1.7.3

Energy resources

Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625)  · Unit 1: Motion, forces and energy  · 14 flashcards

Energy resources is topic 1.7.3 in the Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) syllabus , positioned in Unit 1 — Motion, forces and energy , alongside Physical quantities and measurement techniques, Motion and Mass and weight.  In one line: Efficiency is the ratio of useful energy output to the total energy input.

Efficiency (%) = (Useful energy output / Total energy input) × 100%

This tells us how much of the input energy is converted into the desired form
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This topic is examined in Paper 1 (multiple-choice) and Papers 3/4 (theory), plus Paper 5 or Paper 6 (practical / alternative to practical).

The deck below contains 14 flashcards — 1 definition — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward.  Use the definition card to lock down command-word answers (define, state), then move on to the concept and application cards to handle explain, describe and compare questions.

Key definition

Efficiency in terms of energy input and output. State the formula, including how to express it as a percentage

Efficiency is the ratio of useful energy output to the total energy input.

Efficiency (%) = (Useful energy output / Total energy input) × 100%

This tells us how much of the input energy is converted into the desired form.

What the Cambridge 0625 syllabus says

Official 2026-2028 spec

These are the exact learning objectives Cambridge sets for this topic. Match the command word (Describe, Explain, State, etc.) in your answer to score full marks.

  1. Describe Describe how useful energy may be obtained, or electrical power generated, from: (a) chemical energy stored in fossil fuels (b) chemical energy stored in biofuels (c) water, including the energy stored in waves, in tides and in water behind hydroelectric dams (d) geothermal resources (e) nuclear fuel (f) light from the Sun to generate electrical power (solar cells) (g) infrared and other electromagnetic waves from the Sun to heat water (solar panels) and be the source of wind energy including references to a boiler, turbine and generator where they are used
  2. Describe Describe advantages and disadvantages of each method in terms of renewability, availability, reliability, scale and environmental impact
  3. Understand Understand, qualitatively, the concept of efficiency of energy transfer
  4. Know Know that radiation from the Sun is the main source of energy for all our energy resources except geothermal, nuclear and tidal Supplement
  5. Know Know that energy is released by nuclear fusion in the Sun Supplement
  6. Know Know that research is being carried out to investigate how energy released by nuclear fusion can be used to produce electrical energy on a large scale Supplement
  7. Define Define efficiency as: (a) (%) efficiency = (useful energy output) / (total energy input) (× 100%) (b) (%) efficiency = (useful power output) / (total power input) (× 100%) recall and use these equations Supplement
Key Concept Flip

Describe how electrical power is generated from the chemical energy stored in fossil fuels, including reference to a boiler, turbine, and generator.

Answer Flip

1. Burning fossil fuels in a boiler: Fossil fuels (like coal, oil, or natural gas) are burned in a boiler. The burning releases heat energy.
2. Heating water to produce steam: The heat from the burning fuel is used to heat water in the boiler, converting the water into high-pressure steam.
3. Steam turning a turbine: The high-pressure steam is directed at the blades of a turbine, causing it to rotate.
4. Turbine turns a generator: The rotating turbine is connected to a generator. The generator uses electromagnetic induction to convert the kinetic energy of the turbine into electrical energy.

Key Concept Flip

State two renewable energy resources that originate from electromagnetic waves from the Sun.

Answer Flip

1. Wind energy
2. Solar energy (solar panels to heat water)

Key Concept Flip

Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using nuclear power plants to generate electricity, considering renewability, availability, reliability, scale and environmental impact.

Answer Flip

Advantage: High reliability. Nuclear power plants can operate continuously, providing a stable baseload power supply. They are not dependent on weather conditions.
Disadvantage: Environmental impact. Nuclear power plants produce radioactive waste, which needs to be stored safely for thousands of years. There is also a risk of accidents, which can release radioactive materials into the environment.

Key Concept Flip

State two disadvantages of using hydroelectric power in a mountainous region, with reference to environmental impact and scale.

Answer Flip

Disadvantage 1: Environmental impact. Constructing dams and reservoirs can flood large areas of land, displacing communities and destroying habitats. It also alters river ecosystems.
Disadvantage 2: Scale. Hydroelectric power generation may be limited by the amount of rainfall and the size of the river, meaning the availability is determined by weather factors.

Key Concept Flip

A small electric motor consumes 50 J of electrical energy to lift a 1.0 kg mass vertically through a height of 3.0 m. Calculate the efficiency of the motor.

