1 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

2 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Energy transformations in circuits

Energy cannot be created or destroyed.

In all devices and machines energy is transformed from one

type to another.

Batteries supply energy to a circuit.

When the circuit is connected, the
chemical energy stored in the battery
is transformed, via electrical energy, to
heat and light energy in the bulbs.

The total amount of heat and light

energy is the same as the amount of
chemical energy lost from the battery.

3 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Explaining energy transfers in circuits
A model can help us to understand how current works in an
electric circuit. In this model, the moped riders represent the
flow of charge and the pizzas represent the electrical energy
carried around the circuit.

When the pizzas are eaten,

they are transformed into
other useful nutrients in
peoples bodies.

In a similar way, electrical

energy is transformed into
light and heat energy by
the lamp.

4 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Conventional current
When electricity was first discovered it was believed that the
particles moving around circuits had a positive charge.

Scientists thought that the

particles must be moving from
the positive to the negative
terminal of a battery as the
current
particles were positive.
direction

Movement of electric charge in

this direction is called
conventional current.

5 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Electron flow
We now know what these particles
are they are called electrons.

They are negative so they

move away from the
negative and towards the electron
positive terminal of a flow
battery. This movement is
called electron flow.

Some people still think of electricity in terms of conventional

current, not electron flow. This can be confusing, so its
important to understand the difference between the two.

6 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Energy transfer in circuits summary

7 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

8 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008
What is the energy transformation?
Batteries can power many electrical devices.

What kinds of energy do these devices transform electrical

energy into?

9 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

What do we use electrical energy for?
Electrical energy is very useful to us because it is easily
changed into other kinds of energy.

For example, a television changes electrical energy

into light and sound, which help us communicate. In
this case, electrical energy is also converted into
energy that is not so useful heat energy.

light and
sound energy
electrical
energy

heat energy

10 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Energy transfers in circuits

11 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Energy transfers in everyday objects

12 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

13 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008
Energy transformations in circuits
What happens to the electrical energy received by a lamp in
a circuit?

5 J transformed into
light energy
electrical energy
from battery 100 J
95 J transformed into
heat energy

Most of the energy from the battery does not produce light
most of it is wasted as heat!

14 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Calculating energy efficiency
The efficiency of an energy transfer can be calculated
using this formula:

useful energy output

% efficiency = 100
total energy input

This bulb converts 200 J of electrical energy from the

circuit into 10 J of useful light energy:

10
% efficiency = 100
200

= 5%
15 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008
Energy efficiency activity

16 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Energy efficiency summary

17 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

18 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008
Why should electricity usage be reduced?
Most of our electricity is
generated by burning fossil
fuels in power stations.

These emit massive amounts

of carbon dioxide into the air
which causes global
warming.

We also have to pay for the

electricity we use. If we can
spend less money on electricity,
then we have more to spend on
the things we enjoy.

19 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Reducing our electricity bills

There are several ways that you can help to reduce the
amount of electricity you use every day.

Using electrical appliances

less. This is the most effective
way to reduce the amount of
energy you use think about
whether the electricity that
youre using is necessary.

Making sure devices are turned

off. Simply leaving electrical
equipment, such as televisions,
on stand-by can waste energy.

20 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Reducing our electricity bills
There are several ways to make your house more energy
efficient.
Energy efficient light bulbs
These bulbs are more efficient
than normal light bulbs.

Insulation
This minimizes the amount of heat
lost from a house, meaning that less
energy is needed to keep it warm.
Some modern houses have been designed to reduce the
amount of energy they use.

21 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

22 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008
Glossary

23 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Anagrams

24 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

True or false?

25 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008

Multiplechoice quiz

26 of 26 Boardworks Ltd 2008