What are the different

types of energy?
Types of energy can be categorised into two broad categories – kinetic
energy (the energy of moving objects) and potential energy (energy that is
stored). These are the two basic forms of energy. The different types of
energy include thermal energy, radiant energy, chemical energy, nuclear
energy, electrical energy, motion energy, sound energy, elastic energy and
gravitational energy.

Heat or thermal energy

Thermal energy (also called heat energy) is produced when a rise in
temperature causes atoms and molecules to move faster and collide with
each other.
The energy that comes from the temperature of the heated substance is
called thermal energy.
What is thermal energy?
Thermal energy is energy that comes from a substance whose molecules
and atoms are vibrating faster due to a rise in temperature.
How is thermal energy produced?
The molecules and atoms that make up matter are moving all the time.
When a substance heats up, the rise in temperature makes these particles
move faster and bump into each other.
Thermal energy is the energy that comes from the heated up substance.
The hotter the substance, the more its particles move, and the higher its
thermal energy.

What are some examples of thermal energy?

Here are some everyday examples of thermal energy that you'll be familiar
with:

The hot chocolate has thermal energy from its vibrating particles. When
you pour some cold milk into your hot chocolate, some of this energy is
transferred from the chocolate to the particles in the milk.

So what happens? Your hot chocolate cools down because it lost some of
its thermal energy to the milk.
The tea has thermal energy from its vibrating particles. When you pour
some cold milk into your hot tea, some of this energy is transferred from the
tea to the particles in the milk.

Thermal energy comes from a substance whose molecules and atoms are
vibrating faster due to a rise in temperature.

Heat energy is another name for thermal energy.

Kinetic energy is the energy of a moving object. As thermal energy comes

from moving particles, it is a form of kinetic energy.

Chemical energy
Chemical energy is energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds,
like atoms and molecules. This energy is released when a chemical
reaction takes place.
Usually, once chemical energy has been released from a substance, that
substance is transformed into a completely new substance.
What is chemical energy?
Chemical energy is stored in the bonds that connect atoms with other
atoms and molecules with other molecules. Because chemical energy is
stored, it is a form of potential energy.
When a chemical reaction takes place, the stored chemical energy is
released.
Heat is often produced as a by-product of a chemical reaction – this is
called an exothermic reaction.
How is chemical energy used?
Chemical energy is the most widely used type of energy in the world, as it
is crucial to the existence of humans and the natural world.
Here are some examples of chemical energy in action:

- Chemical energy in food

The food we eat contains stored chemical energy. As the bonds between
the atoms in food loosen or break, a chemical reaction takes place, and
new compounds are created.
The energy produced from this reaction keeps us warm, helps us move,
and allows us to grow. Different foods store different amounts of energy.

- Chemical energy in wood

Dry wood contains stored chemical energy. When you burn that wood in a
fireplace, chemical energy is released and converted into thermal energy
(heat) and light energy.
And what about the wood? Following the chemical reaction, it's now turned
into a new substance – ash.

Chemical energy is energy that is stored in the bonds between chemical

compounds, such as atoms and molecules.
A chemical reaction is the process of atoms being rearranged due to a chemical
change, resulting in a new substance being produced.

An exothermic reaction is a form of chemical reaction when heat is produced as

a by-product.

Speedy Summary

Chemical energy is energy that is stored in the bonds between chemical

compounds. It is released when a chemical reaction takes place. A chemical
reaction results in a new substance being produced.

Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy comes from the nucleus of atoms. The energy is released
by nuclear fusion (nuclei are fused together) or nuclear fission (nuclei are
split apart). Nuclear plants use nuclear fission of a radioactive element
called uranium to generate electricity.

Where does nuclear energy come from?

Atoms – the particles that make up every object in the universe – consist of
neutrons, protons and electrons. They contain a nucleus, which is where
nuclear energy comes from.

Nuclear energy is released from an atom through either:

- Nuclear fusion, when nuclei of atoms are combined or fused together.

This is how the Sun produces energy.
 - Nuclear fission, when nuclei of atoms are split apart. This is the
method used by nuclear plants to generate electricity.

What is uranium?
Uranium is a radioactive element that was formed when the Earth was first
created. It occurs naturally in certain types of rock.

Uranium is one of the few elements that is easily fissioned, so is used as

fuel by nuclear power plants. Although uranium is found all over the world,
it is still a non-renewable energy source.

