Understanding Watt vs. Kilowatt-Hour: A Comprehensive Explanation

[russ_watters]

I'm pretty sure the remark was just a comment on the fact that people lack intuition for visualizing energy quantities in real-life situations. We've seen time and time again the exact problem discussed above: that people are very surprised at just how little energy there is in lifting a weight vs doing other kinds of electrical work such as producing light or heat.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Yes I agree. I made the same point as you, a few posts back, that it's hard to reconcile the two energy forms. The only way to deal with these counter-intuitive things is to do some actual sums and get an answer that can reassure you. There is loads of "accurate data" available.

One useful comparison is between doing light work outside in warm weather and doing the same work out in sub zero conditions. You need an awful lot more food to keep going in the cold. This link could be a way into this subject. It is very complex.

 

[kuin]

hi,

I just can't understand that remark at all

I may have used a bad formulation for my remark.

I'm pretty sure the remark was just a comment on the fact that people lack intuition for visualizing energy quantities in real-life situations.

yes. What I exactly meant is, say, lifting 1 kg up 1 meter and feel what it 'means' is easy, even for someone with zero science inclination. This is my real accurate data, 1 kg and 1 meter.

For heat, it's already a little more difficult to grasp. I think, I might be wrong, that for most people, it is difficult to have a clear image of a 1 degree rise in temperature, more so for the electrical energy needed to produce it.

The idea is to get super easy understandable examples that will trigger interest where there was none.

my problem now, I realize, is that even with kgs and meters, when you deal with such large numbers, it becomes intangible again, it's impossible to represent those amounts. I will have to change scales first I guess, start with the 100W light bulb.

Thanks again.