Forms+of+Energy

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 * < Table of Contents ||
 * < 1. Most Common Forms of Energy ||
 * < .....1.1 Mechanical Energy ||
 * < .....1.2 Kinetic Energy ||
 * < .....1.3 Potential Energy ||
 * < 2. Other Forms of Energy ||
 * < .....2.1 Thermal Energy ||
 * < .....2.2 Electric Energy ||
 * < .....2.3 Chemical Energy ||
 * < ......2.4 Nuclear Energy ||
 * < ......2.5 Electromagnetic Energy ||
 * < 3. Resouces ||

Most Common Forms of Energy Mechanical Energy: This type of energy is the most common because it deals with the motion and the position of an object. "You can find an object's mechanical energy by adding the object's kinetic energy and potential energy" (Jones 152). This can be modeled by the equation, Mechanical Energy = Kinetic Energy + Potential Energy. Joules is the unit of measurement for energy in the metric system. As you can see, mechanical energy is made up of 2 types of energy called kinetic and potential energy. These 2 types are very common in life so that is why mechanical energy is the most common form of energy. "Two basic kinds of energy are kinetic energy and potential energy" (Jones 147).

Kinetic Energy: Kinetic comes from the Greek word "kinetos", which means moving. That means that this type of energy deals with the motion of objects. Kinetic energy depends on 2 factors: the mass and velocity of an object. This can be modeled by the equation, Kinetic Energy = 1/2 x Mass x Velocity (squared). As you can see, the velocity has more of an effect on kinetic energy because it is squared. If you double the velocity, you will quadruple the energy because velocity is squared. However, if you double the mass, you will only double the energy instead of quadruple. All this means is that velocity has a greater impact on kinetic energy (Jones 147-148).

P otential E nergy: You may think an object doing literally nothing has no energy, but you're wrong. That object probably has potential energy. "Stored energy that results from the position or shape of an object is called potential energy" (Jones 149). The position of the object just means how high it is above the ground. Is it on the ground? Is it sitting on a shelf? Is it sitting on a table? All these probably have potential energy and this type of potential energy is called gravitational energy. This type of energy can be modeled by the equation, Gravitational Energy = Weight (Mass x Gravity) x Height. However what does it mean when it results from the shape of object? Does this mean a cube has more energy than a ball? This really means the position of the object too, but not with height. A great example of this is a pendulum. If it is still, it doesn't seem to do anything. However, if you pull it towards you and drop it, it will have the greatest potential energy at the points where it reaches the greatest height. That means the shape of the pendulum at the end of each swing makes most of the energy. Another example would be with a bow and arrow. You pull the bow back and the shape of the bow produces energy. This type of energy can be known as elastic potential energy (Jones 149). media type="custom" key="6194075" align="center"



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Other Forms of Energy

Thermal Energy: Thermal energy is usually dealt with the temperature of something. Just like mechanical energy, this deals with kinetic and potential energy, but with the object's particles. If the particles have a high amount of kinetic energy, it is likely it will have a lot of thermal energy. Usually if the particles move at high speeds, they collide with each other and make a lot of friction. This is what makes the heat or thermal energy. "These particles are arranged in specific ways in different objects. Therefore, they also have potential energy" (Jones 153). An example of this can be flowing lava. It has very high thermal energy, but it moves very slowly. You'd think that it would have low thermal energy because it moves slowly, but its particles are moving rapidly. That means the particles will cause friction and produce heat in the process. Other examples could be any other thing that deals with heat (Jones 153).

Electric Energy: Electrical energy is energy of electric charges. It would depend on whether the charges are moving or being stored, this electrical energy can also be a form of kinetic and potential energy. Multiple charges that are moving make up an electric current. Electric currents have charged particles (usually electrons) moving through a conductor. Metals are good conductors because their electrons can move freely, and plastics are bad conductors (insulators) because their electrons can't move freely An example of electrical energy can be lightning, it carries electrical energy. Anything that runs on battery is electrical energy, and electrical lines have electrical energy (Jones 154). Chemical Energy: “Chemical energy is potential energy stored in chemical bonds that hold chemical compounds together” (Jones 154). Almost anything you touch, see or taste is composed of chemical compounds. The chemical compounds are made up of molecules and atoms. Bonds between the atom and the molecules hold chemical compounds together. Those bonds have a chemical energy. Chemical energy is stored in the matches you light up, the food you eat and even in the cells in your body. When bonds in chemical compound break, some new chemical compounds are able to form. When this happens, chemical energy is able to be released. This process can be called an exothermic or endothermic reactions. Exothermic reactions usually deal with chemical reactions when the temperature increases, and endothermic reactions deal with chemical reactions when the temperature decreases. As you can see, these 2 types of chemical reactions are opposites. For example there is chemical energy in grapes. Grapes have these particles in them so when you eat them, your body is able to use the energy (Jones 154).

Nuclear Energy: Nuclear energy is a type of potential energy because it is stored energy in the nuclues of an atom.The only way to release the energy from the nucleus is to cause a nuclear reaction. Nuclear reactions usually happen when the nucleus decays and it forms a nucleus that is more stable than before. 2 types of nuclear reactions are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. "Nuclear fission occurs when a nucleas splits. Nuclear power plants use fission reactions to produce electricity" (Jones 155). Nuclear fusion usually happens when the nuclei of atoms come together. An example of nuclear fusion is the sun, it happens continuously and releases unthinkable amounts of energy. As you can see, nuclear fusion and nuclear fission are opposites (Jones 155).

Electromagnetic Energy: Electromagnetic energy travels in waves. In theses waves, the waves have some electrical properties and some magnetic properties. Electromagnetic energy is similar to sound energy because they both travel in waves. The waves usually have rythmic repeating patterns at breif, non-repeating bursts. These waves are able to carry potential energy and kinetic energy.Some examples for electromagnetic energy would be a microwave because you use it to cook your foood. X-rays are electromagnetic too. Some other forms of electromagnetic energy are unltraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, and radio waves(Jones 155).

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