Forms of Energy

Energy by definition is the ability of a system or object to do work on another system or object. Different forms of energy can be found, and utilized anyplace, anywhere you are in the world. The total energy of any given object correlates with its mass. When mass is changed into energy, the properties of the mass do not change. There are many types of energy at work in our universe. There are different forms of energy that produce a variety of energy forms such as warmth, light, sound, movement, growth and technology. Today there is an increased focus on the development alternative forms of energy. Alternative sources of energy are those that a renewable including wind, water, tidal, solar, biomas and geothermal.

There are two classifications of energy. Potential energy, which is stored energy, and kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion. A few examples of potential energy would be chemical, nuclear, gravitational, and stored mechanical. Examples of kinetic energy would be thermal, electrical, radiant, sound, and motion.

Forms of potential energy explained

Chemical energy is the energy that holds molecules together, or in other words stored energy between two or more connected atoms. Nuclear energy is the energy that is stored in the nucleus of an atom, holding the atom together. Gravitational energy is a form of energy an object possesses because of its position in the air, or in other words anything that is an elevated position and has the potential to fall. Stored mechanical energy is the energy stored in an object due to the application of force, meaning the pushing or pulling on the object.

Forms of kinetic energy explained

Thermal energy is the energy produced by a substance because of the internal vibration of the atoms and molecules of the substance. Electrical energy is the movement of the electrons of a substance or object. Radiant energy is the electromagnetic energy that travels through transverse waves. Sound energy is the energy that is produced by the movement of energy through objects or substances in the form of longitudinal sound waves. Motion energy is the energy produced from the movement of objects from one place to another.

A few more things about energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed. There are two laws that explain this in further detail. They are the Law of Conservation of Energy, and the other is the First Law of Thermodynamics. Energy moves and transfers from high to low, meaning it will travel from the object of higher energy to the object of lower energy. It is also worth noting that no transfer of energy is ever transferred at 100% efficiency, some energy will escape or be lost.