ScienceYear 9Physics

Energy stores, transfers and efficiency

Learn Energy stores, transfers and efficiency for Year 9 pupils (ages 13–14). Free practice questions, lessons and worked examples — aligned to the UK National Curriculum.

What you'll learn

  1. 1

    Energy is never created or destroyed — it is transferred between stores.

  2. 2

    A rollercoaster at the top has gravitational potential energy. Going down, it transfers to kinetic. Some always transfers to thermal through friction.

  3. 3

    Which store does a raised object have?

  4. 4

    Common error: "energy gets used up." It does not — it spreads out into surroundings as thermal energy and becomes less useful.

  5. 5

    What happens to "wasted" energy?

  6. 6

    Apply it: a lamp takes in 60 J and gives out 12 J of light. Efficiency = useful ÷ total = 12 ÷ 60 = 0.2, or 20%. The other 48 J transfers to thermal.

  7. 7

    A motor takes 200 J and usefully transfers 150 J. What is its efficiency?

Practise Energy stores, transfers and efficiency with Whizlo

Free AI-tutored lessons, unlimited practice questions, and progress tracking for ages 13–14. Aligned to the UK National Curriculum.