Types of Energy
Molly Whitcomb
Mechanical Energy
Mechanical energy is the form of energy associated with the position and motion of an object.
Mechanical Energy = Potential Energy + Kinetic Energy
Throwing a Football
When a person throws a football, the ball would have both potential and kinetic energy. If it is thrown high it's potential energy is greater, and the faster it travels, the greater its kinetic energy. To find the football's mechanical energy, add its potential energy to its kinetic energy.
Riding a Roller Coaster
When a roller coaster runs, it has mechanical energy because it also has kinetic and potential energy. The higher the roller coaster is, the more potential energy it has. The faster the roller coaster travels, the more kinetic energy it has. Adding the roller coaster's potential and kinetic energy together will be its mechanical energy.
Thermal Energy
Thermal energy is the total potential and kinetic energy of the particles in an object.
Ice Cream on a Hot Day
Ice cream is cold and its particles move slowly. But in contrast, the particles in the air in the summer move quickly. The air's particles make the particles in the ice cream move faster, and as the kinetic energy increases, so does the thermal energy and the ice cream will melt.
Chocolate on a Smore
When assembling a smore, the chocolate and graham crackers are cold and their particles move slowly, but the marshmallow is roasted and it's particles move quickly. When the marshmallow is applied its particles make the slow moving particles move quicker in the chocolate and the chocolate melts.
Electrical Energy
Electric energy is the energy of electric charges.
Power Lines
A power line is a form of electric energy because it carries an electric charge from place to place to power something.
Batteries
Batteries have electric energy because it holds an electric charge to power things like remotes, flashlights, game controllers, and radios.
Chemical Energy
Chemical energy is potential energy stored in the chemical bonds that hold chemical compounds together.
Fried Chicken
Fried chicken has chemical energy because it has chemical bonds that hold chemical compounds together. When someone eats the fried chicken, the chemical compounds break down and new ones are created.
Matches
Matches contain chemical bonds forming chemical compounds. When the match is struck these compounds break down and new ones form, chemical energy is released.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is a type of potential energy stored in the nucleus of an atom.
Nuclear Fission
In nuclear power plants, nuclei of atoms are split, nuclear fission, it then gives off nuclear energy in the form of electricity.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is when the nuclei of atoms join together. This happens constantly in the sun, causing it to give off large amounts of energy.
Electromagnetic Energy
Electromagnetic energy is the energy of light and other forms of radiation.
Sunlight
Sunlight is a form of electromagetic energy because its light from the sun is given off in waves with both electrical and magnetic radiation.
Microwaves
Microwaves give off electromagnetic energy through the heat waves that cook the food inside. These waves are both magnetic and electric radiation.