Energy Transfer

Types of energy

Electrical energy - whenever a current flows there is electrical energy

Light energy - this can come from the sun or a light, for example

Sound energy - this can come from anything that makes a noise

Kinetic energy - if an object is moving it has kinetic energy

Nuclear energy - this is released from nuclear reactions

Thermal/Heat energy - this moves from hot to cold objects

Gravitational potential energy - if an object could fall, it has gravitational potential energy

Elastic potential energy - this is stored in objects like springs, elastic bands, etc.

Chemical energy - this is stored in objects like batteries, food, fuels, etc.

Stored Energy

The final three types of energy above - gravitational potential, elastic potential, and chemical energy - are stored because they aren't technically doing anything, but just waiting to be transferred into another type of energy

Energy Conservation

Remember the differene between the following:

1) "Energy conservation" is about proteccting humans and the Earth, by trying to use fewer resources

2. "The principle of the conservation of energy" is an important principle in physics which is discussed below...

The principle of the conservation of energy

Definition: Energy can never be created nor detroyed - it's only ever converted from one form to another

Conservation of energy

A roller coaster's energy, for example, is always tranferring between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy

Also remember this principle: energy is only useful when it can be converted from one form to another