Understanding Energy: Forms, Sources, and Conservation

Understanding Energy

Energy: is the physical quantity by which bodies are able to make changes on themselves or on other bodies.

Forms of Energy

• Mechanical Energy: The energy bodies possess by being in motion (kinetic), by being some distance above the soil surface (potential), or by experiencing deformation (elastic).
• Electrical Power: Current electricity is produced in large facilities called power plants through electric generators. It also occurs in dry cell batteries.
• Nuclear Power: This comes from nuclear fusion and fission reactions. In these reactions, the mass of the nuclei is converted into this form of energy.
• Heat: This is the form of energy that flows from one body to another when there is a temperature difference. It produces effects such as temperature variations, changes in state, or dilation.
• Chemical Energy: All naturally occurring compounds possess this energy, stored in their chemical bonds. It is released in chemical reactions that occur in both inert matter and living organisms.
• Radiant Energy: This is electromagnetic energy. Solar radiation is the most important, as it provides most of the energy available to Earth.

Energy Sources

Energy sources: are the various resources that exist in nature from which humans can obtain usable energy for their activities.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

• Coal: This sedimentary rock is used as fuel in power plants and metallurgical industries.
• Petroleum: Most of the energy currently obtained comes from this mixture of hydrocarbons.
• Natural Gas: It has great heating power, is clean, and burns cleaner than other fossil fuels.
• Fissionable Materials: Fissile materials undergo nuclear reactions of fusion and fission, releasing large amounts of energy.

Renewable Energy Sources

• Water Reservoirs: Water retained at high altitudes possesses gravitational potential energy that can be converted into kinetic and then electrical energy.
• Wind: In wind power, wind turbines transmit wind energy to an electric generator.
• The Sun: Its electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by solar panels and used for heating or electricity generation.
• The Sea: Wave power plants exploit tidal power and water movement to produce electricity.
• Biomass: Non-fossilized organic matter is used as fuel directly or through various processes.
• Internal Earth Heat: Hot springs, fumaroles, and geysers are manifestations of geothermal energy on the planet.

The Law of Conservation of Energy

Conservation of Energy Principle: Energy changes form, but the overall amount of energy remains constant.