Answer Flip

Efficiency = (Useful Energy Output / Total Energy Input) x 100
Useful Energy Output = Potential Energy Gained = mgh = 1.0 kg * 10 N/kg * 3.0 m = 30 J
Efficiency = (30 J / 50 J) x 100 = 60%

Therefore, the efficiency of the motor is 60%.

Key Concept Flip

State two reasons why the efficiency of an energy transfer is always less than 100%.

Answer Flip

1. Some energy is always converted into heat due to friction in moving parts or resistance in electrical circuits. This heat is usually dissipated into the surroundings.
2. Energy may be converted into sound, which is also often dissipated into the surroundings and not used for the intended purpose.

Key Concept Flip

State four energy resources for which solar radiation is the primary energy source.

Answer Flip

1. Wind energy: Uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the Sun creates pressure differences, driving wind.
2. Hydroelectric energy: The Sun drives the water cycle, causing evaporation and precipitation that fill reservoirs.
3. Biomass: Plants use solar energy to grow through photosynthesis.
4. Fossil fuels: Formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that originally obtained energy from the Sun. All four correct answers: 2 marks.

Key Concept Flip

Explain why geothermal energy is not considered to be derived from solar radiation.

Answer Flip

Geothermal energy originates from the Earth's internal heat, primarily from radioactive decay of materials within the Earth's core and mantle, and residual heat from the Earth's formation. Solar radiation is external to the Earth and does not significantly contribute to the internal heat that drives geothermal activity. Solar heating only affects the very surface of the Earth.

Key Concept Flip

State the process by which energy is released in the Sun. Briefly describe what happens during this process.

Answer Flip

Nuclear fusion.

Hydrogen nuclei (protons) fuse together under immense pressure and temperature to form helium nuclei. This fusion releases a tremendous amount of energy, primarily as electromagnetic radiation.

Key Concept Flip

Explain why nuclear fusion in the Sun is a source of energy for the Earth.

Answer Flip

Nuclear fusion in the Sun releases a vast amount of energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, including light and heat. This electromagnetic radiation travels through space and reaches the Earth. The Earth absorbs a portion of this radiation, which is then converted into other forms of energy, such as heat, which sustains life and drives various processes on Earth.

Key Concept Flip

State two advantages that nuclear fusion power plants would have over nuclear fission power plants if fusion were commercially viable.

Answer Flip

1. Fusion uses readily available isotopes of hydrogen (e.g. deuterium, tritium) as fuel, making the fuel source virtually inexhaustible compared to uranium for fission.
2. Fusion produces very little radioactive waste compared to fission, reducing the long-term storage and environmental concerns.

Key Concept Flip

Explain why extremely high temperatures (millions of degrees Celsius) are required for nuclear fusion to occur.

Answer Flip

Fusion involves forcing positively charged nuclei (like isotopes of hydrogen) to combine. These nuclei repel each other due to the electrostatic force. Extremely high temperatures give the nuclei sufficient kinetic energy to overcome this electrostatic repulsion and get close enough for the strong nuclear force to bind them together, allowing fusion to occur. The higher the temperature, the higher the average kinetic energy of the nuclei.

Definition Flip

Define efficiency in terms of energy input and output. State the formula, including how to express it as a percentage.

Answer Flip

Efficiency is the ratio of useful energy output to the total energy input.

Efficiency (%) = (Useful energy output / Total energy input) × 100%

This tells us how much of the input energy is converted into the desired form.

Key Concept Flip

A motor consumes 200 J of electrical energy and produces 160 J of kinetic energy. Calculate the efficiency of the motor, expressing it as a percentage.

Answer Flip

Efficiency (%) = (Useful energy output / Total energy input) × 100%

Efficiency (%) = (160 J / 200 J) × 100%

Efficiency (%) = 80%

The motor is 80% efficient at converting electrical energy to kinetic energy.

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1.7.2 Work 1.7.4 Power

Key Questions: Energy resources

Define efficiency in terms of energy input and output. State the formula, including how to express it as a percentage.

Efficiency is the ratio of useful energy output to the total energy input.

Efficiency (%) = (Useful energy output / Total energy input) × 100%

This tells us how much of the input energy is converted into the desired form.

More topics in Unit 1 — Motion, forces and energy

Energy resources sits alongside these Physics decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.

Key terms covered in this Energy resources deck

Every term below is defined in the flashcards above. Use the list as a quick recall test before your exam — if you can't define one of these in your own words, flip back to that card.

Efficiency in terms of energy input and output. State the formula, including how to express it as a percentage

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