Lesson #1
ENERGY
What is Energy?
It is the ability to do work or make things happen. Energy is present everywhere. It is used by us everyday eg eating, running, playing etc.
What are the various forms of Energy?
Kinetic Energy: It is the energy of motion. When you are running you have kinetic energy.
Potential Energy: It is the stored energy. A yo-yo before its released is a good example of potential energy.
- Energy is a part of our everyday life, whether it is turning on a light bulb or bouncing a basketball.
- We get energy from various sources eg solar energy, energy from foods that we eat.
Elastic Energy
Elastic energy is a type of potential energy that is stored in objects that can be stretched or compressed. Examples are rubber bands, springs etc.
The amount of elastic energy depends on how much the object is stretched and the material type. More the object is stretched more is the elastic potential energy.
When you let go of a stretched rubber band the stored elastic energy is converted into kinetic energy.
Gravitational Energy
Gravitational Energy is a form of potential energy associated with the height or position of an object in a gravitational field. Gravitational Potential energy is directly proportional to the height or distance an object is from its reference point. The higher the object the greater is the potential energy.
Some examples of gravitational potential energy is water that is behind a dam, a book on the table before it falls.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is the energy that is released during nuclear reactions from the nucleus of an atom.
The two main forms of energy release are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. A large amount of energy is produced from a small amount of nuclear fuel.
Chemical Energy
Chemical energy is a form of potential energy that is stored within chemical compounds between the bonds of the atoms and molecules.
Example – The energy stored in chemical compounds of food is converted into energy for the human body through the process of metabolism.
Electrical Energy
Electrical energy is a form of energy resulting from charged electrons and protons. It can be easily converted into light, heat, and mechanical energy.
Power Plants, Batteries, and Renewable sources like wind turbines convert energy from wind to electricity.
Heat Energy
Heat Energy represents a transfer of thermal energy between substances at different temperatures. It flows naturally from hotter to cooler objects until thermal equilibrium is reached.
Sources of heat energy are chemical reactions, geothermal energy and nuclear reactions.
Sound Energy
Sound Energy is an energy that is produced when an object vibrates creating pressure or sound waves. It travels in all directions from the source of vibration. It requires a medium to propagate and cannot travel through a vacuum.
The loudness of the sound depends on the amplitude. Sound energy can be converted into electrical signals and vice versa.
Suggested Activities
Snap Circuit Experiments
The electronics snap circuits have projects ranging from how electricity is turned on/off with a switch to building a game for racing. This is a perfect hands-on learning game and a fun way to learn about electronics.
You can tinker with different circuit configurations and write your observations and learnings.
Learning from the snap circuit experiments, please explain the difference between a battery power source and a photovoltaic source
Potato Power Experiment
You will use potatoes to light an LED clock or light bulb and learn how chemical energy changes to electrical energy.
You can tinker with different circuit configurations and write your observations and learnings.
Energy Journal – Capture images and record in your energy journal.
Additional Learning Resources
EIA Energy Kids - Energy Kids: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Educational Resources, interactive games, and activities about energy sources and basics
of electricity generation.
National Geographic Kids
Engaging articles, videos, and quizzes that cover energy conservation.