Efficiency (AQA A Level Physics)

• The efficiency of a system is a measure of how successfully energy is transferred in a system
• Efficiency is defined as:

The ratio of the useful power output from a system to its total power input

• If a system has high efficiency, this means most of the energy transferred is useful
• If a system has low efficiency, this means most of the energy transferred is wasted

• Determining which type of energy is useful or wasted depends on the system
  • When electrical energy is converted to light in a lightbulb, the light energy is useful, and the heat energy produced is wasted
  • When electrical energy is converted to thermal energy in a heater, the heat energy is useful, and the sound energy produced is wasted

• Efficiency is represented as a percentage, and can be calculated using the equation:

• Where power is defined as the energy transferred per unit of time

• The efficiency equation can also be written in terms of energy:

• The energy can be of any form e.g. gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy

Step 1: Write down the efficiency equation 

Step 2: Rearrange for the power input  

Step 3: Calculate the power out

• • The power output is the energy ÷ time
  • The electric motor transferred electric energy into gravitational potential energy to lift the load

Gravitational potential energy = mgh = 7.2 × 9.81 × 5 = 353.16 J

Power = 353.16 ÷ 3 = 117.72 W

Step 4: Substitute values into power input equation