Heat as a By-Product of Energy Transfer and Transformation

• Whenever energy is transferred or transformed, some energy is converted into heat energy.

• In some cases, light energy or sound energy may also be produced.

• This means that the transfer and transformation of energy is not 100% efficient.

• In the previous example of energy transfer involving a bowling ball striking bowling pins, the energy gained by the bowling pins is slightly less than the energy lost by the bowling ball, as a small amount of heat energy is produced during the collision.

• Similarly, in the previous example of energy transformation involving the bow and arrow, the kinetic energy gained by the arrow is slightly less than the potential energy lost by the bow, as a small amount of heat energy is produced during the firing of the arrow.

• The heat produced during energy transfers and transformations is often very small and imperceptible, such as in the case of the bowling ball and pins and the bow and arrow.

• At other times, the heat produced is significant. For example, a light bulb will feel warm due to the heat produced while it is on.

Whenever energy is transferred or transformed, some energy is converted into heat energy.

(Images: Aleksandrs Muiznieks, Adobe Stock; supamotion, Adobe Stock)