. These are insulators.

Convection
• Heat spreads through a gas or liquid when particles in the
warmer region gain thermal energy and move into the cooler
regions carrying this energy with them.
• These convection currents spread heat quickly. Warm air
above a radiator rises and cool air sinks to replace it. As the
air circulates, thermal energy spreads around the room.
• Putting a lid on a hot drink slows down convection in the air
above the drink, so it stays hot for longer. Convection makes smoke rise from
a log fire

50 …conduction …convection …radiation

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Unit 2: Energy and Our Universe

Thermal radiation P1
• Something hotter than its surroundings radiates heat from
its surface as waves of thermal radiation. Hot surfaces radiate
more heat than cooler surfaces.
• Something colder than its surroundings will absorb thermal
radiation, and warm up.
• Black, dull surfaces are good at absorbing and at giving out
thermal radiation. They warm up and cool down quickly.
• Light shiny surfaces reflect thermal radiation and so slow
down heat transfer.

White buildings reflect thermal radiation

Making heat transfers work for us M1
and stay cool on hot sunny days We can design containers and buildings to slow down heat
transfers.
• A drink stays hot for longer in a white
Think about polystyrene cup with a lid.
What has been done to reduce
• Many homes have insulation in the walls and
unwanted heat transfers in the
loft, as well as having carpets, curtains and
room you are in?
double glazing to reduce heat transfers. The cup slows down
An energy transformation or transfer is said to heat transfers
ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATING be efficient if unwanted heat losses are minimised.
CURRENT POTENTIAL

VERY ENERGY EFFICIENT - LOWER RUNNING COSTS Sometimes, we want to speed up heat transfers.
(93-100)
A
• A saucepan made of metal with a black coating will cook
(81-92)
B 83 food quickly.
(66-80)
C 70
(51-65)
D • Computers need to stay cool to work well. Cooling systems
(36-50)
E include ‘heat sinks’ made of metal painted black to radiate
(21-35)
F heat, and fans to circulate air.
(1-20)
G
NOT ENERGY EFFICIENT - HIGHER RUNNING COSTS

UK 2010 DIRECTIVE 2002/92/EC

This shows the efficiency rating of a

house now and how energy-efficient it
could be if improvements were made Saving the environment D1
Well insulated buildings with efficient electrical appliances
reduce energy losses. This saves money because less energy is
Think about wasted, and also saves the environment because fewer
resources are used to heat the building or produce electricity.
Suggest what measures might If you sell a home, it must have an energy rating based on its
be taken to increase the structure, its heating equipment and other appliances.
efficiency rating of a house.

…heat transfer 51
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Efficiency Your assessment criteria:

P1 Carry out practical
investigations that
demonstrate how various
Science can help you win types of energy can be
transformed
Sports matches and races can be very exciting and usually the
Practical
best participants win. If their equipment isn’t in the best
condition though, they waste energy that should be used to P2 Calculate the efficiency of
succeed in their sport. Top sportspeople make sure their energy transformations
equipment is in good condition so they can perform efficiently M1 Describe the energy
and save their energy for winning. transformations and the
efficiency of the
transformation process in
these investigations
D1 Explain how energy
losses due to energy
transformations in the home
or workplace can be
minimised to reduce the
impact on the environment

P1 What does ‘efficient’ mean?

All cyclists change chemical energy from their food into useful
kinetic energy, as well as wasted thermal energy and sound
energy. If a bicycle is specially designed to be efficient, the same
person will cycle faster, especially if the bike is looked after well.
This is because less chemical energy is changed into wasteful
forms of energy. An efficient bike will help a cyclist win
a race because more of the cyclist’s energy is used to make Toe clips make bikes more efficient
it travel fast. because the pedals are pulled up as
well as pushed down

P2 Calculating efficiency
The efficiency of an energy change can be calculated:
efficiency = useful energy output ÷ total energy input
This means an energy change is more efficient if:
• less energy is wasted Know more
• more energy is usefully changed. A cyclist’s efficiency is only
Efficiency is always less than 1 (or 100%) because some energy about 0.2, or 20%. This means
is always wasted in any energy change. The efficiency of that only 20%, or a fifth, of the
electrical equipment can be very high, but some energy is still energy from the food eaten by
wasted in heating up connections inside the equipment. the cyclist is used to make the
bike move.

52 …calculating efficiency
Unit-02_06-07.qxd:Unit-02_06-07 3/25/10
The efficiency of this bulb is 0.04 (4%);
almost all of the electrical energy is
wasted as heat
Think about
Some light bulbs are more
efficient than others.
An efficient bulb produces
more light energy and less
thermal energy than bulbs that
are less efficient. What could
you measure to compare the
efficiency of different light
bulbs?
Floodlighting should be controlled to
avoid light pollution
Research
What is the impact of large
sports events on the
environment? You could
consider pollution caused when
spectators travel to and from
events and pollution caused by
building a large stadium.
…improving energy efficiency
5:55 PM Page 53
Unit 2: Energy and Our Universe
The right sports equipment improves efficiency. P2
• Strings on a tennis racket are tight, so energy is transferred
efficiently from the racket to the ball.
• A football is inflated hard, so energy is transferred efficiently
when it is kicked.
The right sports clothes also improve the efficiency of the
sportsperson.
• Cyclists and swimmers wear close-fitting clothes to reduce
drag forces.
• Runners wear lightweight shoes.
Efficiency of energy transformations M1
A high-jumper in action has this energy transformation:
chemical energy ➔ potential energy + thermal energy
+ sound energy
For every 100 J of chemical energy taken in (from food),
the athlete changes about 20 J into useful potential energy
(to gain height).
The athlete’s useful energy output is 20 J. Their total energy
input is 100 J.
Efficiency = useful energy output ÷ total energy input
= 20 ÷100 = 0.2
This means the athlete’s efficiency is 20 ÷ 100 = 0.2 (or 20%)
Improving efficiency D1
Efficient electrical or heating devices save energy, and reduce
the effects on the environment. Many large sports events take
place at night under floodlights. If organisers use efficient
equipment, they reduce their fuel and electricity costs. This also
reduces the impact on the surroundings and the environment in
general. For example, well designed floodlighting means:
• more light shines directly on the courts or pitch so there is
less light pollution
• more efficient lights produce less waste energy as heat
• less electricity is used, so demand for electricity from power
stations is reduced
• less fuel is burned when generating electricity at the power
stations.
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