Energy is all around us

We use energy every day. It surrounds us in different forms, such as light, heat, chemical energy and electrical energy. Our bodies use the energy stored in molecules of substances like carbohydrates and protein to move, breathe, grow and think. We also use energy to do work and to play. Humans have invented thousands of machines and appliances that use energy to make our work easier, to heat our homes and to get ourselves from place to place. Some of these machines use electricity while others, like automobiles, use the energy stored in substances such as gasoline. These different forms of energy can be grouped into two types; Kinetic Energy & Potential Energy.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is motion of waves, electron, atoms, molecules, substances and objects.

Electrical Energy: It is the movement of electrical charges. Everything is made of tiny particles called atoms. Atoms are made of even smaller particles called electrons, protons and neutrons. Applying a force can make some of the electrons move. Electrical charges moving through a wire is called electricity. Lighting is another example of electrical energy.

Radiant Energy: It s electromagnetic energy that travels in transverse waves. Radiant energy includes visible lights, x-rays, gamma rays and radio waves. Light is one type of radiant energy. Solar energy is an example of radiant energy.

Thermal/Heat Energy: It is the internal energy in substances- the vibration and movement of the atoms and molecules within the substances. Geothermal energy is an example of thermal energy.

Motion Energy: It is the movement of objects and substances from one place to another. Objects and substances move when a force is applied according to Newton’s Laws of Motion. Wind is an example of motion energy.

Sound Energy: It is the movement of energy through substances in longitudinal (compression/rarefaction) waves. Sound is produced when a force causes an object or substance to vibrate- the energy is transferred through the substance in a wave.

Potential Energy

Potential energy is stored energy and the energy of position– gravitational energy. There are several forms of potential energy.

Chemical Energy: It is the energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules. It is the energy that holds these particles together. Biomass, petroleum, natural gas and propane are the examples of stored chemical energy.

Stored Mechanical Energy: It is the energy stored in objects by the application of a force. Compressed springs and stretched rubber bands are some examples of stored mechanical energy.

Nuclear Energy: It is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom- the energy that holds the nucleus together. The energy can be released when the nuclei are combined or split apart. Nuclear power plants split the nuclei of uranium atoms in a process called fission. The sun combines the nuclei of hydrogen atoms in a process called fusion.

Gravitational Energy: It is the energy of position or place. A rock resting at the top of a hill contains gravitational potential energy. Hydropower, such as water in a reservoir behind a dam, is an example of gravitational potential energy.

Energy is easily converted from one place to another. This is an important and very useful property, because we rarely produce energy using the same device or in the same form as what is needed for the task at hand. Since energy is often produced at some distance from its end use, we also need to transmit it from its source location to where it is needed. This is done by means of wires in the case of electricity or pipelines or tank trucks in the case of oil or natural gas. Not all forms of energy can be easily stored or transported. For instance, light is impossible to store directly. It has to be converted to some other form, such as chemical energy first.