Photo AI

An air source heat pump transfers energy from the air outside a building to increase the temperature of the air inside the building - AQA - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 6 - 2021 - Paper 1

Question icon

Question 6

An-air-source-heat-pump-transfers-energy-from-the-air-outside-a-building-to-increase-the-temperature-of-the-air-inside-the-building-AQA-GCSE Physics Combined Science-Question 6-2021-Paper 1.png

An air source heat pump transfers energy from the air outside a building to increase the temperature of the air inside the building. Figure 13 shows an air source h... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:An air source heat pump transfers energy from the air outside a building to increase the temperature of the air inside the building - AQA - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 6 - 2021 - Paper 1

Step 1

Explain what happens to the internal energy of the coolant as its temperature increases.

96%

114 rated

Answer

As the temperature of the coolant increases, the internal energy of the coolant also increases. This is because the internal energy is the sum of the kinetic and potential energy of the particles. As the temperature rises, the kinetic energy of the particles increases, leading to a greater speed of motion.

Step 2

What name is given to the energy needed to change the state of the liquid coolant?

99%

104 rated

Answer

The energy needed to change the state of the liquid coolant is called the latent heat of vaporisation.

Step 3

What happens to the mass of the coolant as it evaporates and becomes a vapour? Tick (✓) one box.

96%

101 rated

Answer

Stays the same

Step 4

Explain why the pressure in the pipe increases.

98%

120 rated

Answer

The increase in pressure in the pipe is due to the increase in density and temperature of the coolant vapour caused by the compressor. When the coolant is compressed, the molecules are forced closer together, resulting in more collisions per second and a greater force exerted on the walls of the pipe, leading to increased pressure.

Step 5

Calculate the specific heat capacity of the air in the building.

97%

117 rated

Answer

To find the specific heat capacity (c), we can use the formula:

extEfficiency=Useful Output Energy TransferTotal Input Energy Transfer ext{Efficiency} = \frac{\text{Useful Output Energy Transfer}}{\text{Total Input Energy Transfer}}

The total energy input to the system is 1560 kJ, and the temperature change (∆T) is:

22.1°C11.6°C=10.5°C22.1 °C - 11.6 °C = 10.5 °C

From the efficiency, the useful output energy transfer can be calculated as:

Useful output energy transfer=0.875×1560000 J=1365000 J\text{Useful output energy transfer} = 0.875 \times 1560000 \text{ J} = 1365000 \text{ J}

Using the formula for specific heat capacity:

Q=mcΔTQ = mc\Delta T

where (Q) is the useful output energy (1365000 J), (m) is the mass of the air (125 kg), and (\Delta T) is the temperature change (10.5 °C):

1365000=125c(10.5)1365000 = 125c(10.5)

Solving for c gives:

c=1365000125×10.5=1040J/kg°Cc = \frac{1365000}{125 \times 10.5} = 1040 J/kg °C

In standard form: c=1.04×103 J/kg °Cc = 1.04 \times 10^3 \text{ J/kg °C}

Step 6

Explain why the advertisement is not correct.

97%

121 rated

Answer

The advertisement is misleading because it suggests that the heat pump system can produce 400% more energy than the energy supplied from electricity. This is not possible as the total energy input must account for the energy drawn from the surrounding air as well. Furthermore, the efficiency must always be less than 100% since no system can create energy, it can only transfer it.

Join the GCSE students using SimpleStudy...

97% of Students

Report Improved Results

98% of Students

Recommend to friends

100,000+

Students Supported

1 Million+

Questions answered

;