Energy Notes
Energy is the ability to do work. Without energy nothing can move (that's work...when a force moves an object). Energy makes things go!
There are two states of energy and 6 forms of energy. The two states of energy are Kinetic Energy [KE](energy of motion/moving things) and Potential Energy [PE] (energy of position).
A fish swimming, bird flying, you running or blinking or biking all have kinetic energy. A pencil on the floor has less potential energy than it does on your desk. On Earth, the higher an object is above the Earth's surface, the more (gravitational) potential energy it has. But a piece of wood has potential energy and so does an unlit firecracker.
If you were on a roller coaster heading up the first hill, you would be gaining PE. Then when you came down the other side you would lose PE and gain KE (you would be traveling faster). But as you headed up the next hill you would lose KE and gain PE. This is an example of the tranformation between these states of energy.
The six forms of energy are:
Thermal or heat is the movement of molecules of matter [burning candle, heater...].
Mechanical is the movement of an object (just think KE but as a form) [water flowing in a mountain stream, a car headed down the road... and SOUND].
Electromagnetic(EM) is energy of certain types of waves [light, microwaves, infrared, UV, radio, TV, X-rays].
Nuclear is the energy released from the nucleus of the atom through fission of fusion [sun, nuclear reactor...].
Electrical is energy of moving electrons [any electrical appliance].
Chemical is the energy locked up in the chemical bonds of matter [firecracker, food, wood...]
The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed only changed from one form of energy into another.
If you think of a flashlight shining, that illustrates the law of conservation of energy. The battery [chemical energy] is changed into electricity [electrical energy] which lights up the bulb [light=EM energy] and produces a little heat [thermal].
What is the energy transformation for running your MP3 player?
There are two states of energy and 6 forms of energy. The two states of energy are Kinetic Energy [KE](energy of motion/moving things) and Potential Energy [PE] (energy of position).
A fish swimming, bird flying, you running or blinking or biking all have kinetic energy. A pencil on the floor has less potential energy than it does on your desk. On Earth, the higher an object is above the Earth's surface, the more (gravitational) potential energy it has. But a piece of wood has potential energy and so does an unlit firecracker.
If you were on a roller coaster heading up the first hill, you would be gaining PE. Then when you came down the other side you would lose PE and gain KE (you would be traveling faster). But as you headed up the next hill you would lose KE and gain PE. This is an example of the tranformation between these states of energy.
The six forms of energy are:
Thermal or heat is the movement of molecules of matter [burning candle, heater...].
Mechanical is the movement of an object (just think KE but as a form) [water flowing in a mountain stream, a car headed down the road... and SOUND].
Electromagnetic(EM) is energy of certain types of waves [light, microwaves, infrared, UV, radio, TV, X-rays].
Nuclear is the energy released from the nucleus of the atom through fission of fusion [sun, nuclear reactor...].
Electrical is energy of moving electrons [any electrical appliance].
Chemical is the energy locked up in the chemical bonds of matter [firecracker, food, wood...]
The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed only changed from one form of energy into another.
If you think of a flashlight shining, that illustrates the law of conservation of energy. The battery [chemical energy] is changed into electricity [electrical energy] which lights up the bulb [light=EM energy] and produces a little heat [thermal].
What is the energy transformation for running your MP3 player?