![]() The University of Colorado has graciously allowed us to use the following PhET simulation. It is a challenge for all forms of power generation to minimize wasted energy and be as efficient as possible. ![]() This wasted energy is an unavoidable by-product of converting the car's fuel (chemical energy) into movement ("high-quality" kinetic energy), however it can potentially be used for heating the cabin of the car to slightly increase overall energy efficiency. The warmth of the engine does nothing to help the car move or go faster. Converting energy to a less-useful form and then trying to work backwards never gets 100% of the useful energy back.įor example, when a car runs, the engine will become hot (thermal energy). It can still be converted back to a higher-quality form, but useful energy is always lost in this process. The least useful form of energy is low-temperature thermal energy. Electricity, for example, can be easily used to generate heat ( thermal energy) or light ( radiant energy), break chemical bonds ( chemical energy), move objects ( kinetic energy), or lift objects ( gravitational potential energy). These are "high-quality" because they can be transformed almost completely into any other type of energy. Kinetic energy and electricity are the most useful forms. Using energy always makes it less useful, even though no energy is actually destroyed. Some forms of energy are more useful than others. Gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy Some examples of everyday energy transformations are:Ĭhemical energy to electrical energy (in the battery)Įlectrical energy to radiant energy (in the bulb) There are many different forms or types of energy. In fact, every useful process transforms energy from one form to another. The laws of thermodynamics apply to energy and energy conversions.Įnergy cannot be created or destroyed (which is called the conservation of energy) however, it can be transformed from one type into another. Thermodynamics is the study of how energy changes from one type to another. Any type of energy use must involve some sort of energy transformation.Įnergy must obey the laws of thermodynamics. Mechanical kinetic energy increases as an object moves faster.Energy transformations are processes that convert energy from one type (e.g., kinetic, gravitational potential, chemical energy) into another. Kinetic energy is the energy an object has due to its motion. Examples of this can include, but are not limited to, lifting a book to a height of 2 meters instead of 1 meter and lifting a basketball to a height of one meter and then lifting a bowling ball to a height of 1 meter.Gravitational potential energy is greater when the mass of the object is greater because more kinetic energy is required to lift the heavier object. Gravitational potential energy is greater when the height of an object is greater because more kinetic energy was required to raise the object to the greater height.The height and mass of an object affect gravitation potential energy. Since gravity can pull the book to the floor, this is called gravitational potential energy. Mechanical potential energy is related to the position of an object.Ī stretched rubber band has potential energy. ○ Mechanical Potential energy : Potential energy is stored energy. When objects are set in motion or are in a position where they can be set in motion, they have mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is the energy due to the motion (kinetic) and position (potential) of an object.Sources of electrical energy include: stored chemical energy in batteries solar energy in solar cells fuels or hydroelectric energy in generators.Electrical energy is the energy flowing in an electric circuit.Chemical energy can be released, for example in batteries or sugar/food, when these substances react to form new substances. ![]() Chemical energy is energy stored within the chemical bonds in matter.Sources of radiant energy include, but are not limited to, stars, light bulbs, and microwaves.○ Most of the energy that we use on Earth originally came from the Sun. ○ Green plants use solar energy during photosynthesis. ![]() ![]() Solar energy is a type of radiant energy.Energy which is transferred through electromagnetic waves such as visible light, ultraviolet light or X- rays.Heat energy always moves from hotter objects to cooler objects.Heat energy is the transfer of thermal energy.The faster the particles move, the higher the temperature. All matter is made up of atoms (particles) that move faster when they heat up.Thermal energy is the energy that is associated with the motion of the particles in a substance. ![]()
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