Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Efficiency refers to how effectively a system or process converts input energy into useful output energy without wasting any energy as heat or other forms of loss. It is often expressed as a percentage.
Related terms
Work: Work is defined as the transfer of energy that occurs when a force acts upon an object and displaces it in the direction of that force.
Power measures how quickly work is done or how fast energy is transferred. It can be calculated by dividing work by time.
Mechanical Advantage: Mechanical advantage quantifies how much a machine multiplies input force or changes its direction to make work easier. It compares output force with input force.