IB PHYSICS Topic 8: Energy Production

Specific energy

The energy per unit mass of a fuel source, measured in energy/mass.

Energy density

The energy per unit volume of a fuel source, measured in energy/volume.

Sankey diagrams

Visual representations of energy flows, used to show the distribution and transformation of energy.

Energy degradation

The energy lost to the surroundings during a process, often referred to as degraded energy.

Conduction

The transfer of thermal energy through a medium by direct contact.

Convection

The transfer of thermal energy through a medium by the movement of particles or fluids.

Thermal radiation

The transfer of thermal energy through electromagnetic waves, which can occur even in a vacuum.

Black-body radiation

The radiation emitted by a black body, which absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation.

Albedo

The measure of the ratio of total scattered (reflected) radiation to total incident radiation, influenced by factors such as season, latitude, and terrain.

Emissivity

The ratio of the power per unit area radiated by an object to the power per unit area radiated by a black body at the same temperature.

Solar constant

The amount of energy falling on 1m^2 of Earth's atmosphere per second, approximately 1366 W/m^2.

Greenhouse effect

The trapping of infrared radiation by greenhouse gases, leading to an increase in temperature.

Greenhouse gases

Gases that absorb infrared radiation due to their natural frequencies.

Chain reaction

The process in which global warming leads to various effects, such as reduced ice/snow cover and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Energy balance

The description of how incoming solar energy is used and returned to space, maintaining a constant Earth temperature.