Everyday Energy

Types of Energy

Light energy- Light energy comes from sources such as the sun, light, globes, fires and animals.

Heat energy- Heat energy is more scientifically known as thermal energy. Thermal energy can be generated by friction such as rubbing tyres on the road. It can also be generated by chemical reaction or by electrical devices.

Electrical energy- Electrical energy comes from generators, power stations, solar cells, batteries and lightning. It can be used to power items such as cars and phones.

Potential energy

Potential energy is the energy stored in objects waiting to be used. This stored energy can be the result of a change in shape, height or chemical reactions.

Gravitational potential energy (GPE)- An object gains Gravitational potential energy (GPE). Any object in the air has the potential to fall due to gravity. As an object falls, the object's GPE can be transformed into other forms of energy. An example is a child going on a slide. When the child climbs up, the GPE increases and when they come down, their GPE decreases.

Chemical Potential Energy (CPE)- The energy stored within a chemical substance is called Chemical Potential Energy (CPE). Using chemical reactions to break the bonds holding the atoms together releases the energy which the body uses as glucose.

Biomass energy- Biomass energy is potential energy stored in plants and animals and is also a type of CPE. To release biomass energy, the most common way is to burn the material such as wood to produce heat, Another way is to ferment sugar of various plants to produce ethanol which can be used as biofuel.

Nuclear Energy- Nuclear Energy involves the splitting or joining of the centre of atoms. When atoms react to chemical reactions, they usually release a small amount of energy but if the nuclei of atoms can be made to react, the amount of energy is larger.

Kinetic energy (KE)- Kinetic Energy is the name for the energy of movement. Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion.