[pic]
|Introduction |
|Energy is one of the most fundamental parts of our universe. |
|We use energy to do work. Energy lights our cities. Energy powers our vehicles, trains, planes and rockets. Energy warms our homes, cooks our |
|food, plays our music, gives us pictures on television. Energy powers machinery in factories and tractors on a farm. |
|Energy from the sun gives us light during the day. It dries our clothes when they're hanging outside on a clothes line. It helps plants grow. |
|Energy stored in plants is eaten by animals, giving them energy. And predator animals eat their prey, which gives the predator animal energy. |
|Everything we do is connected to energy in one form or another. |
|Energy is defined as: |
|"The ability to do work." |
Chapter 1: What is Energy?
Energy Is the Ability to Do Work.
Energy can be found in a number of different forms. It can be chemical energy, electrical energy, heat (thermal energy), light (radiant energy), mechanical energy, and nuclear energy.
Stored and Moving Energy
Energy makes everything happen and can be divided into two types:
• Stored energy is called potential energy.
• Moving energy is called kinetic energy.
With a pencil, try this example to know the two types of energy.
Put the pencil at the edge of the desk and push it off to the floor. The moving pencil uses kinetic energy.
Now, pick up the pencil and put it back on the...