How do we make it work?

What is energy?

Energy is a quantity that is conserved - it cannot be created or destroyed. Energy can be stored
and transferred.

One way we can understand energy is to use a model.

Have a look at the table that uses money as a model to help us understand energy.

Idea it is
Money as a model How the model links to energy
explaining
Energy is stored. For example,
Energy’s ability We store our money in pockets, purses and
energy is stored in the kinetic
to be stored bank accounts.
energy store in objects that move.
When we pay for an item in a shop we are
Energy can be Energy can be transferred between
transferring our money from one store
transferred different stores.
(pocket, purse or wallet) to another (the till).
In the United Arab Emirates, money is
The unit of
measured in United Arab Emirates Energy is measured in joules (J).
energy
Dirham(AED).

Energy is a very important idea in physics – it allows us to work out what might happen in
a system.

Energy is part of everything that happens in the world and everything we do. Energy can be in
the form of heat, light, gravity, sound, motion, chemical reactions, or electricity. Energy is the
ability to do work or make a change.
Forms of energy:
• Chemical: Chemical energy is the energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules. Biomass,
petroleum, natural gas, propane and coal are examples of stored chemical energy.
• Nuclear: Nuclear energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. It is the energy that
holds the nucleus together. The nucleus of a uranium atom is an example of nuclear energy.

• Gravitational: Gravitational energy is the energy of place or position. Water held in a reservoir
behind a hydropower dam is an example of potential gravitational energy. When the water in the
reservoir is released to spin the turbines, it becomes motion energy.

• Radiant (electromagnetic): Radiant energy (light) is electromagnetic energy that travels in

transverse waves. Radiant energy includes visible light, x-rays, gamma rays, and radio waves.
Solar energy is an example of radiant energy.

• Thermal: Thermal energy (or heat) is the internal energy in substances. It is the vibration and
movement of atoms and molecules within substances. Geothermal energy is an example of
thermal energy.
• Motion: The movement of objects or substances from one place to another is motion. Wind is
an example of motion energy.
• Sound: Sound is the movement of energy through objects or substances in longitudinal waves.

• Electrical: Electrical energy is the movement of electrons. Lightning and electricity are
examples of electrical energy.

All types of energy are either potential or kinetic.

Potential energy includes: chemical energy, nuclear energy, stored mechanical energy, and
gravitational energy.
Kinetic forms include: radiant energy, thermal energy, motion, sound, and electrical energy.
Potential energy is the result of relative shape and/or position; it is stored energy and the energy
of position (gravitational). Examples are: a charged battery, a boulder poised at the edge of a
cliff, a stretched rubber band, etc. These examples are things that aren’t moving but have the
potential to release energy.
Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its movement – motion. It is the motion of
waves, electrons, atoms, molecules and substances. Anything that’s moving has kinetic energy.
Examples are: a falling object, a running child, and heat.]
OR
Use the links below to better your understanding of the forms of energy
Watch: https://tinyurl.com/yt6t5ta7
The story of potential and kinetic energy

Kinetic Energy
Potential Energy
Energy stores

There are several stores of energy.

Kinetic energy store

The runner has more energy
in their kinetic energy store
when they are running
faster.

The amount of energy in the

kinetic energy store
depends on the speed of the
object.
Gravitational potential energy
store
The box has more energy in
its gravitational potential
energy store when it is
placed on a higher shelf.

The amount of energy in the

gravitational potential
energy store depends on the
height of the object.

Thermal energy
An object has more energy
in its thermal energy store
when it is hot than when it is
cold.

The amount of energy in the

thermal energy store
depends on the temperature
of the object.
Chemical energy
Batteries, foods and fuels
store energy in their
chemical energy stores. The
candle wax in the picture is
a type of fuel.

Transfer of energy from the

chemical energy store
occurs due to chemical
reactions.

Elastic potential energy

A stretched or squashed
object has more energy in
its elastic energy store.

The amount of energy in the

elastic energy store
depends on the amount of
extension or compression.
Conservation of energy

In the 18th century the French philosopher, Émilie du Châtelet, did an experiment. She dropped a
number of balls from different heights then observed how they fell and their impact with the
surface they landed on.

She found that the amount of energy the balls had when held high up was the same as the amount
of energy they had when they were moving.

After analysing all of her data, du Châtelet concluded that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

This is now known as the Law of Conservation of Energy which means that energy doesn’t
appear or disappear.

