# A household appliance transfers electrical energy into useful and waste energy. Explain what is meant by useful energy transfer and waste energy transfer, and give one example of each for an electric hairdryer.

> WJEC GCSE Physics (Wales) — 1.4 Domestic electricity · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Useful energy transfer is the transfer of energy by a system to directly serve the purpose of the system
2. Example of useful energy transfer for a hairdryer: thermal/heat energy (to dry/warm the hair) OR kinetic energy (from the fan/motor to move air)
3. Waste energy transfer is the transfer of energy by a system to a form that does not directly serve the purpose of the system
4. Example of waste energy transfer for a hairdryer: sound energy (noise from the motor/fan) OR unwanted thermal energy transferred to the surroundings / heating the motor casing

## Key terms

- [useful energy transfer](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/useful-energy-transfer)
- [waste energy transfer](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/waste-energy-transfer)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC GCSE Physics (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-household-appliance-transfers-electrical-energy-75420be7) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.