A team of students builds an electrical circuit with a battery and a fan. Describe how energy is changed from one form to another in their electric circuit.
In the electric circuit, the chemical energy stored in the battery is converted into electrical energy when the circuit is closed and the electrons start to flow from the negative terminal of the battery towards the positive terminal. The electrical energy then flows through the wires and passes through the fan motor, where it is converted into mechanical energy as the blades of the fan start to rotate, moving air and creating a breeze. Therefore, the electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy in the fan as it moves and produces airflow. Overall, energy is changed from chemical to electrical to mechanical energy in the electric circuit with a battery and a fan.
In an electric circuit, the team of students can observe the transformation of energy from one form to another. Here is a step-by-step explanation of how energy changes within their circuit:
1. Electrical Energy: The team connects a battery to a fan using conductive wires. The battery provides a source of electrical energy in the form of stored chemical energy.
2. Electrical Current: Once the circuit is closed, the battery's chemical energy is converted into electrical energy, which flows through the wires as an electrical current. The flow of electrons carries the energy.
3. Electrical Energy to Kinetic Energy: At the fan, the electrical current reaches the motor. Inside the motor, the electrical energy is converted into kinetic energy. The motor uses the electrical energy to turn the fan blades, giving them rotational motion.
4. Kinetic Energy to Mechanical Energy: As the blades of the fan rotate, the fan pushes air in a specific direction. This transfer of kinetic energy to the movement of air is an example of converting kinetic energy into mechanical energy.
5. Mechanical Energy to Thermal Energy: As the air moves, it encounters resistance from molecules in the atmosphere and the fan itself. This resistance causes a conversion of mechanical energy to thermal energy, increasing the temperature of the air and the fan itself.
Overall, the electrical energy from the battery is transformed into kinetic energy, which is then further transformed into mechanical and thermal energy in the circuit.