Energy Forms and Thermodynamics (Video)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key energy concepts and the First Law of Thermodynamics from the lecture notes.

Energy transformation

The process of changing energy from one form to another.

Mechanical energy

Energy found in moving objects or objects with the potential to move; includes kinetic and potential energy.

Chemical energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds; released during chemical reactions and transformed into other forms.

Electrical energy

Energy of moving electrons.

Electromagnetic energy

Energy that travels through space as electromagnetic waves (light, microwaves, radio waves, etc.).

Thermal energy

Energy of moving particles; all matter has thermal energy because particles are always moving.

Sound energy

Energy that starts as a vibration of matter and travels as a wave in matter; cannot travel through empty space.

Nuclear energy

Energy stored in the nuclei of atoms because of the strong force that holds the nucleus together.

Gravitational energy

Energy from an object's position in a gravity field.

Kinetic energy (KE)

Energy associated with the motion of a particle, object, or its parts.

Potential energy (PE)

Energy associated with a particle or object’s relative position to another object or within a field.

Energy

The capacity to do work; measured in joules (J).

Joule (J)

The SI unit of energy.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or transformed.

Conduction

Energy transfer through touch or direct contact.

Convection

Energy transfer through the movement of a fluid (liquid or gas).

Radiation

Energy transfer as electromagnetic waves.