P1 Revision notes
1.1 CHANGES IN ENERGY STORES
● Energy can be stored in different ways and is transferred by heating, waves, an electric
current, or when a force moves an object.
● Energy can be transferred from one store to another.
● Energy Stores:
○ Chemical energy stores include fuels, foods, or the chemicals found in batteries.
The energy is transferred during chemical reactions
○ Kinetic energy stores describe the energy an object has because it is moving.
○ Gravitational potential energy stores are used to describe the energy stored in an
object because of its position, such as an object above the ground.
○ Elastic potential energy stores describe the energy stored in a springy object
when you stretch or squash it.
○ Thermal energy stores describe the energy a substance has because of its
temperature.
● Energy is transferred by heating, by waves, by an electric current, or by a force when it
moves an object.
● When an object falls and gains speed, its store of gravitational potential energy
decreases and its kinetic energy store increases.
● When a falling object hits the ground without bouncing back, its kinetic energy store
decreases. Some or all of its energy is transferred to the surroundings - the thermal
energy store of the surroundings increases, and energy is also transferred by sound
waves.
1.2 CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
Principle of conservation of energy- Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Energy can be:
● Transferred usefully
● Stored
● Dissipated
Closed system- no energy transfers take place into or out of the energy stores of a system.
Energy can be transferred to different stores within the closed system, example:
● As an objects falls freely, the GPE store of the object decreases and the KE store of the
object increases.
● When a person stretches an elastic band, the chemical energy store of the person's
muscles decreases and the elastic potential energy of the elastic band increases.
● When a pendulum swings towards the middle the GPE store of the pendulum decreases
and its KE store increases. As the pendulum moves away from the middle, its KE store
decreases and GPE store increases.
1.3 ENERGY AT WORK
Work is done on an object when a force makes the object move.
Energy transferred = work done.
● Work done is W=Fs where F is the force and s is the distance moved (along the line of
action of the force).
Work done to overcome friction is transferred as energy to the thermal energy stores of the
objects that rub together and to the surroundings.
1.4 GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL ENERGY STORES
Object moves ↑ upwards, GPE store increases
Object moves ↓ downwards, GPE store decreases
Gravitational field strength on earth is 9.8 N/kg
Gravitational field strength on Moon is ⅙ this value.
1.5 KINETIC ENERGY AND ELASTIC ENERGY STORES
The energy in the kinetic energy store of a moving object depends on its mass and its speed.
Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in an elastic object when work is done on the
object.
1.6 ENERGY DISSIPATION
Useful Energy- energy in the place and form we want it in.
Wasted Energy- energy not usefully transferred.
Dissipation- Energy that is spread out.
Eventually both useful and wasted energy will dissipate to the surroundings, warming it up.
Energy is often wasted because of friction between moving parts, but can be useful in car
brakes. The KE store of the car decreases and the thermal energy store of brakes and
surroundings increase.
1.7 ENERGY AND EFFICIENCY
● No energy transfer can be more than 100% efficient.
● Machines waste energy because of friction between their moving parts, air resistance,
electrical resistance,and noise.
● Machines can be made more efficient by reducing the energy they waste. For example,
lubrication is used to reduce friction between moving parts.
1.8 ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Electricity, gas/oil supply most of the energy used in home.
Energy is mainly wasted by heating or sound.
Appliances should be designed to waste as little energy as possible in order to make them as
efficient as possible.
1.9 ENERGY AND POWER
Power- rate of energy transfer. Or the rate at which work is done.
Unit of power= Watt, W
1W=1J/s
Because Power= energy per second transferred or supplied, efficiency:
https://youtu.be/kCJUzdCBOk0 - For worked examples of Power.
