Energy

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Energy is a word with more than one meaning.

Mostly it is used in science to describe how much potential a physical system has to
change. In physics, energy is a property of matter. It can be transferred between
objects, and converted in form. It cannot be created or destroyed.
It may also be used in economics to describe the harnessing and sale of energy itself,
as in fuel or electric power distribution.
In ordinary language, the word is used to describe someone acting or speaking in a
lively and vigorous way.

Contents
1 Scientific energy
o 1.1 Conservation of Energy
o 1.2 Conservation of matter and energy
1.2.1 Example
o 1.3 Types of energy
o 1.4 Measuring energy
1.4.1 Some scientific units of measurement
2 Related pages
3 References

Scientific energy
In science energy is something that can do work.

Basic forms of energy include:

Kinetic energy - energy which is in moving objects.

Potential energy - stored energy.
Heat - thermal energy
Electrical energy

Conservation of Energy

Energy cannot be made or destroyed, it is changed from one form to another.[1] The amount
of energy in a closed system is always the same.[1] This rule is called the "conservation law of
energy".

Conservation of matter and energy

Scientists now know that matter can be made into energy, and energy into matter, through
processes like nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. The law of conservation of energy has
therefore been extended to become the Law of conservation of matter and energy. Albert
Einstein was the first to mathematically derive this in the formula E = mc2.

Example

A stone is thrown upwards and falls to the ground.

1. human throws the stone: energy store in muscles = chemical energy

2. stone moves upwards = kinetic energy
3. stone at the highest point = potential energy
4. stone falls to ground = kinetic energy
5. stone hits ground = thermal energy/sonic energy

Types of energy

Scientists have identified many types of energy, and found that they can be changed from one
kind into another. For example:

Light energy
Sound energy
Renewable energy
Solar energy
Nuclear energy
Elastic energy
Gravitational potential energy
Kinetic energy
Dark energy
Hamiltonian mechanics
Internal energy

Measuring energy

Energy can be measured. The amount of energy a thing has can be given a number.

As in other kinds of measurements, there are measurement units. The units of measurement
for measuring energy are used to make the numbers meaningful.

Some scientific units of measurement

The SI unit for both energy and work is the joule (J). It is named after James Prescott Joule. 1
joule is equal to 1 newton-metre. In terms of SI base units, 1 J is equal to 1 kg m2 s2.

The energy unit of measurement for electricity is the kilowatt-hour (kWh). One kWh is
equivalent to 3,600,000 J (3600 kJ or 3.6 MJ)

Related pages
 Heat

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Energy

1.

1. Woolley, Steve. Edexcel IGCSE Physics Revision Guide. Pearson Education. p. 49.
ISBN 9780435046736.

Category:

Energy

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