Energy can be transferred between different stores of energy.

When energy transfers take place in a system:

the total energy stored before = total energy stored after.

For example:
When a ball falls to the ground, the gravitational potential energy decreases and the kinetic
energy increases
Energy transfers

Energy can be transferred by:

 mechanical working – when a force is applied to move an object through a distance

 electrical working – when charge flows (electricity)

 heating – when energy is transferred between hotter and colder regions

 radiation – when energy is transferred as a wave, for example as light or sound

Representing energy transfers

We can show how energy is transferred by using a

transfer diagram.
Mechanical work
A force is applied to move an object, for example
when a person lifts a book onto a high shelf.
Electrical work
Charges flow in a circuit, for example in a battery powered
toy train.

Heating
Energy moves from the thermal store of a hotter object to the thermal store of a cooler object, for
example when a handwarmer is used to warm up your hands.

Radiation
Energy is transferred as a wave, for example infra red radiation from a toaster to a slice of bread.
Energy dissipation

When energy is transferred within a system, energy can be dissipated. This is where energy is
‘wasted’ by being transferred out to the surroundings. Energy becomes stored in less useful
ways.

Energy is usually dissipated to the surroundings by heating, though sometimes energy is

dissipated by radiation, for example by sound waves.

The ways in which energy is dissipated depends on the system.

For example, in a tumble dryer:

 The electrical work is done so energy is transferred usefully into the thermal energy store
of the tumble dryer and the kinetic energy store of the tumble dryer. This helps to dry the
clothes.

 Energy is dissipated to the surroundings by sound waves and by heating. This is not
useful.
Factors affecting Kinetic energy and Potential energy

Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion.

If we want to accelerate an object, then we must apply a force. Applying a force requires us to do
work. After work has been done, energy has been transferred to the object, and the object will be
moving with a new constant speed. The energy transferred is known as kinetic energy, and it
depends on the mass and speed achieved.

Kinetic energy can be transferred between objects and transformed into other kinds of energy.
For example, a flying squirrel might collide with a stationary chipmunk. Following the collision,
some of the initial kinetic energy of the squirrel might have been transferred into the chipmunk
or transformed to some other form of energy.

Kinetic Energy: K=1/2 m x v2

Where, m is the mass of the object and v is its velocity.

What is interesting about kinetic energy?

There are a couple of interesting things about kinetic energy that we can see from the equation.

 Kinetic energy depends on the velocity of the object squared. This means that when the
velocity of an object doubles, its kinetic energy quadruples. A car traveling at 60 mph has
four times the kinetic energy of an identical car traveling at 30 mph, and hence the
potential for four times more death and destruction in the event of a crash.
 Kinetic energy must always be either zero or a positive value. While velocity can have a
positive or negative value, velocity squared is always positive.
 Kinetic energy is not a vector. So a tennis ball thrown to the right with a velocity of 5
m/s, has the exact same kinetic energy as a tennis ball thrown down with a velocity of 5
m/s.
Potential energy is energy that has the potential to become another form of energy. An
object’s potential energy depends on its physical properties and position in a system.
  Potential energy comes in many forms, such as:

 Gravitational potential energy due to an object’s mass and position in a gravitational

field
 Magnetic potential energy due to a magnetic object’s position in a magnetic field
 Electric potential energy due to the size of an electric charge and its position in an
electric field
 Elastic potential energy of a spring or rubber band that is stretched
 Changing an object’s position can change its potential energy. This depends on the forces
between objects.

Mathematically, gravitational potential energy is represented as PE = m g h

Where, m is the mass of the object
g is the gravitational field strength and
h is the height

Non-Renewable Energy
Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will eventually run out, such as oil and coal.

Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will run out or will not be replenished in our
lifetimes—or even in many, many lifetimes. Most non-renewable energy sources are fossil
fuels: coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Carbon is the main element in fossil fuels.

Further reading at : https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/non-renewable-energy/

Renewable energy is energy produced from sources like the sun and wind that are naturally
replenished and do not run out. Renewable energy can be used for electricity generation, space
and water heating and cooling, and transportation.

Types of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, geothermal resources, sunlight, water, and wind, are
natural resources that can be converted into these types of clean, usable energy:

(Click on each for further reading)

 Bioenergy

 Geothermal Energy

 Hydrogen

 Hydropower

 Marine Energy

 Solar Energy

 Wind Energy