Electrical energy
Electrical energy is caused by moving electric charges called electrons.
The faster the charges move, the more electrical energy they carry.
As the charges that cause the energy are moving, electrical energy is a
form of kinetic energy.
Lightning, batteries and even electric eels are examples of electrical energy
in action!

What is electrical energy?

Electrical energy is a type of kinetic energy caused by moving electric
charges.
The amount of energy depends on the speed of the charges – the faster
they move, the more electrical energy they carry.
Let's imagine an electric charge is represented by a ball being thrown
against a window.
If you don't throw the ball very fast, it won't have enough energy to break
the window.
But if you throw the ball faster, it will have more energy and will be able to
smash through the window.
The faster you throw the ball, the more energy it will have to break the
window.
Is electrical energy always generated in the same way?
Electrical energy is generated in the same way regardless of the starting
form of energy. For example:

- In a nuclear power plant, nuclear energy heats water into steam The
steam is used to turn a turbine blade, which fires up a generator to
give electric charges their energy.

- In a hydroelectric plant, falling water is used to spin the turbine

blades. The blades turn the generator to create electrical energy.

- In a windmill, wind power turns the turbine blade, which – you've

guessed it! – makes the generator create electrical energy.

- Solar energy is energy produced directly from the sun. Solar energy
can be converted into electricity, or used to heat air, water or other
fluids.

What are some examples of electrical energy?

- In a car battery, a chemical reaction creates an electron which has
the energy to move in an electric current. These moving charges
provide electrical energy to the circuits in the car.

- During a thunderstorm, lightning is an example of electrical energy –

what we can see is electricity in the atmosphere being discharged.
 - Electric eels generate electrical energy, which they use to defend
against predators and to stun their prey.

Electrical energy is caused by moving electric charges called electrons.

Electricity is a type of energy that comes from electrical energy.

Kinetic energy is the energy of a moving object.

Radiant energy

Radiant energy is a form of electromagnetic energy. It can take the form of

visible waves – which is what we call light energy – or invisible waves such
as radio waves or x-rays.

As the charges that cause the energy are moving, electrical energy is a
form of kinetic energy.

Lightning, batteries and even electric eels are examples of electrical energy
in action!

What is radiant energy?

Radiant energy is the energy of electromagnetic waves. These waves can
travel through space.

Electromagnetic radiation is made up of tiny particles called photons – think

of them as little packets of energy.
Light energy is a form of radiant energy that is visible to the human eye.

Does the Sun produce radiant energy?

Yes, the Sun produces a lot of radiant energy, which is transmitted to Earth
as light.

Plants convert the electromagnetic energy in sunlight into chemical energy

for their food, through a process called photosynthesis.

What is light energy?

Light is a visible form of radiant energy that travels in waves. It is the only
form of energy that can be seen by the human eye.

Aside from the Sun, light energy is given off by other stars, light bulbs,
lasers and hot objects. Light energy is very useful, as it helps us to see the
world around us.

Light energy is also very fast – in fact, nothing travels faster!

What are some examples of radiant energy?

The electromagnetic waves that transmit radiant energy can come in all
sorts of forms. Light waves are the only type we can see with our eyes.

- Sunshine
- Solar Cells
- X Rays
- Radiant heating systems
Radiant energy is the energy of electromagnetic waves.

Radiation is the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves.

Light energy is a type of radiant energy that can be seen by the human
eye.

The Sun is the closest star to the planet Earth and radiates light energy.

Speedy Summary
Radiant energy is the energy of electromagnetic waves. These waves can
travel through space and include light waves – the only kind that are visible
to humans.

Light energy
Light energy is a form of electromagnetic radiation. Light consists of
photons, which are produced when an object's atoms heat up. Light travels
in waves and is the only form of energy visible to the human eye.

What is light energy?

Light energy is a form of electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength, which
can be seen by the human eye. It is a type of kinetic energy.

How does light travel?

Light energy travels in the form of waves. Light energy is very fast – in fact,
nothing travels faster.
How is light energy formed?
Light is made up of photons, which are like tiny packets of energy. When
an object's atoms heat up, photon are produced from the movement of
atoms. The hotter the object, the more photons are produced.

What are some examples of light energy?

Light energy is given off by things like stars, light bulbs, lasers, and hot
objects.

Our Sun – which is also a star – transmits light energy to Earth.

How is light energy used?

Light energy is used to help us see – either naturally using the Sun or fire,
or with manmade objects like candles or lightbulbs.

Light energy is also used by plants, which capture the light energy from the
Sun and use it to produce their food.

