This definitions covers Key Definitions within Energy Stores & Systems for GCSE Physics. Revise Energy Stores & Systems in Energy for GCSE Physics with 14 exam-style questions and 30 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 14 of 20 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Topic position
Section 14 of 20
Practice
14 questions
Recall
30 flashcards
📖 Key Definitions
Energy store: A location where energy is held — kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential, chemical, thermal, magnetic, electrostatic, or nuclear.
Energy transfer pathway: The mechanism by which energy moves between stores — mechanical work, electrical work, heating, or radiation.
Law of conservation of energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred from one store to another. The total energy in a closed system is constant.
Dissipation: When energy is transferred to a store that is less useful — usually the thermal store of the surroundings. The energy is spread out and harder to use.
Closed system: A system in which no energy is transferred to or from the surroundings. Total energy remains constant.