Energy Transformations

Energy is continually changing from one form to another. These changes from one

energy form to another are called transformations.

Tracking Energy TransformationsThree energy transformations:

The Biker

• Leg muscles transform Chemical energy into Kinetic – some of it is transferred to the bike

• As he goes up the hill, some of this energy changes to potential

• As his body gets warmer the chemical energy is turned into thermal

• * Thermal energy is always one of the products of an energy transformation

ENERGY CAN NEITHER BE CREATED NOR DESTROYED – IT CAN ONLY BE CHANGED!

Law of Conservation of Energy

Changing Kinetic & Potential

• The tossed baseball example uses both kinetic and potential

• The Mechanical Energy of an object is the SUM of the object’s potential and kinetic energy; so the mechanical energy of the ball remained constant as it rose into the and then fell back down

• Friction can cause mechanical energy to decrease (ex. Sliding book)

Using Chemical Energy

• Food• Muscle Use

Using Thermal Energy

• All forms of energy can be transformed into thermal energy

• Burns• Electric Wires• Heat buildings• Thermal energy will always move from a

warmer material to a cooler one– Conduction, Convection and Radiation

Using Radient Energy

• A sun tan- radient energy is from the Sun is transferred into chemical energy on your skin and you get darker

• Visible light produces energy you can see• Radient can also be transferred into electrical

(X-rays, gamma rays)

Using Electrical Energy

• One of the most useful forms of energy• Electrical is converted into radient to provide

us with light• Converted into thermal to heat up

homes/buildings• Converted into kinetic to make electric motors

move

Electrical Energy

• A generator is a device that is used to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy

• Burning fossil fuels produces thermal energy that is used to boil water and produce steam

• In a power plant, steam is used to spin a turbine which then spins an electric generator

Organized and Disorganized Energy

• Energy cannot be created nor destroyed – however the more we use it the less useful energy we have available

• Useful energy that is organized and concentrated in a certain area does not spread out

• Energy that is spread out, like waste thermal energy, is disorganized energy

• The amount of disorganized energy in the universe is always increasing