Energy transformations in everyday devices
Find out what energy goes into and comes out of everyday devices, from an electric kettle to a micro-hydro generator, and sort them by their main energy transformation.
Core concept
Devices transform energy from one form to another; the main useful output tells us the transformation
Topic: Energy
energy: What is needed to make things move, heat up, light up or grow. All key words cannot be made or destroyed, but it can be changed from one form to another. Common forms are electrical, light, heat (thermal), sound, kinetic (movement) and chemical (stored in fuels, food and batteries). Every device takes in energy in one form and gives it out in other forms. We name a device's transformation by its input and its main useful output. Some energy is always lost as heat or sound that we do not want.
What you will learn
- Name the main forms of energy.
- Identify the input and main output of everyday devices.
- Recognise that some energy is always wasted.
Before you start
- Know that energy is needed to make things happen.
Materials
- Pictures of the devices
Equipment
- None for the virtual lab
Procedure
- Choose a device card and find out what energy goes in and what useful energy comes out.
- Place each card under its main energy transformation.