Lesson 6.1.2.1

6.1.2.1 Energy transfers in a system Quiz: AQA Combined Science, Unit 18

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 6.1.2.1, Energy transfers in a system: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464), Unit 18: Energy, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. What does the conservation of energy principle state about total energy?

    • Always increases
    • Always decreases
    • Can be created
    • Cannot be destroyed

  2. Into which type of stores is wasted energy typically dissipated?

    • Elastic stores
    • Thermal stores
    • Nuclear stores
    • Chemical stores

  3. Which two standard methods are used to reduce unwanted energy transfers in machinery?

    • Friction and tension
    • Heating and cooling
    • Lubrication and insulation
    • Acceleration and braking

  4. Which material property causes a higher rate of energy transfer by conduction?

    • Thermal conductivity
    • Density
    • Mass
    • Specific heat capacity

  5. Which building material property slows down the rate at which it cools down?

    • High thermal conductivity
    • Low mass
    • High density
    • Low thermal conductivity

  6. In a closed system undergoing energy transfers, what is the net change in total energy?

    • Increasing
    • Decreasing
    • Maximum
    • Zero

  7. Which process is an example of energy dissipation to the surroundings?

    • Battery charging fully
    • Spring being compressed
    • Weight lifted upwards
    • Engine heating air

  8. Which term describes the energy transfers that are wanted in a device?

    • Dissipated transfers
    • Unwanted transfers only
    • Useful energy transfers
    • Wasted transfers

  9. What is the effect of adding lubrication to reduce friction?

    • More friction generated
    • Increased total energy
    • Higher useful input
    • Less wasted heat

  10. How does increasing the wall thickness of a building affect its cooling rate?

    • Cooles more slowly
    • Cooling rate unchanged
    • Cools much faster
    • Stops all cooling

  11. Which property explains why a copper rod conducts heat faster than plastic?

    • Kinetic energy
    • Elastic potential
    • Thermal conductivity
    • Specific heat capacity

  12. Which change reduces energy transfer from a house?

    • Opening all windows
    • Adding loft insulation
    • Thinning the walls
    • Removing wall insulation

  13. A device takes in 500 J. 350 J is wasted and 150 J is useful. What is the total energy out?

    • 150 J
    • 500 J
    • 650 J
    • 350 J

  14. A system has 1200 J of total energy. It transfers 200 J as sound, and the rest stays in stored energy. How much energy is stored?

    • 1200 J
    • 1400 J
    • 1000 J
    • 200 J

  15. Why does dissipated energy become less useful over time?

    • It spreads out
    • It gains mass
    • It creates friction
    • It destroys matter

  16. Why does a swinging pendulum gradually lose height over time?

    • Tension increases
    • Mass is destroyed
    • Gravity stops acting
    • Energy is dissipated

  17. What is the main function of thermal insulation in a building?

    • Creates new energy
    • Removes all heat
    • Reduces conduction rate
    • Increases conductivity

  18. If a material has double the thermal conductivity, how does its energy transfer rate change?

    • Drops to zero
    • Halves
    • Stays the same
    • Doubles

  19. Why do engineers try to reduce wasted energy in machines?

    • Creates more fuel
    • Increases useful output
    • Removes gravity
    • Stops all motion

  20. What happens to energy when a lamp is switched on and lights a room?

    • Lost permanently
    • Transferred and conserved
    • Converted into mass
    • Destroyed completely

All AQA Combined Science quizzes