Energy BasicsEnergy Basics

EnergyEnergy

The ability to do work or cause The ability to do work or cause changechange

Either potential or kineticEither potential or kinetic

Potential EnergyPotential Energy Energy that is stored. The snow on Energy that is stored. The snow on

the mountain top represents the mountain top represents potential energy.potential energy.

Potential EnergyPotential Energy

Potential energy is highest when the Potential energy is highest when the object is at a higher point, like this object is at a higher point, like this roller coaster on the top of a hill. The roller coaster on the top of a hill. The higher the hill the greater the higher the hill the greater the potential energy.potential energy.

Potential EnergyPotential Energy

The more mass something has the The more mass something has the greater its potential energy. In the greater its potential energy. In the picture below the man holding the picture below the man holding the weight above his head is holding a weight above his head is holding a lot of potential energy. lot of potential energy.

Kinetic EnergyKinetic Energy The energy of motionThe energy of motion

Kinetic EnergyKinetic Energy

The faster the motion the greater the The faster the motion the greater the kinetic energy. When the roller kinetic energy. When the roller coaster starts down the hill it has coaster starts down the hill it has kinetic energy. The point where the kinetic energy. The point where the car is going the fastest is where the car is going the fastest is where the kinetic energy is the greatest.kinetic energy is the greatest.

Forms of EnergyForms of Energy Energy can be found in many formsEnergy can be found in many forms Can be converted from one form or Can be converted from one form or

anotheranother Conversion can be both man made Conversion can be both man made

and a natural processand a natural process Forms include chemical, thermal, Forms include chemical, thermal,

elastic, radiant, mechanical and elastic, radiant, mechanical and nuclear.nuclear.

Chemical EnergyChemical Energy Stored in chemical bonds holding the Stored in chemical bonds holding the

atoms of compounds togetheratoms of compounds together Food, wood, batteries, fossil fuelsFood, wood, batteries, fossil fuels

Chemical EnergyChemical Energy

When a chemical reaction takes When a chemical reaction takes place energy is used. place energy is used.

If energy is pulled in from the If energy is pulled in from the surrounding area during a chemical surrounding area during a chemical reaction, the area gets cold and the reaction, the area gets cold and the reaction is endothermic.reaction is endothermic.

Commercial ice packs for injuries Commercial ice packs for injuries work this way.work this way.

Chemical EnergyChemical Energy

When a chemical reaction takes When a chemical reaction takes place and releases energy it can place and releases energy it can increase the temperature. We call increase the temperature. We call this an exothermic reaction.this an exothermic reaction.

Chemical EnergyChemical Energy

Plants can make their own energy Plants can make their own energy through a process called through a process called photosynthesis. They are the bases photosynthesis. They are the bases for a food chain. All other living for a food chain. All other living things that cannot carry on things that cannot carry on photosynthesis depend on plants for photosynthesis depend on plants for their energy. their energy.

Energy TransformationEnergy Transformation

In photosynthesis radiant or light In photosynthesis radiant or light energy from the sun is changed to energy from the sun is changed to chemical energy in the leaf.chemical energy in the leaf.

Chemical EnergyChemical Energy

Other living things can get energy Other living things can get energy from eating plants or eating things from eating plants or eating things that eat plants. that eat plants.

Chemical EnergyChemical Energy

The energy we eat is stored as The energy we eat is stored as potential chemical energy until we potential chemical energy until we need it. When we use the energy need it. When we use the energy through an activity then it becomes through an activity then it becomes kinetic mechanical energy.kinetic mechanical energy.

Chemical EnergyChemical Energy Plants make food through the process of Plants make food through the process of

photosynthesis. When we use the energy from photosynthesis. When we use the energy from the chemical energy we store we break it down the chemical energy we store we break it down through a process called respiration. These are through a process called respiration. These are opposite energy reactions.opposite energy reactions.

Electrical EnergyElectrical Energy Energy of moving electronsEnergy of moving electrons Invisible but most usefulInvisible but most useful formform When the electrons are When the electrons are separated from positive separated from positive charges and then forced charges and then forced along a closed path inalong a closed path in a conduction material a conduction material ex: copperex: copper

Energy TransformationEnergy Transformation

Electrical energy can come from many Electrical energy can come from many different sources. The sources can be different sources. The sources can be solar, nuclear, mechanical or generally solar, nuclear, mechanical or generally chemical. In Texas most of our electricity chemical. In Texas most of our electricity comes from the burning of the coal, comes from the burning of the coal, lignite. The energy transformation that lignite. The energy transformation that takes place would be: takes place would be:

Lignite (chemical)->moving turbines Lignite (chemical)->moving turbines (mechanical)->moving electrons (mechanical)->moving electrons (electrical)-> our homes(electrical)-> our homes

Mechanical EnergyMechanical Energy Most familiar-involved with moving Most familiar-involved with moving

objects; atoms are moving and pushing objects; atoms are moving and pushing each othereach other

Sound is an example-occurs when atoms Sound is an example-occurs when atoms in a media vibrate in a direction outward in a media vibrate in a direction outward from the sound source. Sometimes, sound from the sound source. Sometimes, sound is classified as its own energy source.is classified as its own energy source.

