Energy Defined and Types of Energy
Water Power Energy. Photo Credit: UBLR
Energy is the ability to do work.
Work is defined as force applied over a distance. So, the movement of something by a force (e.g., gravity, wind, electricity, water) from one place to another is an act of work. Work means that a certain mass or amount of physical substance travels or moves a certain distance. Typically, during the process of work, energy is transferred from one body or substance to another as when a person's muscles are used to push a box across the ground. Work units are expressed as foot-pounds, ergs, joules which are scientific measurements.
Other examples of work can be as simple as a person who is walking, running, swimming or jumping. A person's body is a defined, specific, physical entity with mass (simply weight) that is moved a certain distance – that movement is work by definition and energy is required to do or accomplish that work. The muscles enable a living animal's body to move and the energy supplied is chemical energy from foods that the body burns.
Two Basic Types of Energy – Kinetic and Potential Energy
Kinetic energy is motion energy or movement energy such as you see with a comet, planet or meteorite flying through space, a car traveling down the road, a baseball flying through the air or a person jumping and diving into a pool. Energy of motion is always kinetic energy.
Potential energy is energy of position energy or stored or built-in energy. A battery has stored energy that can be used when the switch is turned to "on". Atoms and chemicals have energy that can be released when the atom undergoes fission or the bonds of the chemical compound are broken. In each of these cases, energy is released in the form of work, light, heat. The food that we eat has built-in chemical energy that is released when enzymes (chemical catalysts) in the body break the bonds, re-arrange the compounds ad cause a release of the bound energy within.
Other examples of potential energy relate to the positional, potential energy of objects that are in elevated positions. When that object drops or falls it releases the stored energy as kinetic energy. An apple in a tree, a book on a shelf, a boulder on the top of hill or mountain all contain potential energy related to their positions. All of of these objects are subject to the pull of gravity and when the object is freed from its position by the pull of gravity that object moves and and falls downward.
Energy Categories
Atomic - energy contained in atoms. Splitting atoms (fission) or fusing atoms (fusion as hydrogen atoms in the sun) generates light and heat energy.
Chemical - energy contained in the bonds of the chemical that when broken releases heat or light or both. Sugar is one food that when the bonds are broken by enzymes releases energy to do the owrk in animal and plant bodies.
Electrical - movement of electrons or electricity is an example of electrical energy. Batteries, power plants, generators supply electrons to run cars, lights, computers and machines.
Gravity – the attraction of one physical body for another that generates a pulling effect.
Heat (Thermal) – thermal energy that is measured in calories. Heat is a measurement of the movement of molecules. The rise of temperature for every 10 degrees Centigrade chemical reactions double.
Light and Solar – this is measured in terms of wavelengths and ergs.
Tidal and Water – the movement of the waters of the seas, oceans and lakes causes a rise and fall of the water that can be trapped and used as a source of energy.
Green Energy – Categories, What It is Is and USPS Green Stamps Concepts
Green energy is often called renewable energy because more can be made or had cheaply and inexpensively.
Coal, oil and gas are the products of microorganisms and their decomposition and, eventually, all these natural resources of coal, oil and gas will be exhausted. However, if the sun, wind and water energies are tapped and trapped they can be used over and over again – they are renewable.
Green energy is also associated with the concept of saving energy or conserving energy which is the same as saying not wasting energy. If you conserve energy you have more energy available to use later. Conservation is a good term and conservation means that you protect, save and nuture your resources so that they are not used up.
Green energy involves catching the force or energy and converting that energy. Usually we need the energy for electricity or for heating.
Solar panels, for example, can trap the sun's energy and convert it to electricity. Also, the sun's energy can be trapped passively and collected as heat and funneled or directed to where it is needed as from a greenhouse for plants to a house where people actually live. Or, a wind turbine has blades that are pushed by the wind and their motion is transferred to the shaft of a generator which generates electricity. And the movemenmt of tides has been used to trap the rise and fall of water to turn turbines which generate electricity.
US Green Forever Stamps – 15 Steps to Conservation and Going Green Forever
These stamps are simple picture reminders of things everyone can do to conserve energy. Pictured here are Go Green Forever stamp examples of some of 15 easy conservation steps everyone can take.
1. Maintain Tire Pressure. Inflate tires to right pressure and the car rolls better and uses less gas. Weekly or monthly checks are good.
2. Adjust the Thermostat. In summer raise the setting to use less air conditioning and in winter lower thermostat to use less heating fuel (oil, gas or electricity).
3. Use Efficient Light Bulbs. Fluorescent and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs us far less energy than incandescent bulbs. These bulbs however are more expensive than a simple bulb and contain dangerous mercury that will be released into the environment if broken. Dispose of the bulbs in the recommended manner.
4. Use Public Transportation. Less car travel and more efficient transport occurs with multiple-passenger conveynaces such as busses, trains and trolleys.
