10.

4 Energy and efficiency

AQA Physics Calculation sheet

Calculating power and efficiency

Specification references
• 3.4.1.7 Work, energy and power
• M0.3 Use ratios, fractions, and percentages

Learning objectives
After completing the worksheet you should be able to:
• demonstrate and apply your knowledge and understanding that power is the rate
of energy transfer
• recall and understand that power is measured in watts
• calculate the power of a mechanical system
• understand and calculate the efficiency of a mechanical system.

Introduction
Power is the rate of work done. It is measure in watts (W) where 1 watt =
1 joule per second.
total energy transferred work done ΔW
power = or, power = =P =
time taken time taken Δt
You may be given calculations where the total energy transferred can be calculated
from:
• a change in gravitational potential energy
• a change in kinetic energy
• work done, which you can calculate from the distance moved as the result of a
given force.
You can also calculate power from the equation: power = force × velocity.
s
W = F s, so when the force is constant P = F , or P = F v.
t
Whenever work is done, energy is transferred from one form to another. Often some
energy is transferred by heating. The efficiency is a measure of how much of the
energy is transferred usefully. It is a ratio and is given as a decimal fraction between
0 (none of the energy was usefully transferred) and 1 (all the energy was usefully
transferred), or as a percentage between 0% and 100%.
It is not possible for any device to be 100% efficient – some energy is always
dissipated to the surroundings.
useful energy output userful power output
Efficiency = =
total energy input total power input
This will give efficiency as a fraction between 0 and 1. Multiply by 100 to get the
answer as a percentage.

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 10.4 Energy and efficiency
AQA Physics Calculation sheet

Worked example
Question
A motor lifts a mass of 12 kg through a height of 25 m, in 6.0 s. Calculate the power
of the motor.
Answer
Step 1
Choose an equation for calculating power.
work done
Power = . Work done is the same as the gain in gravitational potential
time
energy, Ep, which can be found using Ep = m g Δh.
ΔE P mgΔh
Power, P = =
t t
Step 2
Substitute the values from the question – taking care with units.
m = 12 kg
h = 25 m
t = 6.0 s
Use the value of g from the data sheet, g = 9.81 m s–2.
12 × 9.81× 25
P= W
6.0
Step 3
Use your calculator to calculate the answer, and write it to two significant figures
with the unit.
P = 490.5 W = 490 W (two significant figures)

Questions
1 Calculate the output power when:
a A motor lifts a 2500 N load 15 m, in 5.0 s. (1 mark)
b A motor accelerates a roller-coaster of mass 800 kg from 0 to 30 m s–1, in
6.0 s. (2 marks)
c A car of mass 1100 kg accelerates from 20 m s–1 to 30 m s–1, in 3.0 s. (2 marks)
d A driver and passengers push a broken-down car with a force of 1020 N
along a level road to a garage 430 m away. It takes them 15 minutes, not
including stops. (2 marks)

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 10.4 Energy and efficiency
AQA Physics Calculation sheet

Worked example
Question
A car is travelling at a constant speed of 31 m s–1. The driving force of the engine (to
overcome the resistive forces) is 120 N.
Calculate the output power of the engine.
Answer
Step 1
Use the equation for power, P = F v.
Power, P = F v where F = 120 N and v = 31 m s–1.
Step 2
Substitute the values from the question – taking care with units.
P = 120 N × 31 W
Step 3
Use your calculator to calculate the answer, and write it to two significant figures
with the unit.
P = 3720 W = 3.7 kW (two significant figures)

Questions
2 A car travels on a level road at constant speed of 27 m s–1. The output power of
the engine is 15 kW. Calculate the total resistive force on the car. (1 mark)
3 The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan has a fast lift that ascends at 16.8 m s–1.
Calculate the output power of the lift motors when rising at this speed if the mass
of the lift and passengers is 1200 kg. (2 marks)

Worked example
Question
An 850 W microwave oven has a power consumption of 1.2 kW.
Calculate its efficiency.
Answer
Step 1
Find the total power input and the useful power output.
Total power input = 1.2 kW
Useful power output = 850 W

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 10.4 Energy and efficiency
AQA Physics Calculation sheet

Step 2
Substitute the values into the expression for efficiency.
useful power output 850 W
Efficiency = = = 0.71
total power input 1.2 × 10 3 W
Or, as a percentage, 0.71 × 100% = 71%

Questions
4 A 1000 W microwave oven has a power consumption of 1.2 kW. Calculate its
efficiency. (1 mark)

5 The resultant force on a train is 28 kN and it travels a constant velocity of 45 m s–1.
a What is the useful output power of the engines? (1 mark)
b If the engines are 30% efficient, what is the input power needed? (1 mark)

6 Calculate how long a 92% efficient electric motor with input power 55 W takes to
lift a 15 kg mass 2.5 m. (2 marks)

7 Solar panels are installed with an area of 45 m2. The maximum intensity of
sunlight on the panels is 180 W m–2. The efficiency of the panels is 19%.
a Calculate the electrical power generated. (3 marks)
b Suggest one reason why the electrical power generated by the panels is
often less than this. (1 mark)

Maths skills links to other areas

You will need to use percentage calculations throughout the course to calculate
percentage uncertainties. For more information see ‘5.4 Calculation sheet:
Determining uncertainty’.

© Oxford University Press 2015 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements

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