Science of Energy Efficiency – Investigating Energy Efficiency Lab – Student

Summary

Investigating Energy Efficiency Lab: Measuring Device Efficiency

In the Investigating Energy Efficiency lab, students measure how efficiently an electric heating device converts electrical energy into useful thermal energy. Students calculate electrical energy input using power and time and compare it to the thermal energy gained by water using mass, temperature change, and specific heat.

By calculating efficiency and analyzing sources of energy loss, students explain why no device operates at 100 percent efficiency. Comparing results across groups allows students to examine variability, improve reliability through multiple trials, and reflect on experimental design.

This lab emphasizes experimental skills, quantitative reasoning, and scientific explanation. It is appropriate for high school environmental science and physics courses.

This lab is central to the Science of Energy Efficiency lesson, supported by vocabulary, computation, and data analysis activities.