# Explain why a kettle transfers electrical energy to thermal energy more usefully than a filament lamp transfers electrical energy to light energy.

> AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — 4.2.4 Energy transfers in everyday appliances · Explain · 4 marks

> A kettle and a filament lamp are both everyday electrical appliances. The kettle is designed to heat water, while the filament lamp is designed to produce light.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The kettle's useful energy output is thermal energy, which is the intended/desired energy transfer
2. The filament lamp transfers most of its electrical energy to thermal (heat) energy rather than light, so most energy is wasted
3. The filament's resistance increases as the filament's temperature increases, causing more energy to be dissipated as thermal energy
4. Therefore the kettle transfers a greater proportion of electrical energy to its intended useful form (thermal energy) compared to the filament lamp transferring energy to light

## Key terms

- [electrical energy](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/electrical-energy)
- [thermal energy](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/thermal-energy)
- [filament lamp](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/filament-lamp)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Physics (8463)](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/explain-why-a-kettle-transfers-electrical-00e57f80) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.