Energy and Power (note + flashcard)

In this note, you will find information about thermodynamics and the different forms of energy.

Information: click the arrow to view the information

Big idea:

• Advancements in the processing and controlling of energy have been an enabling factor in the development of technology.

Thermodynamics:

• Four Laws of Thermodynamics that help to define things like energy, the flow of energy, and temperature

  • Zeroth law - Helps to define temperature
  • “If each of two systems is equal to a third, then the first two are also equal.”
  • First law - Conservation of energy
  • “Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; however, energy can flow from one form to another.”
  • “If a system has a temperature, then the total energy of the system has three parts—kinetic energy, potential energy, and internal energy—and as the internal energy increases, so does the potential energy.”
  • Heat flow is a form of energy transfer
  • Performing work is a form of energy transfer. 
  • Work is equal to the force you exert and the distance an object moves.
  • W = F X D
  • Second law - energy flows away from it’s source
  • Third law - As a system approaches absolute zero, energy is not produced

• Forms of energy:

  • Six Major Forms of Energy:
  1. Thermal – or heat, the vibration/movement of atoms within systems. 
  2. Radiant – or light, the electromagnetic energy that travels in transverse waves.
  3. Electrical – energy made available by the flow of an electric charge through a conductor.
  4. Mechanical – energy stored in the movement of objects or systems
  5. Chemical – energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules (examples: biomass, petroleum, natural gas, and coal)
  6. Nuclear – energy stored in the nucleus of an atom—the energy that holds the nucleus together

• Renewable vs Non-Renewable:

  • Energy sources can be classified as:
  • Renewable:
    • Water
    • Wind
    • Solar
    • Renewable energy accounts for 17% of the world’s energy sources.
  • Non-Renewable:
    • Fossil Fuels
    • Uranium
    • Fossil fuels provide around 81% of the world’s electrical power.
    • Oil and coal power plants produce harmful environmental emissions.
    • Nuclear power is generated using uranium and produces around 3% of the world’s energy needs.

• Energy Flow Diagram:

  • Two common diagrams used to show the flow of energy within any system:
  • Sankey Diagram - shows the type of energy that goes into a system and how the energy is converted, which also includes wasted energy, usually in the form of heat.
  • Flow Diagram - depicts how energy moves through a system and includes the type of energy and how that energy is generated and stored.