Energy and Its Types

Introduction:

In this session, students will learn about different types of energy such as heat energy, chemical energy, electrical energy, sound energy, light energy, atomic energy, nuclear energy, thermal energy, and a few more.

Explanation:

Energy

We need the energy to do work. Energy is defined as the capacity or the ability to do work. Energy is a scalar quantity.

Unit of energy

Energy is measured in terms of work. The unit of energy is also Joule. One Joule of energy is required to do one Joule of work.

Types of Energy

Energy is present in different forms:

1. Heat energy
2. Chemical energy
3. Electrical energy
4. Sound energy
5. Light energy
6. Atomic energy
7. Nuclear energy
8. Thermal energy

Let us learn about each one of them.

a. Thermal energy:

All matter is made up of particles that are constantly moving; therefore, all matter has kinetic energy.

1. Higher temperatures cause particles to move quicker, resulting in greater kinetic and thermal energy.
2. The energy of particles separated by a greater distance is greater than the energy of particles separated by a smaller distance.
3. The quantity of particles influences the amount of heat energy produced.

Example: While steam has more energy than an ice cube and the ocean, due to its massive particle count, the ocean has the most thermal energy.

b. Chemical energy

The energy of a compound changes when its atoms are rearranged to form new compounds.

Chemical energy is abundant in molecules with a high number of atom-to-atom bonds.

Example:

1. When wood is burned, the chemical energy stored in it is utilized to heat the house.
2. When you eat a marshmallow, the chemical energy contained in the sugar molecules becomes available for you to use.

c. Electrical Energy

Electrical energy is the energy of moving electrons.

Moving electrons provide electrical energy, which is utilized to do work.

Electrical energy can be classified as both potential (due to the magnet’s changing location) and kinetic energy (because the electrons are moving).

d. Sound energy:

Vibrations of an object cause sound energy. It is a form of potential and kinetic energy.

Example: When you pluck and release a guitar string, the guitar string contains kinetic energy when it returns to its original position.

e. Light energy

Vibrations of electrically charged particles produce light energy.

It can be transmitted via a vacuum (a space devoid of substance). For example, microwave energy is used to prepare meals.

f. Nuclear Energy

A reaction in which the nucleus of an atom undergoes a change to form a new atom and releases an enormous amount of energy is called a nuclear reaction.

An enormous amount of energy is released during a nuclear reaction, called nuclear energy.

There are two distinct ways of obtaining nuclear energy:

1. Nuclear fission
2. Nuclear fusion

Questions and answers

Question 1:

Answer:

Potential, kinetic

Kinetic, potential

Potential, kinetic

Potential, kinetic

Kinetic, potential

Question 2:

What Energy Do I Need?

Match the pictures with the kinds of energy they need to work

Answer:

Mechanical

Chemical

Electrical

chemical

Electrical

Mechanical