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Energy, work and power
Identify the various forms in which energy can be stored, including kinetic, gravitational potential, chemical, elastic (strain), nuclear, electrostatic, and internal (thermal) energy.
14
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140
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98
Questions
90 min
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CambridgeIGCSECombined ScienceMotion, forces and energy
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14 objective pages available
Energy, work and power outcomes14 objectives
- Identify the various forms in which energy can be stored, including kinetic, gravitational potential, chemical, elastic (strain), nuclear, electrostatic, and internal (thermal) energy.
- Explain how energy is transferred between different stores during various events and processes, providing examples such as mechanical work, electrical work, heating, and energy transfer through waves.
- Understand and apply the principle of conservation of energy to simple scenarios, including the ability to interpret basic flow diagrams.
- Recall and apply the formula for calculating kinetic energy, represented as E_k = 1/2 mv^2.
- Recall and apply the formula for the change in gravitational potential energy, expressed as ΔE_p = mgΔh.
- Recognize that the work done in mechanical or electrical processes is equivalent to the energy that is transferred.
- Recall and utilize the equation for mechanical work, given by W = Fd = ΔE.
- Describe various methods of obtaining useful energy or generating electrical power from sources such as fossil fuels, biofuels, water (including waves, tides, and hydroelectric), geothermal energy, nuclear fission, solar energy, and wind.
- Understand the qualitative concept of efficiency in energy transfer processes.
- Recognize that solar radiation is the primary energy source for most energy resources, with exceptions for geothermal, nuclear, and tidal energy.
- Understand that energy is produced through nuclear fusion in the Sun, although detailed knowledge of the fusion process is not necessary.
- Know that energy is released via nuclear fission in nuclear reactors, without needing detailed knowledge of the fission process.
- Define efficiency in terms of useful energy output and total energy input, using the equations: efficiency = (useful energy output / total energy input) × 100% and efficiency = (useful power output / total power input) × 100%.
- Define power as the rate of work done or energy transferred per unit time, and recall the equations: P = W/t and P = E/t.
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