#sankeydiagram #physics #energytransfer #energy #textbook #igcse

Pg:- 111,112,113

Ch:- 6

A Sankey diagram is a type of flow diagram that visually represents the flow of resources, energy, materials, or information between different entities or stages in a process. The key feature of a Sankey diagram is that the width of its arrows or lines is proportional to the magnitude of the flow they represent.

Key Components of a Sankey Diagram:

1. Nodes:

   • Represent stages, entities, or categories involved in the process.

   • Typically displayed as rectangular blocks or labels.

2. Flows (Arrows or Links):

   • Connect nodes to indicate the transfer or movement of resources between them.

   • The thickness of the flow is proportional to the quantity of the resource being represented.

3. Quantitative Representation:

   • Values are often labeled on or near the flows to provide exact quantities.

   • The diagram helps in visualizing where most of the resource is directed or lost.

Applications:

1. Energy Flow Analysis:

   • Visualizing energy input, output, and losses in a power plant or an industrial system.

2. Material Flow:

   • Representing the flow of materials in supply chain or production processes.

3. Financial Flow:

   • Displaying budgets, expenditures, or income distribution.

4. Web Traffic or Data Analysis:

   • Illustrating user navigation paths or data transfer within a network.

5. Carbon Footprint or Emission Analysis:

   • Showing contributions to emissions from various sources.

Advantages:

• Visual Clarity: Makes it easy to identify major contributors or losses.

• Proportional Insight: The use of thickness conveys the relative magnitude effectively.

• Flexible Application: Can represent diverse types of flows (energy, money, materials, etc.).

Example:

Imagine a Sankey diagram illustrating energy use in a home:

• Input node: Energy sources (electricity, gas).

• Output nodes: Heating, cooling, lighting, appliances.

• Flows: Widths indicate the proportion of energy used for each purpose, with a branch showing energy loss.