Power Generation/Introduction/Intro 1

Electric Energy:

• The ability of electricity to do work. We use electricity in our day to day activities such as lighting, heating, lifting, etc...

Joule: (J, SI unit of energy)

• Work done by a force of 1 Newton, to move (unit mass) of anything a distance of 1 meter along the direction of the force.

Calorie: (cal, SI unit of heat)

• The amount of heat (energy) needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram (g) of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Kilocalorie (kcal):

• The amount of heat (energy) needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram (kg) of water by 1 degree Celsius. 1 kcal = 1,000 cal = 4.184 kJ

Fuel:

• Material that can be burned to release energy (further reading on wikipedia).

Calorific value of fuels:

• Estimated amount of heat available from fuel.

These definitions are important as they will be used from time to time in this course. The student is encouraged to commit these to memory.