Energy Basics

Energy

The ability to do work or cause

change
Either potential or kinetic

Potential Energy

Energy that is stored. The snow on

the mountain top represents
potential energy.

Potential Energy

Potential energy is highest when the

object is at a higher point, like this
roller coaster on the top of a hill. The
higher the hill the greater the
potential energy.

Potential Energy

The more mass something has the

greater its potential energy. In the
picture below the man holding the
weight above his head is holding a
lot of potential energy.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion

Kinetic Energy

The faster the motion the greater the

kinetic energy. When the roller
coaster starts down the hill it has
kinetic energy. The point where the
car is going the fastest is where the
kinetic energy is the greatest.

Forms of Energy

Energy can be found in many forms

Can be converted from one form or
another
Conversion can be both man made and
a natural process
Forms include chemical, thermal,
elastic, radiant, mechanical and
nuclear.

Chemical Energy

Stored in chemical bonds holding the

atoms of compounds together
Food, wood, batteries, fossil fuels

Chemical Energy

When a chemical reaction takes place

energy is used.
If energy is pulled in from the
surrounding area during a chemical
reaction, the area gets cold and the
reaction is endothermic.
Commercial ice packs for injuries work
this way.

Chemical Energy

When a chemical reaction takes

place and releases energy it can
increase the temperature. We call
this an exothermic reaction.

Chemical Energy
Plants can make their own energy
through a process called
photosynthesis. They are the bases
for a food chain. All other living
things that cannot carry on
photosynthesis depend on plants for
their energy.

Energy Transformation

In photosynthesis radiant or light

energy from the sun is changed to
chemical energy in the leaf.

Chemical Energy

Other living things can get energy

from eating plants or eating things
that eat plants.

Chemical Energy

The energy we eat is stored as

potential chemical energy until we
need it. When we use the energy
through an activity then it becomes
kinetic mechanical energy.

Chemical Energy

Plants make food through the process of

photosynthesis. When we use the energy from
the chemical energy we store we break it down
through a process called respiration. These are
opposite energy reactions.

Electrical Energy
Energy of moving electrons
Invisible but most useful
form
When the electrons are
separated from positive
charges and then forced
along a closed path in
a conduction material
ex: copper

Energy Transformation

Electrical energy can come from many

different sources. The sources can be solar,
nuclear, mechanical or generally chemical.
In Texas most of our electricity comes from
the burning of the coal, lignite. The energy
transformation that takes place would be:
Lignite (chemical)->moving turbines
(mechanical)->moving electrons
(electrical)-> our homes

Mechanical Energy

Most familiar-involved with moving

objects; atoms are moving and pushing
each other
Sound is an example-occurs when atoms
in a media vibrate in a direction outward
from the sound source. Sometimes, sound
is classified as its own energy source.

Mechanical Energy

When we move or work we are using

mechanical energy.

Energy Transformations

Automobiles use chemical energy

(fossil fuels) which is converted to
mechanical energy when they move.

Radiant or Light Energy

Produced when atoms absorb energy

from an outside source and release
energy as electromagnetic radiation
Most are invisible except for visible
light
UV rays, X-rays, radio waves

Radiant or Light Energy

Our ultimate energy source is radiant

energy from the sun.

Radiant or Light Energy

In a light stick you have chemical

energy stored in the vial. When you
bend the stick and break it then light
energy is released.

Radiant or Light Energy

We use light energy in our homes.

Many people have switched to compact
fluorescent light bulbs over other light
bulbs (incandescent) because they do
not put out as much heat (thermal
energy). The compact florescent bulbs
are more energy efficient so they help
in energy conservation.

Thermal Energy

A special form of kinetic energy

Energy of moving or vibrating
molecules
The faster the molecules vibrate the
hotter they become
When heat is produced we have
thermal energy.

Thermal Energy

Volcanoes can be a natural source of

thermal energy. When we use the
heat of the earth it is called
geothermal energy.

Elastic Energy

Energy stored in a solid object when

it is either stretched or compressed.
A stretched rubber band, compressed
spring or jack-in-the-box

Nuclear Energy

Energy stored in the nuclei of atoms

Released by fission, the splitting of
nuclei of heavy atoms
Released by fusion-the combining of
nuclei of light atoms

Nuclear Energy

Einstein predicted the energy in a nuclear

reaction before we had even split the atom
in his famous equation:

E = m c2

E=energy, m = mass and c2 is the speed of

light. He is basically saying if we take the
mass of an object and multiply it by the
speed of light that will tell us how much
energy it contains. This did not make a lot
of sense at the time.

Nuclear Energy

When the energy released from the

splitting of an atom was discovered
this made the equation make sense.
There is an infinite amount of power
in nuclear energy. This is what powers
stars like our sun. Hydrogen is turned
into helium. This process will continue
until our sun runs out of hydrogen.
This will be in about 4 billion years.

Nuclear Energy

We are trying to harvest the power of

the atom when we use nuclear
energy.

Energy Basics
There are many issues involved with
energy.
Renewable vs. Nonrenewable
Energy Conservation
Environmental Concerns
Pollution
These are just a few of the things you
can study when studying energy.