Energy Transformations

Changing Forms of Energy Chemical, thermal, radiant, and electrical are some of the forms that energy can have. In the world around you, energy is transforming continually between one form and another.

Tracking Energy Transformations Because of friction, the mechanical parts of the bicycle are warmer, too. Thermal energy is almost always produced by an energy transformation. The energy transformations that occur when people exercise, when cars run, when living things grow and even when stars explode, all produce thermal energy.

Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. A waterfall has both potential and kinetic energy. The water at the top of Bridal Veil Falls has stored potential energy. At what point does the water have the most potential energy? The most kinetic? Roughly equal?

Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Think about the energy transformation when you want to demonstrate your mad YoYo skillz. Where did the energy come from? Where does it go?

Energy Changes Form A car engine burns gasoline, converting the chemical energy in gasoline into mechanical energy. Solar cells change radiant energy into electrical energy. Energy changes form, but the total amount of energy in the universe stays the same.

Energy Changes Form You wake up. It's a cool, sunny day, You think you'll go for a bike ride. But first you eat a good healthy breakfast. What kind of energy are you taking in? Without your needing to think about it, the cells in your body will break down the chemical bonds in the food and release the energy in those bonds when you need it. You'll use the energy to stay warm, to grow, to keep your internal organs working, and to move your muscles. What energy transformations occur when you ride a bike?

Energy Changes Form And you are moving. You jump up from the table, grab a jacket, head out the door. You hop on your bicycle. The energy of motion is called kinetic energy. As you pump your legs, the bicycle starts to roll. Your kinetic energy is being transferred to the bicycle.

Energy Changes Form Back at home, you turn on a radio. It runs on _______ energy which travels along the wires that connect a power plant to your home. The ? energy used by the radio is converted into ? energy. Sound is another form of ? energy--it's air in motion. You can move your muscles to make sound too. For example, you can hit a drum, sing or shout, or strum on a guitar. The guitar strings, vocal cords, or drumhead, once set in motion, make the air around them move, transforming the energy to _________

Transforming Electrical Energy Every day you use electrical energy. When you flip a switch, or turn on a radio or television, or use a hair drier, you are transforming electrical energy to other forms of energy.

Changing Forms of Energy Forest fires are a dramatic example of an environmental change that can occur naturally as a result of lightning strikes.

Tracking Energy Transformations As the mountain biker pedals, his leg muscles transform chemical energy into kinetic energy, applied to the pedals of the bike.

Tracking Energy Transformations Some of the bike’s kinetic energy transforms into _____ energy as it moves up the hill. The biker’s body is warmer because _____ energy is being transformed into ________ energy.

Tracking Energy Transformations Because of friction, the mechanical parts of the bicycle are warmer, too. What energy transformation occurs?

Law of Conservation of Energy Energy is never created or destroyed. The only thing that changes is the form in which energy appears.

Generating Electrical Energy Every Power plant works on the same principle---energy is used to turn a large generator. A generator is a devise that transforms kinetic energy into electrical energy. In fossil fuel power plants, coal, oil, or natural gas is burned to boil water. As the hot water boils, the steam rushes through a turbine, which contains a set of narrowly spaced fan blades. The steam pushes on the blades and turns the turbine, which in turn rotates a shaft in the generator to produce the electrical energy.

Power Plants Almost 90 percent of the electrical energy generated in the U.S. is produced by nuclear and fossil fuel power plants. Other types of power plants include Hydroelectric and wind. Hydroelectric power plants transform the kinetic energy of moving water into electrical energy. Wind power plants transform the kinetic energy of moving air into electrical energy.