5. Insulate the House. In summer heat stays out and cooler temperatures are maintained within. In winter, the heat stays in better and the cold does not enter as easily. Energy is saved all year round.
6. Plant Trees. The trees photosynthesiize and they use carbon dioxide to make sugar and carbohydrates and provide useful oxygen as a needed byproduct. In summer, trees provide shade and cooling and in winter evergreen trees shelter against winds and snow. Tree wood or cellulose provides paper, fuel for fireplaces and is needed for building, construction and furniture.
7. Ride a Bike. Pedal power exercises the body, saves fuel and is economical. Cautions is the need for a helmet, safe riding paths and a place to lock and secure the bicycle. Inclememnt weather of any sort cancels the value of a bicycle at those times and an alternative must be chosen.
8. Recycle More. Cardboard, paper, aluminum, other metals, glass and selected types of plastic can be recycled and this saves energy.
9. Let Nature Do the Work. Solar power drying of clothes is very efficient and good for saving energy. Does not work when weather is inclement.
10. Compost. Composting is done to decompose organic and vegetable matter such as vegetables, fruit and leaf residues. Heat, moisture and microorganisms convert these materials to useful soil that conserves water and provides essential soil nutrients.
11. Choose to Walk. May get you to work or play or the store and exercise the body and will save energy when the car is not used.
12. Turn Lights Off When Not in Use. Saves energy for sure especially for those who leave many lights on for long periods of time.
13. Share Rides. Is cost efficient because amount of fuel used per person is less.
14. Fix Water Leaks. Water is a valuable resource and is expensive to purify for human use. Leaking faucets and toilets may use hundreds or thousands of gallons over the period of a full year.
15. Buy Local Produce Reuse Bags. Yes, these bags are good, last a long time and save the use of hundreds of plastic bags that are used for routine produce use. You have to remember to bring them and carry them into the store.
If you did most of the activities above how much energy or money would you save? Estimates for energy-saving will vary depending upon different factors. Nevertheless, if every American saved even $100 per year per person, then with over 300 million people in the U.S. the energy savings would amount to 30 billion dollars – a very large and substantial saving.
.
Work is defined as force applied over a distance. So, the movement of something by a force (e.g., gravity, wind, electricity, water) from one place to another is an act of work. Work means that a certain mass or amount of physical substance travels or moves a certain distance. Typically, during the process of work, energy is transferred from one body or substance to another as when a person's muscles are used to push a box across the ground. Work units are expressed as foot-pounds, ergs, joules which are scientific measurements.
Other examples of work can be as simple as a person who is walking, running, swimming or jumping. A person's body is a defined, specific, physical entity with mass (simply weight) that is moved a certain distance – that movement is work by definition and energy is required to do or accomplish that work. The muscles enable a living animal's body to move and the energy supplied is chemical energy from foods that the body burns.
Two Basic Types of Energy – Kinetic and Potential Energy
Kinetic energy is motion energy or movement energy such as you see with a comet, planet or meteorite flying through space, a car traveling down the road, a baseball flying through the air or a person jumping and diving into a pool. Energy of motion is always kinetic energy.
Potential energy is energy of position energy or stored or built-in energy. A battery has stored energy that can be used when the switch is turned to "on". Atoms and chemicals have energy that can be released when the atom undergoes fission or the bonds of the chemical compound are broken. In each of these cases, energy is released in the form of work, light, heat. The food that we eat has built-in chemical energy that is released when enzymes (chemical catalysts) in the body break the bonds, re-arrange the compounds ad cause a release of the bound energy within.
Other examples of potential energy relate to the positional, potential energy of objects that are in elevated positions. When that object drops or falls it releases the stored energy as kinetic energy. An apple in a tree, a book on a shelf, a boulder on the top of hill or mountain all contain potential energy related to their positions. All of of these objects are subject to the pull of gravity and when the object is freed from its position by the pull of gravity that object moves and and falls downward.
Energy Categories
Atomic - energy contained in atoms. Splitting atoms (fission) or fusing atoms (fusion as hydrogen atoms in the sun) generates light and heat energy.
Chemical - energy contained in the bonds of the chemical that when broken releases heat or light or both. Sugar is one food that when the bonds are broken by enzymes releases energy to do the owrk in animal and plant bodies.
Electrical - movement of electrons or electricity is an example of electrical energy. Batteries, power plants, generators supply electrons to run cars, lights, computers and machines.
Gravity – the attraction of one physical body for another that generates a pulling effect.
Heat (Thermal) – thermal energy that is measured in calories. Heat is a measurement of the movement of molecules. The rise of temperature for every 10 degrees Centigrade chemical reactions double.
Light and Solar – this is measured in terms of wavelengths and ergs.
Tidal and Water – the movement of the waters of the seas, oceans and lakes causes a rise and fall of the water that can be trapped and used as a source of energy.
