Knowledge Organiser: Energy Stores and Systems
Part of Energy Stores & Systems · GCSE GCSE Physics revision
This topic summary covers Knowledge Organiser: Energy Stores and Systems 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 20 of 20 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 20 of 20
Practice
14 questions
Recall
30 flashcards
Knowledge Organiser: Energy Stores and Systems
Key Terms
- Energy store: where energy is held (kinetic, GPE, elastic, chemical, thermal, magnetic, electrostatic, nuclear)
- Pathway: how energy moves (mechanical, electrical, heating, radiation)
- Dissipation: spreading energy to thermal store of surroundings
- Closed system: no energy in or out; total stays constant
Key Facts
- Energy cannot be created or destroyed — only transferred
- There are 8 energy stores and 4 transfer pathways
- Wasted energy nearly always goes to the thermal store
- The total energy in a closed system is always conserved
The 8 Stores (KGETMENCC)
- Kinetic, Gravitational PE, Elastic PE, Thermal
- Magnetic, Electrostatic, Nuclear, Chemical
- Mnemonic: Kicking Giraffes Eat Thirteen Million Electric Newts Carelessly
Exam Tips
- Never say energy is "lost" — say it is "dissipated to thermal store"
- Always name both the store AND the pathway in transfer questions
- In Sankey diagrams, arrow widths must be proportional to energy values
- Height must be vertical when calculating GPE
Key Equations
- Eₖ = ½ × m × v² (kinetic energy)
- Eₚ = m × g × h (gravitational potential energy)
- Eₑ = ½ × k × x² (elastic potential energy)
- ΔE = m × c × ΔT (change in thermal energy)
- E = P × t (energy = power × time)
Common Mistakes
- Saying energy is "lost": Energy is always conserved — say it is "dissipated to the thermal store of the surroundings"
- Confusing stores and pathways: Kinetic is a store; mechanical work is a pathway — they are not the same thing
- Forgetting wasted energy: Always mention wasted energy (usually thermal) when describing transfers in real systems
- Vague descriptions: "light energy" loses marks — say "radiated from the bulb as light"
- Sankey diagram widths: Arrow widths must be drawn proportional to the energy values — not equal width
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Practice Questions for Energy Stores & Systems
Which energy store is associated with an object that is moving?
Explain what is meant by a 'closed system' in terms of energy.
Quick Recall Flashcards
14 questions on Energy Stores & Systems — practise free
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