Efficient Energy Flow Chart: Transfers to Human, Computer, Lights & Ball

[energychartflo]

Homework Statement

Create an energy flow chart that has ends up transfering to a human, computer, lights (ceiling lights), and a ball. State what kind of transfer is going on and how it is transferred (verb).

The Attempt at a Solution

So far I have

Sun---light energy, plant absorbs--> Plant---Chemical energy, Fossilized---> Coal

The next one would be factory, but I do not know what kind of energy transfer or what kind of verb (processed?). I need at least 10 links that end up with human, computer, light, ball

 

[energychartflo]

bump,

 

[energychartflo]

badfs

 

[voko]

A factory combusts (burns) coal, which creates what?

 

[HalfLostAndSearching]

, so I can create a complete energy flow chart.


Great effort on starting the energy flow chart! Here are a few more links that you can include:

Coal---Thermal energy, burned---> Steam turbine---Mechanical energy, turns---> Generator---Electrical energy, produces---> Power plant---Electrical energy, distributes---> Home---Electrical energy, powers---> Computer---Electrical energy, uses---> Human---Chemical energy, consumed---> Food---Chemical energy, digested---> Muscles---Kinetic energy, moves---> Hand---Kinetic energy, throws---> Ball---Kinetic energy, bounces---> Ground---Kinetic energy, absorbs---> Ceiling lights---Electrical energy, illuminates---> Room---Light energy, reflects---> Human eye---Light energy, perceives---> Brain---Electrical signals, processes---> Human action (catching the ball or typing on the computer)

The types of energy transfers involved in these links are mostly conversion (e.g. light energy to chemical energy in plants), transformation (e.g. chemical energy to thermal energy in burning coal), and transmission (e.g. electrical energy through power lines). The verbs used to describe the transfers could vary, such as absorbed, converted, produced, distributed, used, consumed, etc.

I hope this helps in completing your energy flow chart! Remember to also consider the direction of energy flow in each link, as well as any energy losses that may occur in the process. Good luck!