Question

Explain what is meant by degraded energy?

Answer 1

Degraded energy:

1. When a system converts from one form of energy to another, some of the energy gets released into the environment or is useless. This energy is known as dead energy or degraded energy.
2. When energy is converted from one form to another, there is always some energy that is lost. It is impossible for any system to be $100\%$ efficient.
3. This energy that is lost during conversion is not of any use.
4. According to the second law of thermodynamics, “For the transfer of heat from a hotter body to cooler one, there is always an external agent used.” Therefore, it is also known as the law of degradation of energy.

Examples of Degraded energy:

1. While cooking food over fire, some of the heat energy is lost in the atmosphere. This energy is degraded energy.
2. While burning fossil fuels much of the heat energy is lost in the atmosphere, this energy is of no use and therefore is degraded energy.

Hence, the energy that is lost while a system converts from one form of energy to another is known as degraded energy.