1. Energy
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

2. Agricultural Power and Technology
Energy
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Agricultural Power and Technology
Energy
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

3. What is Energy? Energy is the ability to perform work or cause change.
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
What is Energy?
Energy is the ability to perform work or cause change.
Work is a change in a position caused by a force.
Moving a pencil, opening a door, and carrying a backpack are examples of work.
What are some agricultural examples of work?
Energy is found all around us and is harnessed to perform work. For work to be completed, an object must be moved or its position changed. Work is seen in all areas of agriculture from tilling a field to milking a cow to transporting food.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

4. Two Types of Energy Potential Kinetic Stored Energy
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Two Types of Energy
Potential
Stored Energy
Water behind a dam.
Wagon on top of a hill.
Gasoline ready to combust.
Kinetic
Energy being used to perform work
Gasoline combusting to run an engine.
Engine powering a tractor in a field.
Energy can be broken down into two different types. Potential energy is energy that is stored. This energy is capable of doing work but is currently not being used. A wagon sitting at the top of a hill has potential energy. Once it begins rolling down the hill it becomes kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is energy being used to perform work.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

5. Forms of Potential Energy
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Forms of Potential Energy
Chemical Energy
Energy stored between bonds of atoms
Food has potential energy that can be digested.
Batteries have chemical energy stored to power everything from tools to toys.
Fuel has potential energy to combust and cause movement.
Gravitational Energy
The attractive force all objects have towards each other.
An object on top of the hill has potential for gravity to pull it to the bottom.
Chemical energy is stored energy. An example of chemically stored energy is food. Food has potential energy, once we digest the food we use that energy to move, which is kinetic energy. Gravitational energy is form of potential and kinetic energy. The force of gravity has a potential to pull an object down a hill. Once gravity starts pulling the object, the energy becomes kinetic.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

6. Renewable and Non-renewable Energy
Agriculture Power and Technology Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Renewable and Non-renewable Energy
Potential energy can be renewable or non-renewable.
Renewable
Air
Wind energy to produce electricity.
Ethanol
Biofuel to power vehicles.
Water
Dams produce electricity.
Non-renewable
Fossil Fuels
Gasoline to power vehicles.
Coal
Burned to produce steam that is converted to electricity.
Potential energy is found in renewable and non-renewable forms. Renewable energy can be replaced within a span of time. Non-renewable energy is available in limited quantities and will eventually be depleted. Both sources of energy can be used to produce kinetic energy.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

7. Forms of Kinetic Energy
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Forms of Kinetic Energy
Electrical
Mechanical
Thermal
Gravitational
Sound
There are many forms of kinetic energy. These are some common forms that must be understood when working with agricultural power.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

8. Electrical Energy Movement of electrons through a conductor.
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Electrical Energy
Movement of electrons through a conductor.
Most common source of energy.
Powers lights, appliances, and hand held tools.
The most common type of energy we use is electrical energy. From the time we get up in the morning to cook breakfast and check the messages on our phones until we go to bed and set our alarm clock, we are using electricity.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

9. Mechanical Energy Energy produced from physical movement.
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Mechanical Energy
Energy produced from physical movement.
Turbine moved by wind.
Skid steer lifting a load.
Piston moving up or down.
The energy of movement is mechanical energy. This is the energy that we can see. The wheel of a tractor moving, a windmill blade spinning, and a hydraulic cylinder lifting are all examples of mechanical energy.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

10. Thermal Energy Heat energy produced by the movement of atoms.
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Thermal Energy
Heat energy produced by the movement of atoms.
When fuels are burned, energy is released in the form of heat.
Thermal energy is released every time energy is transferred.
Thermal energy is also known as heat energy. Fuels that we use to power our vehicles starts out as potential energy. Once it burns or explodes, thermal energy is released. Thermal energy is lost every time energy is transferred. That is why no machine is 100% efficient. Energy is lost in the form of heat.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

11. Energy
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Gravitational Energy
Attractive force that all objects have toward one another
Dependent upon the mass of the object
Gravitational force keeping us grounded to Earth
Gravitational energy is what keeps everything on the ground. Gravitational force is what gives different masses it weight. The greater the mass, the greater the weight or attractive force there is to Earth.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

12. Sound Energy Travels in the form of waves.
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
Sound Energy
Travels in the form of waves.
Sound waves must travel through some form of matter.
Some sounds can be damaging to the ear.
Important energy to understand when assessing a tool or workplace for safety.
Sound energy is not often used in agriculture, but is a safety concern. In agricultural work environments, loud sounds can be damaging to a person’s ear resulting in loss of hearing.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016

13. Energy
Agriculture Power and Technology
Unit 1 – Lesson 1.2 Mechanical Basics
References
Butz, S. D. (2015). The Laws of Thermodynamics. Energy and agriculture. (1st ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2016