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Topic 8 - Energy Production - IB Physics
Topic 8 - Energy Production - IB Physics
IB PHYSICS
Specific energy and energy density are useful measures of the energy that will be released
from a given weight or volume of fuel when it is burned.
Specific energy is the energy per unit mass of the fuel and can be given by energy/mass
Energy density is the energy per unit volume of a fuel and can be given by energy/volume.
Sankey diagrams
Energy degradation
While energy may be completely converted into work in a single process, a cyclical process is
required to convert thermal energy to work continuously.
In accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, some energy will be lost to the
surroundings and cannot be used to perform useful work. The unavailable energy is called
degraded energy.
Sankey diagram
A Sankey diagram is a type of energy diagram where the width of each arrow is proportional
to the amount of energy in that section.
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Primary energy sources are found in nature and have not been subjected to any conversion or
transformation process.
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Conduction and convection requires a transmittance medium while radiation does not and can
be transferred through a vacuum (e.g. outer space).
Black-body radiation
A black body which absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation is both the perfect
absorber and the perfect emitter of radiation.
The radiation emitted by such a body at constant temperature is called black-body radiation.
The Stefan-Boltzmann law states that the power of radiation emitted by a black body per unit
area is proportional to the fourth power of its temperature.
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Albedo
The Albedo (α) of a planet is defined as the ratio between the total scattered (reflected)
radiation and the total incident radiation of that planet.
Albedo = total scattered power / total incident power
The albedo of a planet is affected by the following:
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Emissivity
Most objects are not black bodies. They radiate a fraction of the power per unit area
compared to a black body at the same temperature. The value of this fraction depends on the
object and is called the object’s emissivity (e).
Emissivity = power per unit area radiated by the object / power per unit area radiated by a
black body at the same temperature.
The equation for the power radiated by an object with emissivity e can be given by the
diagram in the previous section (Black-body radiation).
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Greenhouse gases:
Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation because its molecules have natural frequencies
in the infrared region and readily absorb infrared radiation due to resonance.
Mechanism:
1. Incoming radiation from the sun takes form of ultraviolet and visible radiation.
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2. Some of this radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere and some of the radiation is
reflected back into space by the Earth’s surface (ground).
3. The radiation which is reflected back into space takes form of infrared radiation.
4. The greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation and reflect it back
towards the Earth’s surface.
5. Thus, heat energy becomes trapped inside Earth’s atmosphere and accumulates, leading to
the greenhouse effect and an increase in average mean temperatures on Earth.
Chain reaction:
Global warming reduces ice/snow cover. This causes a decrease in albedo and increases the
rate of heat absorption by the Earth.
The solubility of carbon dioxide in the sea decreases with increasing temperature, leading to
an increase in atmosphere carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) concentration.
Effects:
Earth’s energy balance describes how the incoming energy from the sun is used and returned to
space. If incoming and outgoing energy are in balance, the Earth’s temperature remains constant.
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