Energy Stores and Systems
Energy Stores and Systems
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A SYSTEM consists of either a single object or a group of objects.
There are TWO types of system: An OPEN SYSTEM and a CLOSED SYSTEM.
These can EXCHANGE energy and matter with their surroundings. Imagine you're making a cup of coffee. If you leave it, it COOLS down because the heat (energy) escapes – that's an open system.
These are the opposite. They DON'T let energy or matter in or out. For example, a thermos flask that keeps your drink hot or cold – it's closed because it doesn't allow heat to escape or enter.
In a CLOSED SYSTEM, the total energy remains the same, even though it might change form inside the system.
Energy is measured in JOULES. It follows the principle of CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, which tells us energy can NOT be created or destroyed, only transferred from one store to another.
Energy can be stored in different ways:
Energy can move between these stores through different pathways.
There are FOUR types of these energy transfer pathways:
Understanding how energy is transferred in different scenarios can help explain everyday events:
Initially, the heating element in the kettle is HOT and the water is COLD. Energy is transferred from the THERMAL energy store of the heating element by HEATING to the thermal energy store of the water, causing it to get hotter.
The energy in the CHEMICAL energy store of the car from the petrol in it reacts in the engine and transfers energy MECHANICALLY to the KINETIC energy store of the car.
Friction between the brakes and wheels causes WORK to be done, which will cause energy in the KINETIC energy store to be transferred MECHANICALLY to the THERMAL energy store of the surroundings such as the road and the air.
If a car was to crash into a wall, most of the energy from its KINETIC energy store is transferred MECHANICALLY to the THERMAL energy store of the wall as there is a FORCE acting on it from the car.
A SYSTEM consists of either a single object or a group of objects.
There are TWO types of system: An OPEN SYSTEM and a CLOSED SYSTEM.
These can EXCHANGE energy and matter with their surroundings. Imagine you're making a cup of coffee. If you leave it, it COOLS down because the heat (energy) escapes – that's an open system.
These are the opposite. They DON'T let energy or matter in or out. For example, a thermos flask that keeps your drink hot or cold – it's closed because it doesn't allow heat to escape or enter.
In a CLOSED SYSTEM, the total energy remains the same, even though it might change form inside the system.
Energy is measured in JOULES. It follows the principle of CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, which tells us energy can NOT be created or destroyed, only transferred from one store to another.
Energy can be stored in different ways:
Energy can move between these stores through different pathways.
There are FOUR types of these energy transfer pathways:
Understanding how energy is transferred in different scenarios can help explain everyday events:
Initially, the heating element in the kettle is HOT and the water is COLD. Energy is transferred from the THERMAL energy store of the heating element by HEATING to the thermal energy store of the water, causing it to get hotter.
The energy in the CHEMICAL energy store of the car from the petrol in it reacts in the engine and transfers energy MECHANICALLY to the KINETIC energy store of the car.
Friction between the brakes and wheels causes WORK to be done, which will cause energy in the KINETIC energy store to be transferred MECHANICALLY to the THERMAL energy store of the surroundings such as the road and the air.
If a car was to crash into a wall, most of the energy from its KINETIC energy store is transferred MECHANICALLY to the THERMAL energy store of the wall as there is a FORCE acting on it from the car.
