Energy Transfer

• How is heat energy created in power plants?

  Combustion of fuels (coal, gas, etc.) or nuclear reactions

  
• What is kinetic energy related to in the power plant process?

  The movement of steam molecules as they expand

  
• What are the different energy conversions in a power plant?

  1. Heat Energy → Kinetic Energy of steam
  2. Kinetic Energy of steam → Kinetic Energy of turbine
  3. Kinetic Energy of turbine → Electrical Energy

  
• What are the types of fuels that store chemical energy used in power plants?

  Coal, gas, nuclear

  
• What happens to steam in the condenser?


  It cools to water

  
• How efficient is the overall process of converting chemical energy to electrical energy in the power plant?

  35%

  
• What are the three primary methods of heat transfer illustrated in the image?

  Conduction, convection, and radiation

  
• How does each method of heat transfer contribute to boiling the water in the saucepan?

  Conduction heats the saucepan, convection circulates warm water, and radiation heats the saucepan directly from the flame.

  
• What are the three methods of heat transfer and their definitions?

  • Conduction: Heat transfer through direct contact.
  • Convection: Heat transfer through movement of heated fluid.
  • Radiation: Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves.

  
• What is the electromagnetic spectrum and what does it encompass?

  • The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation
  • It includes all forms of radiation from radio waves to gamma rays

  
• What are the main types of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum?

  Radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays

  
• How are wavelength and energy related in the electromagnetic spectrum?

  • Wavelength and energy are inversely related
  • Shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy
  • Longer wavelengths correspond to lower energy

  
• If radiation has a longer wavelength, does it have higher or lower energy?


  Lower energy

  
• Why do shorter wavelengths have higher energy?

  Because frequency and wavelength are inversely related, and energy is proportional to frequency

  
• Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the highest energy?

  Gamma rays

  
• Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the longest wavelength?

  Radio waves

  
• Which type of electromagnetic radiation is visible to the human eye?


  Visible light

  
• Which type of electromagnetic radiation is used in microwave ovens?

  Microwaves

  
• Which type of electromagnetic radiation is produced by radioactive decay?

  Gamma rays

  
• What is an energy transfer?

  The movement of energy from one store to another
• What types of radiation does the Sun emit?

  Visible light and infrared radiation
• What types of radiation are included in the electromagnetic spectrum?

  Radio waves, visible light, gamma rays