Efficiency

IGCSE

Efficiency is calculated using the following equation:

1. Calculate the efficiency of the following:

a. A petrol engine that transforms 1000 J of chemical potential energy into
300 J of kinetic energy, and 700 J into wasted heat and sound energy. (2)
b. An electric motor that transforms 1000J of chemical potential energy
into 975 J of kinetic energy, and 25 J of wasted heat and sound energy.
(2)
c. A solar cell that transforms 300 J of light energy into 45 J of electrical
energy and 255 J of wasted energy. (2)
d. A wind turbine that transforms 500 J of kinetic energy in the wind to 150
J of electrical energy and 350 J of wasted heat and sound energy. (2)

2. Calculate how much energy is transferred as useful energy in the following:

a. A 98% efficient kettle that has a total input power of 2000 J. (2)
b. A plant that transforms 0.5% of the 200 J of light energy transferred
from the Sun. (2)

3. What would the total input energy have to be for the following:
a. A light bulb that is 50% efficient and transfers 40 J of light. (3)
b. A light bulb that is 90% efficient and transfers 40 J of light. (3)

4. A cow has eaten 1500 kJ of stored chemical energy in the form of food. 945 kJ
is excreted as waste products. 495 kJ is ‘used’ for respiration.
a. How much of the original 1500 kJ is stored as chemical energy in the
tissues of the cow? (1)
b. The answer to part a is all the energy that can be transferred to a human.
Calculate the efficiency of the energy transfer to the human. (Hint: how
much of the original 1500 kJ is transferred to the human?). (3)

5. Could you ever have a device that provides an efficiency of over 100%? (2)
Total Marks: 24
 Efficiency
IGCSE

Efficiency is calculated using the following equation:

1. Calculate the efficiency of the following:

a. A petrol engine that transforms 1000 J of chemical potential energy into
300 J of kinetic energy, and 700 J into wasted heat and sound energy. (2)
b. An electric motor that transforms 1000J of chemical potential energy
into 975 J of kinetic energy, and 25 J of wasted heat and sound energy.
(2)
c. A solar cell that transforms 300 J of light energy into 45 J of electrical
energy and 255 J of wasted energy. (2)
d. A wind turbine that transforms 500 J of kinetic energy in the wind to 150
J of electrical energy and 350 J of wasted heat and sound energy. (2)

2. Calculate how much energy is transferred as useful energy in the following:

a. A 98% efficient kettle that has a total input power of 2000 J. (2)
b. A plant that transforms 0.5% of the 200 J of light energy transferred
from the Sun. (2)

3. What would the total input energy have to be for the following:
a. A light bulb that is 50% efficient and transfers 40 J of light. (3)
b. A light bulb that is 90% efficient and transfers 40 J of light. (3)

4. A cow has eaten 1500 kJ of stored chemical energy in the form of food. 945 kJ
is excreted as waste products. 495 kJ is ‘used’ for respiration.
a. How much of the original 1500 kJ is stored as chemical energy in the
tissues of the cow? (1)
b. The answer to part a is all the energy that can be transferred to a human.
Calculate the efficiency of the energy transfer to the human. (Hint: how
much of the original 1500 kJ is transferred to the human?). (3)

5. Could you ever have a device that provides an efficiency of over 100%? (2)
Total Marks: 24