Mechanical EnergyMechanical Energy

When we move or work we are using When we move or work we are using mechanical energy.mechanical energy.

Energy TransformationsEnergy Transformations

Automobiles use chemical energy Automobiles use chemical energy (fossil fuels) which is converted to (fossil fuels) which is converted to mechanical energy when they move.mechanical energy when they move.

Radiant or Light EnergyRadiant or Light Energy Produced when atoms absorb energy Produced when atoms absorb energy

from an outside source and release from an outside source and release energy as electromagnetic radiationenergy as electromagnetic radiation

Most are invisible except for visible Most are invisible except for visible lightlight

UV rays, X-rays, radio wavesUV rays, X-rays, radio waves

Radiant or Light EnergyRadiant or Light Energy

Our ultimate energy source is radiant Our ultimate energy source is radiant energy from the sun.energy from the sun.

Radiant or Light EnergyRadiant or Light Energy

In a light stick you have chemical In a light stick you have chemical energy stored in the vial. When you energy stored in the vial. When you bend the stick and break it then light bend the stick and break it then light energy is released.energy is released.

Radiant or Light EnergyRadiant or Light Energy

We use light energy in our homes. We use light energy in our homes. Many people have switched to compact Many people have switched to compact

fluorescent light bulbs over other light fluorescent light bulbs over other light bulbs (incandescent) because they do bulbs (incandescent) because they do not put out as much heat (thermal not put out as much heat (thermal energy). The compact florescent bulbs energy). The compact florescent bulbs are more energy efficient so they help are more energy efficient so they help in energy conservation.in energy conservation.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy A special form of kinetic energyA special form of kinetic energy Energy of moving or vibrating Energy of moving or vibrating

moleculesmolecules The faster the molecules vibrate the The faster the molecules vibrate the

hotter they becomehotter they become When heat is produced we have When heat is produced we have

thermal energy.thermal energy.

Thermal EnergyThermal Energy

Volcanoes can be a natural source of Volcanoes can be a natural source of thermal energy. When we use the thermal energy. When we use the heat of the earth it is called heat of the earth it is called geothermal energy.geothermal energy.

Elastic EnergyElastic Energy Energy stored in a solid object when Energy stored in a solid object when

it is either stretched or compressed.it is either stretched or compressed. A stretched rubber band, A stretched rubber band,

compressed spring or jack-in-the-boxcompressed spring or jack-in-the-box

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy Energy stored in the nuclei of atomsEnergy stored in the nuclei of atoms Released by fission, the splitting of Released by fission, the splitting of

nuclei of heavy atomsnuclei of heavy atoms Released by fusion-the combining of Released by fusion-the combining of

nuclei of light atomsnuclei of light atoms

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

Einstein predicted the energy in a nuclear Einstein predicted the energy in a nuclear reaction before we had even split the atom reaction before we had even split the atom in his famous equation:in his famous equation:

E = m cE = m c22

E=energy, m = mass and cE=energy, m = mass and c2 2 is the speed of is the speed of light. He is basically saying if we take the light. He is basically saying if we take the mass of an object and multiply it by the mass of an object and multiply it by the speed of light that will tell us how much speed of light that will tell us how much energy it contains. This did not make a lot energy it contains. This did not make a lot of sense at the time.of sense at the time.

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

When the energy released from the When the energy released from the splitting of an atom was discovered splitting of an atom was discovered this made the equation make sense. this made the equation make sense. There is an infinite amount of power There is an infinite amount of power in nuclear energy. This is what powers in nuclear energy. This is what powers stars like our sun. Hydrogen is turned stars like our sun. Hydrogen is turned into helium. This process will continue into helium. This process will continue until our sun runs out of hydrogen. until our sun runs out of hydrogen. This will be in about 4 billion years.This will be in about 4 billion years.

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

We are trying to harvest the power of We are trying to harvest the power of the atom when we use nuclear the atom when we use nuclear energy.energy.

Energy BasicsEnergy Basics

There are many issues involved with There are many issues involved with energy.energy.

Renewable vs. NonrenewableRenewable vs. Nonrenewable Energy ConservationEnergy Conservation Environmental ConcernsEnvironmental Concerns PollutionPollutionThese are just a few of the things you These are just a few of the things you

can study when studying energy.can study when studying energy.