Most Common Forms of Energy we use in our Daily Life

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.

The two most common forms of energy we use are heat and electricity. Heat is the energy of moving particles in any substance. The faster the particles move, the warmer the substance is. Electricity is the energy of electrons moving along a conductor like a copper electrical wire. Besides heat and electricity, we use many other forms of energy every day of our lives. The table below summarizes some of the more common forms of energy and how they are generated and where they are often used.

Forms of Energy	What is it?	How is it generated?	Where or how it is used?
Heat	The energy of moving particles (atoms & molecules) of solid, liquid or gas matter.	·  By burning fuels such as oil, natural gas, gasoline ·  By solar radiant coming from the sun which warms the air, water and ground ·  From nuclear energy ·  By the Earth’s core which can provide usable heat from ground sources ·  From electricity passing through a heating element	·  Heating air and water in homes and offices ·  Melting and shaping materials such as metal and plastic ·  Cooking ·  Transportation
Light	Radiant energy , in the form of photons	·  By the Sun ·  Using fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs ·  From Light Emitting Diodes ·  Lasers ·  By burning fuels such as wood and natural gas	·  Illuminating working and living spaces ·  Laser surgery ·  Communication and advertising ·  Data transmission for example on fiber optic network
Electricity	Energy of electrons moving through a conductor	·  By photovoltaic panels ·  By alternator or dynamo generators ·  From batteries ·  Using hydrogen fuels ·  From friction (static electricity)	·  Turning motors ·  Generating heat ·  Running computers ·  Communication systems and data transmission
Radio Waves	Electromagnetic energy	·   By radio transmitters ·   Microwave emitters	·  Cooking in microwave ovens ·  Voice communication(e.g. radio, TV, cell phones) ·  Radar navigation
Mechanical	The force of moving objects	·   Falling water at hydro electricity facilities ·   Motors ·   Springs and elastic bands	·  Automobiles, aircraft, other forms of transportation ·  Many home appliances and tools ·  Generating electricity
Sound	Vibrations passing through gaseous, liquid or solid materials	·   Using speakers ·   By vibrating surfaces	·  Musical instruments ·  Sonar navigation ·  Communication