Energy on the Move – Different Types of Energy Transfer

Introduction:

When the swing is held up high, it has stored energy. When the swing moves down, the stored energy changes to the energy of motion. All moving things have the energy of motion.

The law of conservation of energy states that energy is neither created nor destroyed but changes from one form to another. 

Example: The objects in the images possess potential energy because of their special shape and position.

When the shape or position of objects is disturbed, they are said to be in motion.

The energy possessed by the objects in motion is kinetic energy. In all these examples, the transfer of energy is taking place. The stored energy of the objects is getting converted into kinetic energy.

Explanation:

For example, if you want to read a book and want to use a lamp to provide you with light. An electrical cord runs from the wall socket to the lamp, and when you turn it on, it allows electrical energy to flow through the cord, the lamp’s switch, and the light bulb, where it is changed into light. Electrical energy is changing into a different kind of energy that you can use to help in reading. Therefore, what the lamp does is provide you with light.

A device that converts energy from one form to another is known as an appliance.

There are many different types of appliances.

In an electric bulb, the electricity heats the filament of the bulb, and when it becomes very hot, it starts producing light.

Similarly, in toasters, room heaters, and geysers, the conversion of electrical energy into heat energy takes place.

Different Types of Energy Transfer and Conversions:

1. A flashlight converts chemical energy stored in a battery into light energy.
2. An engine of a vehicle converts chemical energy (petrol or diesel) into kinetic energy.
3. Mechanical energy can be converted to electrical energy by generators, and the reverse; the conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy can be accomplished by motors.
4. A battery is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy. For some batteries, this is a process that cannot be reversed, but for others, it can. Batteries for which the process can be reversed are called rechargeable batteries.
5. Every living plant converts light energy, which they get from the sunlight, into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis.
6. A speaker and an alarm clock convert electrical energy into sound energy.
7. We human beings get energy from food and do mechanical work. So, the stored chemical energy in the food gets converted into mechanical energy when we do work. We get energy from food after digestion.
8. A solar cell and solar panel convert solar energy into electrical energy in the presence of sunlight.

Question: Does the entire amount of energy gets transferred or converted from one form to another?

Answer: No, the entire amount of energy doesn’t get transferred or converted from one form to another. During the transformation of energy, some of the energy gets lost in the form of heat, light, or sound.