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Item RG127002: In a windmill, 100% of the kinetic energy from the wind cannot be converted into electrical energy because a small amount of energy will always be converted into thermal energy and transferred to the environment, during each transfer and transformation of energy.

A windmill is a device that uses energy from wind to turn a generator. The generator then uses that energy to generate electricity. 

Modern windmills cannot convert all of the kinetic energy absorbed from the wind into electrical energy. Engineers say that it is unlikely to ever get 100% conversion. Why can’t 100% of the kinetic energy from the wind be converted into electrical energy?

  1. During each transfer and transformation of energy, a small amount of energy will always be destroyed.
  2. During each transfer and transformation of energy, a small amount of energy will always be converted into thermal energy and transferred to the environment.
  3. During each transfer and transformation of energy, a small amount of energy will be destroyed and a small amount will be transferred to the environment.
  4. The windmill is in an open system, and 100% conversion is only possible in closed systems where energy cannot enter or leave.
Distribution of Responses
Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item 127002
Scale Score for Item Difficulty
(200[Easy]-800[Difficult])
493
Students Responding Correctly
Group Correct Total Percent
Overall 2679 5875 46%
Grades
  4–517043739%
  6–8 1274 3071 41%
  9–12 1235 2367 52%
Gender
  Male1272283345%
  Female1339291346%
Primary Language
  English2377519946%
  Other22251343%

View data table