Types of energy Solar energy, Heat energy, Gravitational energy, Kinetic energy, and Chemical energy. Solar energy is radiant energy that travels from the Sun to Earth Heat energy is a form of energy that comes from the random motion of atoms and molecules in any substance. Gravitational energy is the potential energy an object has because of how far away it is from the ground. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. Chemical energy is energy stored in the electrical bonds that hold atoms and molecules together.

Solar energy is radiant energy that travels from the Sun to Earth. This powerful energy travels a distance of about 150,000,000 kilometers and at a speed of about 300,000 kilometers per second. It takes the sun’s energy about 8½ minutes to reach earth! Most of the solar energy reaching Earth is visible light. Some of the energy is longer-wavelength thermal energy that is felt as heat. Shorter-wavelength ultraviolet solar energy is what causes sunburn. These pictures are solar energy since they use the sun for energy and the sun is solar energy.

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. The higher the speed at which something is moving, the more kinetic energy it has. Further, the amount of kinetic energy is also related to the mass (weight) of an object. If equal volumes of air and water are moving at the same speed, the water will have much more kinetic energy because it is much denser than air is These pictures are kinetic energy since kinetic energy is the energy of motion.

Chemical energy is energy stored in the electrical bonds that hold atoms and molecules together. These bonds are in all substances. When substances react chemically, the energy of these bonds can be released, absorbed, or transformed to other forms of energy. For example, when you light a match, some of the chemical energy stored in the match is transformed into heat and light energy. All of these pictures are chemical energy since it is a battery witch has a chemical inside of them.

Gravitational energy is the potential energy an object has because of how far away it is from the ground. An object’s gravitational energy is related to its distance from the ground and to its mass (weight). These pictures are gravitational energy since gravity is pulling the objects down and they have weight.

Heat energy is a form of energy that comes from the random motion of atoms and molecules in any substance. We say that a substance gets hotter as the movement of its atoms and molecules becomes more vigorous. This picture is heat energy since is gives of heat and the molecules are more vigorous.