Energy Quality
Definition
Energy quality refers to the ability of a form of energy to do useful work. High-quality energy is organized and can perform significant work, like electricity, while low-quality energy is disorganized and less capable of doing work, such as heat.
Analogy
Think about your school backpack. If all your books, notes, and pens are neatly arranged (high-quality energy), you can easily find what you need and get your homework done efficiently. But if everything's a mess (low-quality energy), it's harder to find what you need and get things done.
Related terms
Potential Energy: The stored energy an object has because of its position or state.
Kinetic Energy: The energy an object possesses due to its motion.
Entropy: A measure of the disorder or randomness in a system; systems tend towards higher entropy.
"Energy Quality" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.