Thermal Energy
Thermal energy is the energy (kinetic) due to the movement of molecules. When the thermal energy of an object increases, the particles are moving faster. If there is a change in thermal energy, there could be a phase change (ice, water, water vapor). Heat can be transferred in three different ways: radiation, conduction, and convection. Thermal energy is transferred by a difference in temperature.
Examples:
- Adding ice to water
- burning coals
- sun shining
- lightbulb
- rubbing hands together
- touching a hot plate
Potential Energy
Potential energy is energy that is stored. It has the “potential” to move. Once the stored energy is released, it becomes kinetic energy, and work is done. If you lift an object, energy is put into the gravitational field. The higher that you lift the object the more energy that is stored. Potential energy can be categorized as gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy, or chemical potential energy.
Examples:
Oil sitting in a barrel
A baseball player in a backswing
Something about to be dropped
A drawn bow
Rollercoaster at the top of the hill
Water behind a dam
Gravitational Energy
Gravitational Energy is energy stored at an object’s height. If you lift an object higher, the more gravitational energy is stored. The heavier the object, the more gravitational energy is stored. Gravitational energy is only stored in the height of the object. It is a type of potential energy. The higher the gravitational energy, the lower the kinetic energy.
Kinetic Energy - Energy of Motion
Kinetic energy is energy of motion. It is the energy that an object had due to its motion. Kinetic energy can be electrical energy, thermal energy, sound energy, light energy, and radiant energy. Kinetic energy had the ability to do work. The more an object moves, the more kinetic energy that it has. There are 3 types of kinetic energy: vibrational (due to vibrational motion), rotational (due to rotational motion), and translational (due to moving from one place to another).
Kinetic Energy = 0.5 x mv^2
Examples:
A rollercoaster going down a hill
Fire Burning
Wind blowing
Kicking a soccer ball
Running
Paper Airplane flying
Mechanical Energy = Potential + Kinetic
Mechanical energy is the sum of potential and kinetic energy. If an object possesses mechanical energy, then it has the ability to do work. For example, in order to lift a box off of the ground, a person would have to use the chemical energy stored inside of them, and then there is kinetic energy to lift the boxx off of the ground. By doing this, both potential energy and kinetic energy is transferred to mechanical energy.
Examples:
Rollercoaster going down a hill
Fire burning
Wind blowing
Kicking a soccer ball
Running
Paper airplane flying
Nuclear Energy - Fission & Fusion
Nuclear energy is released by nuclear fission or fusion. Nuclear energy can be used to create electricity. Nuclear fission is the process in which a large atom is split into two or more smaller atoms. Nuclear fusion is where two or more atoms are combined to make a larger atom. Nuclear fission is what scientists used to create usable energy. The United States creates more nuclear energy than any other nation.
Examples:
Nuclear power plants
Nuclear submarines
Cancer treatment
Food processing
Stars
Nuclear propulsion in ships
Sound Energy - Sound Vibrations
Sound energy is the movement through substances in longitudinal waves. It is the energy produced by the vibration of sound waves. It is a type of wave in which needs an object to travel through. If there is a vacuum in space, there could be no sound. Sound is measured in decibels and pascals. This is different than a joule, which most other forms of energy are measured by. The farther that you are from where the sound originates, the less you can hear the sound.
Examples:
Radio playing your favorite song
Someone playing the piano
A balloon popping
A TV blaring
A car’s horn honking
A dog barking
Light Energy - Energy We Can See
Light energy is a type of kinetic energy. It is the energy carried by the waves that are within the visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is a narrow band, and is well known as ROYGBIV. This represents red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. You can see these colors in a rainbow! White light is a mixture of all of the colors of the rainbow. Without light, we couldn’t see the different colors. Light energy can be used to power solar panels to create electrical energy. Also, plants use light energy for photosynthesis.
Examples:
Glow-worms
Lasers with red light beam
Lightbulbs in ceiling fans
Sun
Flashlight
Stars in the sky
Radiant Energy - Energy of Electromagnetic Waves
Radiant energy is a form of energy that is able to travel through space. These waves can travel through empty space, solids, and air. It is the energy of electromagnetic waves which occur when an electric field combines with a magnetic field. There are different types of electromagnetic waves with various wavelengths and frequency. These include: radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, UV waves, X waves, and gamma waves. As you move down the spectrum, frequency increases. Light is the only form that is visible to the naked eye.
Examples:
Solar energy
Microwaves
A campfire to make smores
X-rays
Light
Radio waves
Electrical Energy - Electron Movement
When energy is stored, it is electric potential energy. When the electrons are in motion, it is a form of kinetic energy. Electrical energy is generated when electrons move from one atom to another. Electrical energy can be transferred into different types of energy such as light energy and thermal energy. You can see this when you cut on a light switch and the light is turned on. You can also see this when you plug a hair straightener into the wall. The straightener heats up (thermal energy) from the electrical energy from a wall outlet.
Examples:
Lightning (natural electricity)
Lamp plugged into the wall
Electric circuit
Electric car
Television
Electric coils on stove
Chemical Energy
Chemical energy is the energy that is stored in chemicals. This stored energy is potential energy. Once the chemical energy is released from the substance, then it is transformed into a completely new substance. For example, in food, energy is stored chemically. During digestion, those molecules are broken down, chemical reactions occur, and new substances are created. We then can use these new substances in our body. Much of the energy released in chemical reactions are in the form of heat. These are called exothermic reactions.
Examples:
Gasoline in a car or truck
Food such as burgers and bananas
Batteries
Natural gas
Coal
biomass