Exhaustive Study Guide on Energy, Work, and Heat Transfer

Work

Defined as the application of force over a distance.

Potential Energy

Stored energy possessed by an object due to its position or state.

Kinetic Energy

The energy an object possesses because of its motion.

Gravitational Potential Energy ($GPE$)

The energy an object possesses due to its height above the ground.

Thermal Energy

The energy generated by the movement of particles within a substance.

Chemical Potential Energy

The energy stored specifically in the chemical bonds between atoms and molecules.

Energy Transfer

The process by which energy is passed from one object to another.

Energy Efficiency

The ratio of useful energy output to the total energy input, expressed as a percentage: $\text{Efficiency} = (\frac{\text{useful output energy}}{\text{input energy}}) \times 100$.

Convection

Heat transfer through the movement of liquids and gases; occurs when higher-energy particles rise and lower-energy particles sink.

Radiation

The transfer of heat via infrared radiation, which does not require a medium (particles).

Conduction

The transfer of heat through direct physical contact between objects.