Paper 1

• kinetic energy is the energy of a moving object, measured in joules (J)
• elastic potential energy is the energy stored in a stretched spring or elastic object
• gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position above the ground
• specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree
• efficiency is the ratio of useful energy output to the total energy input, expressed as a percentage
• Factors affecting the cooling of a building

  • thermal conductivity of the walls
  • lack of insulating material
• SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY PRACTICAL

  • place a beaker on balance and press 0
  • add oil and record mass of beaker
  • place thermometer and immersion heater into oil
  • read start temp
  • wrap beaker in insulating foam
  • connect a joulmeter to the immersion heater
  • leave for 30 mins
  • read joules and final temp
  • calculate Specific Heat Capacity
• formula for specific heat capacity= change in thermal energy/mass x temperature change
• uses of energy: transport, heating, electricity
• fossil fuels= coal,oil,gas
• fossil fuel advantages

  • cheap and abundant
  • reliable
  • provide energy when we need it
• fossil fuel disadvantages

  • release a huge amount of CO2
  • non-renewable
• non renewwable energy resources are ones that are not being replenished as we use them
• burning diesel releases co2 and nitrogen oxide particles
• burning of coal release sulfur dioxide which leads to acid rain
• nuclear power plants dont release carbon dioxide and its extremely reliable
• nuclear power plants are very radioactive
• UK has a large number of wind farms and is increasing in renewable energy
• wind energy is not always reliable as its not always windy
• A renewable energy resource is one that is being or can be replenished as it is used
• Renewable energy resources

  • biofuels
  • tidal power
  • wind
  • solar
  • hydroelectricity
  • geothermal
• renewable energy resources do not contribute to climate change
• Hydroelectric power

  • habitats destroyed when made
  • Uk dont have many rivers
• Tidal power

  • harmful to wildlife
• wave power

  • reliable
  • on a small scale
• geothermal energy

  • reliable
  • not used much
• an electric current flows from the negative end of the cell to the positive end
• electrons carry energy from the cell
• unit of an electric current is A
• measure current with an ammeter
• a parallel circuit is a circuit in which the current is split between two branches and the total current is equal to the sum of the currents in each branch
• measure voltage using a voltmeter
• energy is always lost in the power cables due to the resistance of the wires
• a transformer is a device that changes the potential difference of an alternating current from one circuit to another
• step up transformers increase the potential difference of the supply to a higher level
• step down transformers reduce the potenital difference
• national grip is a system of transformers and cables
• a zero error is a reading on a measuring instrument when the value should be 0
• if the temperature of the wire increases then the resistance increases
• using a low potential different reduceds the current and any heating in the wire