Introduction to Energy

One of the themes for Science this year is Energy. You will find energy everywhere. Energy is the ability to cause change. Therefore, we will see lots of changes happening this year. There are two types of energy: Potential and Kinetic. First we will look at Potential Energy. Potential Energy is stored energy and the energy of position. There are 3 types of potential energy we will look at.

One of the reasons that any organism eats is to get energy. The energy found in food is a type of potential energy called chemical energy. Chemical Energy is energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules. Since food is made of molecules when we eat food we release the energy in the food, which will allow us to move around.

When we created the catapults we used Stored Mechanical Energy to get them to fire the marshmallow. Stored Mechanical Energy is energy stored in objects by the application of force (no, not the force in Star Wars). So when we pull back on the rubber band or spoon we are storing energy in that object using the force we put into it to pull it back.

The final type of potential energy is Gravitational Energy. If you hold and object off of the ground or stand on top of a hill the object has the potential to move due to where it is. Gravitational Potential Energy is the energy of place or position. The higher I raise an object off of the ground the more potential energy that object has. The reason the object that is raised off the ground moves is due to the force of gravity pulling it down.

Kinetic Energy is the energy of motion. When anything moves you have Kinetic Energy. So if you have an object that you raise off the ground or if you pull back on the arm of a catapult you have Potential Energy. The moment you let go of the object that potential energy is turned into Kinetic Energy.

The first type of Kinetic Energy is Radiant Energy. Radiant Energy is electromagnetic energy that moves in side to side waves which includes light, x rays, and radio waves. So when we turn on the lights in the classroom we are increasing the amount of energy in the room.

If you turn on a stove or you run around the temperature increases. This is Thermal Energy. Thermal Energy is heat energy. Any time the temperature increases or decreases you are dealing with thermal energy. When something heats up the molecules of that substance move faster and faster.

Motion Energy is when an object changes position from one location to another. When we walk or run we show motion energy.

The next type of energy is Sound Energy. Sound Energy is the movement of substances in compression waves. When we speak we are moving the particles of air in waves. Air is easy to move which is why we can easily hear each other. Water on the other hand is more difficult to move which is why it can be harder to hear someone under the water.

The last type of energy is electrical energy. Electrical Energy is the movement of electrons.