The resulting light contains only about 2% of the energy content of the coal used to produce it. This electricity could reach an incandescent light bulb wherein a thin wire is heated until it glows, with a significant amount of energy being lost as heat, shown in Figure 1.
Finally, the electricity reaches its destination. In the transmission and distribution of electricity in the United States, the EIA estimates that about 6% of the electricity is lost in these processes. Further losses occur during the transport of this electricity. A typical coal fired electrical plant is around 38% efficient, so ~1/3 of the initial energy content of the fuel is transformed into a usable form of energy while the rest is lost. From here the steam moves turbines and the mechanical energy here turns a generator to produce electricity. For example, the burning of coal in a power plant takes the chemical energy stored in the coal and releases it through combustion, creating heat that produces steam. Initially, the process begins with the creation of the electricity through some method. By the time the energy associated with electric power reaches the user, it has taken many forms. įor more information on inelastic collisions, see HyperPhysics.Įlectricity use is a good example that illustrates energy loss in a system.
As well, collisions that are inelastic refer to collisions where there is some "loss" of energy during the collision. Overall, the goal is to reduce the amount of energy lost to increase efficiency. Like heat energy, sound is a type of energy that is generally lost.
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