Energy Conversion and Conservation

Law of Conservation of Energy

• Energy can not be created or destroyed but

is transformed from one form to another.

Example

Lighting a match

Chemical energy transforming into radiant

(light) and thermal (heat).

Types (kinds) of Energy

•PE (potential energy)
•KE (kinetic energy)

Potential Energy

• Energy due to height of an object.
• Stored energy

Examples

Books on a desk

At the top of a mountain
At the top of a slide

Water at the top of the falls

Kinetic Energy

• Energy from motion. The faster an object is, the

higher the kinetic energy.

Examples

Books falling

Skiing down a mountain

Sliding down a slide

Water going over the falls

Forms of energy

•Mechanical
•Heat/Thermal
•Chemical
•Electrical
•Electromagnetic
•Nuclear

Mechanical Energy

• Energy of motion or

position

• Not 100% efficient

much lost to heat

• Sound, wind,

waterfall,
compressed spring,
moving machine
parts

Electrical Energy

• Moving

electrical
charges.

• Electricity

from batteries,
power lines,
lightning

Electromagnetic (Radiant) Energy

• energy that travels in

waves; have electrical
and magnetic properties

• Light, Magnetism,

X-Rays, Radio waves,
microwaves,
ultraviolent and infrared
radiation

Heat/Thermal Energy

• The internal motion of

an objects atoms and
molecules.

• Measured by

temperature.

• The faster particles

move, the more thermal
energy they have.

• Fire

Nuclear Energy

• Energy stored in

center (nucleus) of an
atom

• Most powerful
• PE only
• Fission (breaking

apart), Fusion
(forming), Sun

Chemical Energy

• Energy stored by

chemical bonds in an
object.

• When bonds are

broken, energy is
released.

• gasoline, food, coal,

wood

Description of Process

A device in which nuclear fission initiates a
controlled chain reaction, producing heat
energy typically used for power generation

Energy Transformations

Nuclear (atoms) 🡪 Thermal (fission heat) 🡪
Mechanical (turbine) 🡪 Electrical (electricity)