Final answer:
Examples of energy in built systems include energy transfer when work is done on or by the system, bioenergetics in organisms, and energy conservation in closed systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Examples of energy transfer in a system can be observed through various processes:
- When work is done on a system, it adds energy to that system. For example, pushing a lawn mower transfers energy to the mower, which is spent overcoming friction and is dissipated as heat.
- Conversely, when work is done by a system, it signifies energy leaving the system. Carrying a briefcase upstairs increases the system's gravitational potential energy, which can be released, for example, if the briefcase is dropped.
Another example of energy transformation is bioenergetics, where humans convert the chemical energy in food into kinetic energy needed for activities, such as riding a bicycle. Plants demonstrate a similar principle by converting the sun's electromagnetic radiation (light energy) into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
In a closed system like a bomb calorimeter, the energy within the system remains constant, as it is isolated from exchange with the environment, adhering to the first law of thermodynamics.