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Lesson Transcript
Instructor: Richard Cardenas
Richard Cardenas has taught Physics for 15 years. He has a Ph.D. in Physics with a focus on Biological
Physics.
In this lesson, you will learn about the diᝪerent kinds of energy and how these types of energy can be
transformed from one form to another. You will also learn about some uses of these energy
transformations in everyday life.
What is Energy Transformation?
The conservation of energy principle states that energy can neither be destroyed nor
created. Instead, energy just transforms from one form into another. So what exactly is energy
transformation? Well, as you might guess, energy transformation is de륨玹ned as the process of
changing energy from one form to another.
There are so many diᝪerent kinds of energy that can transform from one form to another.
There is energy from chemical reactions called chemical energy, energy from thermal
processes called heat energy, and energy from charged particles called electrical energy.
The process of 륨玹ssion, which is splitting atoms, and fusion, which is combining atom gives us
another type of energy called nuclear energy. And 륨玹nally, the energy of motion, kinetic
energy, and the energy associated with position, potential energy, are collectively called
mechanical energy.
That sounds like quite a lot, doesn't it? Well it is, but don't worry, it's actually all pretty easy to
remember. Next, we'll explore all of these kinds of possible transformations in more detail.
Diᝪerent Types of Energy Transformations
Chemical Energy
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Chemical energy is the energy stored within a substance through the bonds of chemical
compounds. The energy stored in these chemical bonds can be released and transformed
during any type of chemical reaction.
Think of when you're hungry. When you eat a piece of bread to satisfy this hunger, your body
breaks down the chemical bonds of the bread and uses it to supply energy to your body. In
this process, the chemical energy is transformed into mechanical energy, which you use to
move, and which we'll cover in more detail in a moment. It also transforms it into thermal
energy, which is created through the metabolic processes in your body to generate heat. Most
of the time, chemical energy is released in the form of heat, and this transformation from
chemical energy to heat, or thermal energy, is called an exothermic reaction.
Mechanical Energy
Next, there are two main types of mechanical energy: kinetic energy and potential energy.
Kinetic energy is the energy associated with the motion of an object. Therefore, any object
that moves has kinetic energy. Likewise, there are two type of potential energy: gravitational
potential energy and elastic potential energy. Gravitational potential energy is associated
with the energy stored by an object because of its location above the ground. Elastic
potential energy is the energy stored by any object that can stretch or compress. Potential
energy can be converted to kinetic energy and vice versa.
For example, when you do a death-defying bungee jump oᝪ a bridge, you are executing a
variety of energy transformations. First, as you prepare to jump, you have gravitational
potential energy - the bungee cord is slack so there is no elastic potential energy. Once you
jump, you convert this gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy as you fall down. At
the same time, the bungee cord begins to stretch out. As the cord stretches, it begins to store
elastic potential energy. You stop at the very bottom when the cord is fully stretched out, so at
this point you have elastic potential energy. The cord then whips you back up, thereby
converting the stored elastic potential energy into kinetic energy and gravitational potential
energy. The process then repeats.
Electrical Energy
Electrical energy is the energy carried by charged particles as they move around a conductor.
A perfect example of electrical energy being released is during a lightning storm. A lightning
strike on a tree is an example of electrical energy being transformed into heat or thermal
energy. The tree becomes hot and may even burn as a result of the electrical discharge.
Chemical energy can also be converted into electrical energy. For example, the chemical
energy in a battery is converted into electrical energy. The electrical energy, which involves the
motion of electrical charges or currents, can be used to power everyday devices like
computers and 咣伆ashlights
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Mechanical energy can also be transformed into electrical energy. For example, a
hydroelectric plant uses the mechanical energy of 咣伆owing water to generate electrical energy.
Wind energy is another mechanical to electrical energy transformation. The mechanical energy
of the wind is transformed into electrical energy which can be then transformed into other
types of energy.
Nuclear Energy
Finally, nuclear energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. This energy can be
manifested in two diᝪerent ways. First is the 륨玹ssion process. In nuclear 륨玹ssion an unstable
nucleus breaks apart and, in the process, releases a tremendous amount of energy. The
atomic bomb is an example of a 륨玹ssion process. In short, the energy released from breaking a
tiny atomic nucleus can release enough energy to destroy a city or two. The energy from
nuclear 륨玹ssion can be converted into electrical energy, thermal energy, and mechanical
energy.
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