Green Energy – Categories, What It is Is and USPS Green Stamps Concepts
Green energy is often called renewable energy because more can be made or had cheaply and inexpensively.
Coal, oil and gas are the products of microorganisms and their decomposition and, eventually, all these natural resources of coal, oil and gas will be exhausted. However, if the sun, wind and water energies are tapped and trapped they can be used over and over again – they are renewable.
Green energy is also associated with the concept of saving energy or conserving energy which is the same as saying not wasting energy. If you conserve energy you have more energy available to use later. Conservation is a good term and conservation means that you protect, save and nuture your resources so that they are not used up.
Green energy involves catching the force or energy and converting that energy. Usually we need the energy for electricity or for heating.
Solar panels, for example, can trap the sun's energy and convert it to electricity. Also, the sun's energy can be trapped passively and collected as heat and funneled or directed to where it is needed as from a greenhouse for plants to a house where people actually live. Or, a wind turbine has blades that are pushed by the wind and their motion is transferred to the shaft of a generator which generates electricity. And the movemenmt of tides has been used to trap the rise and fall of water to turn turbines which generate electricity.
US Green Forever Stamps – 15 Steps to Conservation and Going Green Forever
These stamps are simple picture reminders of things everyone can do to conserve energy. Pictured here are Go Green Forever stamp examples of some of 15 easy conservation steps everyone can take.
1. Maintain Tire Pressure. Inflate tires to right pressure and the car rolls better and uses less gas. Weekly or monthly checks are good.
2. Adjust the Thermostat. In summer raise the setting to use less air conditioning and in winter lower thermostat to use less heating fuel (oil, gas or electricity).
3. Use Efficient Light Bulbs. Fluorescent and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs us far less energy than incandescent bulbs. These bulbs however are more expensive than a simple bulb and contain dangerous mercury that will be released into the environment if broken. Dispose of the bulbs in the recommended manner.
4. Use Public Transportation. Less car travel and more efficient transport occurs with multiple-passenger conveynaces such as busses, trains and trolleys.
5. Insulate the House. In summer heat stays out and cooler temperatures are maintained within. In winter, the heat stays in better and the cold does not enter as easily. Energy is saved all year round.
6. Plant Trees. The trees photosynthesiize and they use carbon dioxide to make sugar and carbohydrates and provide useful oxygen as a needed byproduct. In summer, trees provide shade and cooling and in winter evergreen trees shelter against winds and snow. Tree wood or cellulose provides paper, fuel for fireplaces and is needed for building, construction and furniture.
7. Ride a Bike. Pedal power exercises the body, saves fuel and is economical. Cautions is the need for a helmet, safe riding paths and a place to lock and secure the bicycle. Inclememnt weather of any sort cancels the value of a bicycle at those times and an alternative must be chosen.
8. Recycle More. Cardboard, paper, aluminum, other metals, glass and selected types of plastic can be recycled and this saves energy.
9. Let Nature Do the Work. Solar power drying of clothes is very efficient and good for saving energy. Does not work when weather is inclement.
10. Compost. Composting is done to decompose organic and vegetable matter such as vegetables, fruit and leaf residues. Heat, moisture and microorganisms convert these materials to useful soil that conserves water and provides essential soil nutrients.
11. Choose to Walk. May get you to work or play or the store and exercise the body and will save energy when the car is not used.
12. Turn Lights Off When Not in Use. Saves energy for sure especially for those who leave many lights on for long periods of time.
13. Share Rides. Is cost efficient because amount of fuel used per person is less.
14. Fix Water Leaks. Water is a valuable resource and is expensive to purify for human use. Leaking faucets and toilets may use hundreds or thousands of gallons over the period of a full year.
15. Buy Local Produce Reuse Bags. Yes, these bags are good, last a long time and save the use of hundreds of plastic bags that are used for routine produce use. You have to remember to bring them and carry them into the store.
If you did most of the activities above how much energy or money would you save? Estimates for energy-saving will vary depending upon different factors. Nevertheless, if every American saved even $100 per year per person, then with over 300 million people in the U.S. the energy savings would amount to 30 billion dollars – a very large and substantial saving.
.
USPS Green Stamps for Conservation and Green Energy, photo credit: Donald Reinhardt
All the Written Material within Site is Copyrighted 2011 and Owned by Dr. Donald Reinhardt, and this original material is protected legally by this copyright notice and by the Digital Millennium Act. None of this original material may be copied or reproduced without the expressed written consent of the author.
The author is a Freelance Science writer, and is available for specific assignments for those who are interested – by contacting adminstrator@sciencesuperchool.com. Other questions related to this teaching site should be directed to teacher@sciencesuperschool.com.
The author is a Freelance Science writer, and is available for specific assignments for those who are interested – by contacting adminstrator@sciencesuperchool.com. Other questions related to this teaching site should be directed to teacher@sciencesuperschool.com.