Burning Energy

What is the energy transfer/transformation from burning coal to using a radio?

What I have to do is describe the energy transfers/transformations from burning coal in a power station to using a radio. And I have to use the word efficiency... I don't need the answer necessarily but website links would be so helpful

Public Comments

1. Coal is a hydrocarbon which contains potential energy in the form of chemical energy. As it burns the energy in the heat will heat up water. Molecules in the water begin moving faster as they heat until the water reaches 100* Celsius (centigrade)/ 212* Fahrenheit. At this point steam is created as water of liquid form changes to a vapor. The expanding vapor will drive turbines, which in turn drive a generator which produces the electric current. Electricity travels through cables till it arrives at your house, to power the radio. At each step the original energy the coal is lost through friction, heat loss, mechanical losses, and electrical losses though miles of cable. The original energy in the coal could be reduced by 75% or so before it reaches your radio. So the solution is to have a coal powered radio.