What is the Difference Between Heat Dissipated and Work Accomplished?

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The difference between heat dissipated and work accomplished lies in the forms of energy and their purposes. Here are the key distinctions:

  • Work Accomplished: Work is the amount of energy converted into the desired output, typically involving a force exerted through a distance. It is a form of energy expenditure that serves a specific purpose or function. For example, when a system lifts an object against gravity, work is accomplished in the form of a change in gravitational potential energy.
  • Heat Dissipated: Heat dissipation refers to the energy wasted as heat during a process. It is driven by temperature differences and can be thought of as energy "lost" to the system's surroundings, as it does not contribute to the desired output. In our example of lifting an object, some energy is lost as heat due to friction or other inefficiencies, and this energy is considered heat dissipated.

In summary, work accomplished is the energy converted into a specific, desired output, while heat dissipated is the energy lost as heat during the process, which does not contribute to the desired output.

Comparative Table: Heat Dissipated vs Work Accomplished

The difference between heat dissipated and work accomplished can be summarized in the following table:

Feature Heat Dissipated Work Accomplished
Definition Heat dissipated refers to the energy wasted as heat during a process. Work accomplished refers to the amount of energy converted into the desired output.
Purpose Heat dissipation is unwanted and cannot be reduced to zero due to the laws of physics. Work accomplished is the wanted part of the process and is always less than the total energy supplied, as some amount of heat dissipation is unavoidable.
Efficiency The percentage of work accomplished to the total energy supplied is known as efficiency. A more efficient system has a higher percentage of work accomplished compared to heat dissipation. A 100% efficient system is impossible, as some heat dissipation is always present.

In summary, heat dissipated represents the energy lost as heat during a process, while work accomplished represents the energy converted into the desired output. Efficiency is the percentage of work accomplished compared to the total energy supplied, and a more efficient system has a higher percentage of work accomplished and a lower percentage of heat dissipated.