Steam engines

Steam engines

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This task is about energy transformation. 

Question 1Change answer

steam-train-PK.jpg
 
a)  Steam engines transfer the energy of boiling water into the energy of movement.
     But steam engines are only about 3% efficient. Explain what this statement means.

Question 1Change answer

b)  If the steam generated is producing 1000 joules of energy each second, and the efficiency of the engine is 3%, how much energy would be changed into the energy of movement?
 joules per second

Question 1Change answer

c)  Name three forms of energy that the other 97% of the energy is transformed into:
1.
2.
3.
 
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online with SOME auto-marking.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Description of task: 
Task: Explain what is meant by 'efficient', calculate the amount of energy produced per second and name three forms of 'waste energy' of steam engines. Assessment focus: energy transformations.
Answers/responses: 
   

Y11 (03/1998)

a) About 3% of the energy available is transferred into the energy of movement (kinetic energy), 97% of the energy is transferred into other forms. difficult
b) 30 (no working necessary). moderate
c) For any 3 of:

  • heat (radiation)
  • light
  • sound
 
easy
difficult
very difficult