Physics H/W

Section 1 continued:
13. In the collision between a car and a stationary object, the car collides with the object
and the normal contact forces between the car and the object does work. The energy is
transferred from the car’s kinetic energy store to other energy stores such as elastic
potential energy as well as thermal energy of the object and the car’s body.
14. The gravitational force does work on the bike. This causes energy to be transferred from
the GPE store of the bike to its kinetic energy store. Friction does work between the brake
pads and its wheels.
15. The varying height shows a varying GPE during the swings. When the height is a
maximum the GPE is a maximum at the top of the swing. When the height is a minimum the
GPE is a minimum at the bottom of the swing. The kinetic energy is maximum at the bottom
of the swing and it is at a minimum at the top of the swing. There is a continuous
interchange of KE and GPE and the total amount of energy is constant during one swing.
Furthermore, over a number of swings the maximum KE and PE decreases because the
swing is getting slower. This energy that is lost is dissipated into the surroundings due to the
air resistance which is the thing making it slow down. The amplitude of the swings will also
decrease as a result of the energy being dissipated to the surroundings.
16. Doubling the speed will increase the kinetic energy as the kinetic energy increases by a
factor of 4. Work done by the brakes to stop the car will increase. The work done will also
increase by a factor of 4 like the kinetic energy. This means that work done will equal the
force multiplied by the distance and that the braking force is constant so if the work done
increases by 4 then so should the braking distance.
17. The momentum of the ball decreases and is passed to the wall so the kinetic energy is
lost as hear and sound energy.
18. Specific Heat Capacity is the minimum amount of energy that is required in order to raise
the temperature of a substance by 1 degree Celsius.
19. Power is the rate at which energy is transferred
20. One example that illustrates the definition of power is that 2 motors both lift the same
weight but if one can do it faster than it therefore has more power.
Physics H/W

Section 2: Conservation and

dissipation of energy
1. Conservation of energy is where energy is neither created or destroyed but it only
can be dissipated.
2. Energy is transferred by heating to the kinetic energy store of the particles at the
bottom of the block. These particles collide with other particles in the block. This will
transfer energy mechanically to the kinetic energy store of the other particles.
Eventually this will transfer energy to the rest of the solid.
3. Wasted energy is energy transferred to a less useful energy store.
4. One of the main 2 ways that energy is wasted is through being converted to heat and
being lost to the surroundings.
5. One way a motor is likely to waste energy is by the energy being converted to heat
energy.
6. The electrical energy is transferred into light and heat energy but some energy is
dissipated and goes to the surroundings as thermal energy.
7. Thermal conductivity affects the rate of energy transfer by having a higher thermal
conductivity then a higher rate of energy transfer.
8. 3 ways to reduce unwanted energy transfers in a motor are by lubricating the moving
parts so less energy is wasted moving it and use thermal insulation and tightening
any loose parts.
9. One way to reduce the unwanted energy transfers in a house is by glazing the
windows in order to prevent the heat from escaping.
10. 2 ways to improve unwanted energy transfers within a house is by glazing the
windows in order to prevent the heat from escaping as well as insulating the loft in
order to do the same thing.
11. If a wall is thicker is less thermal conductive so heat cannot escape as easily.
12. This is a problem because it means that thermal energy from the heating is leaving
the house which can have economic problems because it means that you must use
the heating more often which will increase the price of the energy bills. Furthermore,
by using energy more there will be environmental disadvantages because you are
using more greenhouse gases as well as fossil fuels to power your home which will
mean that more energy will be harming the environment as well as causing global
warming and the problem of climate change. A way to fix this would be to insulate
the house’s walls effectively.
Physics H/W
13. One way to increase the efficiency of a pan heating water is to increase the base of
the pan as well as place a heating element inside the water and use plastic walls and
a plastic lid.
14. Lubrication can improve the performance of a handle which is rotated to turn an axle
by doing work against friction and reducing the frictional forces and meant that less
energy is dissipated on the handle.
15. Conduction is the process where energy is transferred by heating a soli material.
16. Energy is transferred through metal through conduction through the free electrons
gaining kinetic energy and transfer energy to other electrons through collisions.
17. Convection is when the change in density of a fluid causes the particles to move from
a hot to cold region.
18. A convection current is set up by air particles spreading out which caused the air to
expand and become less dense and warm air rises.
19. The design of a vacuum flask keeps the liquid inside hot by having the plastic cap
which is a poor conductor so the convection currents are stopped as well as a glass
container as well as a vacuum as well as a silvered surface.
Physics H/W

Section 3: National and global

energy resources:
1. One advantage of wind turbines is that they are a renewable source of power and
another advantage of wind turbines is that they are massive and can therefore store
a lot of energy.