BRAINCAKE

Conservation of energy

Edexcel GCSE PhysicsTopic 3 of 1514 lessons

Revision notes for Conservation of energy in Edexcel Physics (1PH0). Every lesson in BrainCake comes with R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps, a quick check and spaced reviews.

  1. Gravitational potential energyAn object lifted above the ground stores energy in its gravitational potential energy store.
  2. Kinetic energyAny moving object has energy in its kinetic energy store.
  3. Energy transfer diagramsEnergy transfer diagrams show how energy moves from one store to another.
  4. Conservation of energyThe principle of conservation of energy says that energy cannot be created or destroyed.
  5. Changes in energy storesWhen a system changes, energy moves between stores.
  6. Energy in a closed systemA closed system is one where no energy or matter can enter or leave.
  7. Explain that mechanical processes become wasteful when they cause a rise in temperature so dissipating energy in heating the surroundingsIn a mechanical process, parts move and do work.
  8. Explain, using examples, how in all system changes energy is dissipated so that it is stored in less useful waysIn every change to a system, some energy ends up spread out in the surroundings.
  9. Explain ways of reducing unwanted energy transfer including through lubrication, thermal insulationSome energy transfers are unwanted.
  10. Describe the effects of the thickness and thermal conductivity of the walls of a building on its rate of cooling qualitativelyA warm building loses energy to the colder outside by conduction through its walls.
  11. Recall and use the equation: efficiency = useful energy transferred by the device / total energy supplied to the deviceNo device transfers all of the energy supplied to it usefully.
  12. Explain how efficiency can be increasedEfficiency goes up when less of the energy supplied is wasted.
  13. Energy sources on Earth and how they are usedThe main energy sources we use are fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), nuclear fuel, bio-fuel, wind, hydro-electricity, the tides and the Sun.
  14. Patterns and trends in the use of energy resourcesAs the world population and industry grow, the demand for energy has risen.

All Edexcel GCSE Physics topics