What Is Actually Consumed in a Closed Circuit?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the nature of energy consumption in a closed circuit, particularly in relation to electron movement and energy transformation. It is established that electrons themselves are not consumed; rather, they serve as carriers of energy. The transformation process involves chemical energy from the battery converting into electrical energy, which is then transformed into heat and light in the lamp. The key takeaway is that the potential energy of electrons is utilized, specifically noting that an electron moving through a 1 V potential difference gains 1 eV of energy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of closed circuit electricity principles
  • Knowledge of electron behavior in electrical circuits
  • Familiarity with energy transformation concepts
  • Basic grasp of potential energy and voltage
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  • Research the principles of energy transformation in electrical circuits
  • Explore the relationship between voltage and electron potential energy
  • Study the differences between chemical energy and electrical energy
  • Learn about the role of electrons in electrical conductivity
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Students studying physics, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in the fundamentals of energy transformation in electrical circuits.

munky99999
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Well since I can create and destroy energy. HAHA jk.

Ok thinking way back, in Gr. 11, I asked a question nobody would answer. Which is bothering me now. We were doing closed circuit electricity, from a battery and well since they were wrong obviously about the protons moving, it was the electrons. I asked "So electrons potential energy is converted to the energy for the light?" The answer I got was, "No, no electrons are consumed at all, they are rather the transportation devices for energy."

The question I never got the answer to was. "So if electrons mass nor kinetic energy is being consumed in the circuit. What exactly is being consumed?"

Which I'm wondering, is energy a particle or a wave?

What exactly?
 
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The electron's potential energy is being consumed. An electron moving through a 1 V potential difference gains 1 eV of energy.

- Warren
 
It is not so much that something is consumed. Rather, chemical energy is transformed into electrical energy (battery), which in turn is transformed into heat and light (lamp).

If you look at the universe a certain way, it might seem to be all a big mess of various forms of energies transforming into others.
 

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