Sources of Heat Energy

When a material burns, heat energy is released. Burning objects requires oxygen (a gas in the air), fuel (coal, wood, oil, etc.), and a spark to ignite the fuel (such as a match). Some people burn materials such as coal, wood, or oil to heat their homes.

The energy of motion can also change into heat energy. When you rub your hands together, friction, a force that holds back the movement of a sliding object, creates heat. Using the breaks on a car or a bicycle will create heat energy due to friction.

Our planet’s source of energy is the Sun. The Sun’s heat energy warms the air, land and water on Earth. Different materials on Earth absorb different amounts of heat energy from the Sun. For example, a dark colored object will absorb more heat energy than a light colored object.