IB Physics Revision

Energy Production

Energy sources, power generation, and thermal energy transfer.

Energy Production is a core part of IB Physics. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.

Key concepts

Primary energyFound in nature (coal, sun)
Secondary energyConverted (electricity)
RenewableReplenished < lifetime (solar, wind)
Non-renewableFinite (coal, oil, gas, U)
EfficiencyUseful/total × 100%
Sankey diagramFlow showing transfers + losses
FissionHeavy nucleus splits
²³⁵UCommon fissile isotope
ModeratorSlows neutrons (water, graphite)
Control rodAbsorbs neutrons (B, Cd)
Critical massMin mass to sustain chain
FusionLight nuclei combine (Sun, ITER)
BlackbodyPerfect emitter + absorber
Stefan-BoltzmannP = σAT⁴, σ = 5.67×10⁻⁸

Common mistakes to avoid

Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:

What happens to energy when a device runs?✗ It is used up and ceases to exist.   ✓ It is transferred and dissipated (often as heat); never destroyed.
Does 'renewable' mean an energy resource causes no harm?✗ Yes, renewables cause no environmental harm at all.   ✓ No — it means it won't run out; it may still have some impact.
How are power and energy different?✗ They are the same thing.   ✓ Power is the rate of energy transfer (watts); energy is the total (joules).

Practise Energy Production — free games

Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:

▶ Two Truths, One Lie▶ Reveal Race▶ Connections Grid▶ Falling Words▶ Word Web

See all 17 games in the Subjects Arcade →

More IB Physics topics

MechanicsThermal PhysicsWavesElectricity & MagnetismFields & GravitationAtomic, Nuclear & QuantumAstrophysics

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