/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 6 Your power company claims that e... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 19: Problem 6

Your power company claims that electric heat is \(100 \%\) efficient. Discuss.

Short Answer

Expert verified
While electric heat efficiently converts most of the electrical energy into heat energy, it's unlikely to be 100% efficient due to inherent energy losses such as resistance in wires and conversion processes. Thus, while it鈥檚 an efficient method for heat generation, claiming 100% energy efficiency would likely be an oversimplification.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Energy Efficiency

In thermodynamics, energy efficiency is expressed as the ratio of useful output energy (or work) to the input energy. In other words, it's a measure of how effectively a system converts energy into work and waste. Efficiency is always less than 100% due to losses such as waste heat.
02

Discussing the Claim

The power company claims that electric heat is 100% efficient. This means that they are stating all electrical energy is converted into heat energy. In an ideal world, this could be possible. However, there are always losses due to resistance in the wires leading to and from the heating device and due to the conversion processes within the device. These losses mean that not all energy goes into creating useful heat.
03

Concluding the Discussion

So, while electric heaters may be efficient in converting most of the electrical energy into heat energy, claiming 100% efficiency is likely a simplification or idealization. There will always be some energy losses occurring due to resistance and conversion processes. Thus, 100% energy efficiency, while theoretically desirable, is not practically possible.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

You operate a store that's heated by an oil furnace supplying \(30 \mathrm{kWh}\) of heat from each gallon of oil. You're considering switching to a heat-pump system. Oil costs \(\$ 1.75 /\) gallon, and electricity costs \(16.5 \mathrm{c} / \mathrm{kWh}\). What's the minimum heat-pump COP that will reduce your heating costs?

Refrigerators remain among the greatest consumers of electrical energy in most homes, although mandated efficiency standards have decreased their energy consumption by some \(80 \%\) in the past four decades. In the course of a day, one kitchen refrigerator removes \(30 \mathrm{MJ}\) of energy from its contents, in the process consuming \(10 \mathrm{MJ}\) of electrical energy. The electricity comes from a \(40 \%\) efficient coal-fired power plant. The refrigerator's COP is a. \(\frac{1}{3}\) b. 2 c. 3 d. 4

How much energy becomes unavailable for work in an isothermal process at \(440 \mathrm{K},\) if the entropy increase is \(25 \mathrm{J} / \mathrm{K} ?\)

An object's heat capacity is inversely proportional to its absolute temperature: \(C=C_{0}\left(T_{0} / T\right),\) where \(C_{0}\) and \(T_{0}\) are constants. Find the entropy change when the object is heated from \(T_{0}\) to \(T_{1}\)

Refrigerators remain among the greatest consumers of electrical energy in most homes, although mandated efficiency standards have decreased their energy consumption by some \(80 \%\) in the past four decades. In the course of a day, one kitchen refrigerator removes \(30 \mathrm{MJ}\) of energy from its contents, in the process consuming \(10 \mathrm{MJ}\) of electrical energy. The electricity comes from a \(40 \%\) efficient coal-fired power plant. The electrical energy a. is used to run the light bulb inside the refrigerator. b. wouldn't be necessary if the refrigerator had enough insulation. c. retains its high-quality status after the refrigerator has used it. d. ends up as waste heat rejected to the kitchen environment.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Solid State Physics

Read Explanation

Torque and Rotational Motion

Read Explanation

Translational Dynamics

Read Explanation

Force

Read Explanation

Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics

Read Explanation

Measurements

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.