Question

What does energy degradation mean?

Answer 1

Hint:Energy is needed for all activities like cooking, propelling a vehicle, providing light, etc. Energy is the basic need for economic development. In Physics, we define energy as the capacity to do work. Different forms of energy are kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, etc. that means they are either heat or work in the transfer from one body to another.


 Complete step by step solution:
We know energy is obtained from coal, petroleum, electricity, etc. Now in this process, some amount of energy converts in the form of heat or friction which cannot be utilized to do any work. Hence, we call it energy degradation.
Example: In an electric bulb electric energy is converted into light energy but along with light energy heat is also produced. This heat energy cannot be utilized as a result 100% of electrical energy is not utilized; some is dissipated in the form of heat energy. So here we use the term energy degradation.
Other examples are hairdryers and any other electric equipment; they all dissipate heat in terms of heat. When fossil fuels are burnt a lot of heat is produced which cannot be utilized.
When we drive a vehicle, work has to be done to overcome the friction force as a result it produces heat. Which again cannot be reversed or utilized.

Note:
Heat is not a property of a system. This term is used for the energy transfer taking between two or more systems.
SI unit of heat is the same as that of energy.
Energy is a scalar quantity having only magnitude and no direction.
Energy exists in various forms for example kinetic energy, potential energy, sound energy, heat energy, and light energy.