Energy Transformatio

nBy: Courtney Benson, Thomas Knight,

and Andrew Thomson

Potential and Kinetic

Potential energy is stored energy and the energy of position

Kinetic energy is motion, the movement of energy

These categories are further divided up into subcategories

Types of Energy

•Potential: Chemical, mechanical, nuclear, gravitational, electric

•Kinetic: Radiant, thermal, motion, sound

EntropyDisarray of atoms

Ordered: solid-lower entropy

Disordered:gas-high entropy

Potential has less entropy than kinetic

Predictability of the movement of particles

First Chain

•The following energy transformation chain stems off of radiant energy

•First of two chains resulting from sun

Solar

• Sun’s rays melts snow, radiant energy

• Entropy is increased water, from a solid to a liquid

• Reaction of hydrogen being fused together in a nuclear reaction

• Sun melting snow is thermal

Hydroelectricity

• Gravitational potential energy water stored in water pushing against dam

• Turbines in dam extract electrical energy from high pressure

How it WorksFlow of water makes

blades on turbine spin

This rotates a spindle in the turbine, which leads into the generator

Then energy is transferred into electrical energy

Electricity in Action

• Electricity from dam used to power electric hybrid car

• Energy within rechargeable battery, electrical and chemical energy stored

• Pistons apply mechanical energy

• Run by batteries, but more directly move car

• Same pistons can power electromagnetic engines, which are magnetic as well as electric

Second Chain

•The following energy transfer chain also begins with the sun's nuclear fusion process

•Tree grows off of radiant energy, solar from sun

•Tree falls, gravitational energy

•Same tree is caught by a forest fire, sparked by thermal energy

• Tree burning, chemical

• Increase in entropy

• Ashes are blown by kinetic wind

Wind

•Wind blows windmill, kinetic

•Windmill pumps water, using electrical power

Windmills produce energy much like hydropower plants do

•Water is heated by thermal energy

•Water is changed to steam, also thermal

•Increase of entropy, liquid to gas

•Steam directed through turbine to power electric generator, compressed, mechanical energy

•The generator runs propellors of a large ship

Fan blade on a rotor, which is spun by rising steam

Rotary motion runs a generator

END