The speed of light in a vacuum is 299,792 kilometres per second. Now

that's fast!

Motion energy
Motion energy – also known as mechanical energy – is the energy stored in
moving objects. As the object moves faster, more energy is stored.

Motion energy is the sum of potential and kinetic energy in an object that is
used to do work.
What is motion energy?
Motion – or mechanical – energy is the energy stored in moving objects.

So motion energy must be a form of kinetic energy, right?

Well, not quite. Motion energy is actually the sum of kinetic and potential
energy in an object that is used to do work.

What do you mean by 'work'?

Work is when a force acts on an object and causes it to move, change
shape or position, or do something physical.

When you push a door open, 'work' has been done on the door, causing it
to move (open).

What's an example of motion energy in action?

Let's imagine you have an iron hammer and you want to use it to drive a
nail into a piece of wood on the floor.

The iron hammer on its own has no kinetic energy, but it has some
potential energy (because of its weight).
To do the work (i.e. drive the nail into the piece of wood), you first have to
lift the hammer up – this increases the potential energy of the hammer
because of its high position (see Gravitational Energy).
Next, you have to use force to move it down at great speed to hit the nail –
so it now has kinetic energy.
The sum of the potential and kinetic energy that the hammer has acquired
to drive in the nail is called motion energy – and that's what resulted in the
work being done.
What are some examples of motion energy?
Motion energy can be found in any moving object – here are some
examples:

Wind'

A ball being thrown

Someone running

A fish swimming

A Drone’s electric motor is given electrical energy and it creates motion.

Motion energy is the sum of potential and kinetic energy in an object that
is used to do work.

Work is when a force acts on an object and causes it to move, change

shape, displace, or do something physical.

Potential energy is energy that is stored in an object or substance.

Kinetic energy is the energy of a moving object.

Cool Facts
An electric motor makes mechanical energy from electrical energy, while a
generator does the complete opposite.
Sound energy
Sound is the movement of energy through a substance – like air or water –
and is caused by vibrations. Solids, liquids and gases transmit sound as
waves.

What is sound energy?

Sound energy is the movement of energy through a substance in waves.

How does sound energy travel?

Sound energy travels in the form of waves. Unlike light energy, sound
cannot travel through a vacuum, because there are no atoms to transmit
the vibration.

Think of it like a Mexican Wave at a sports stadium.

Each person that continues the wave is like an atom passing on the
vibration. No people means the Mexican Wave can't keep going – just like
no atoms (such as in a vacuum) means sound waves can't keep moving.

Sound can be transmitted by solids, liquids and gases, as these all have
atoms to pass on the vibrations.

How is sound energy produced?

Sound energy is produced when a force causes an object or substance to
vibrate. The energy is then transferred through the substance in waves,
called sound waves.

The Wave
Sound waves, like Mexican waves, can only travel if something passes the
wave on.

What are some examples of sound energy?

You can produce sound energy right now!

Here are some examples of how:

Talk or sing

Clap your hands

Stomp your feet

Play a musical instrument

Music is a form of sound energy.

Sound energy is the movement of energy through a substance in waves.

A vacuum is a space that contains absolutely no matter.

Vibrations are what cause sound energy.

Cool Facts
Did you know that radio waves aren't actually sound energy? Even though
they transmit information about sound, they are actually electromagnetic
energy.

Speedy Summary
Vocal sound energy is created when expelled air from our lungs passes
through the vocal folds.

Sound energy is the movement of energy through a substance – such as

air or water – in the form of waves. It is produced when a force causes an
object or substance to vibrate.

Elastic energy
Elastic energy is energy stored in an object when there is a temporary
strain on it – like in a coiled spring or a stretched elastic band.

The energy is stored in the bonds between atoms. The bonds absorb
energy as they are put under stress and release the energy as they relax
(when the object returns to its original shape).

What is elastic energy?

Elastic energy is a form of potential energy, because it is stored in the
bonds between atoms in an object or substance when it is temporarily
under stress. This stress could be due to the object being stretched or
squashed.

What causes elastic energy?

A force acting on an object can cause it to temporarily change its shape,
such as when you stretch an elastic band, or squash a squishy ball with
your hand.

When this happens, elastic energy can be stored in the object, ready to be
released when the object goes back to its original shape – when you let the
elastic band go, or loosen your grip on the squishy ball.

A temporary strain on an object stores elastic energy in the object.

Where is elastic energy stored?

Elastic energy is stored in the bonds between the atoms in an object or

substance. These bonds absorb energy as they are stressed, and release
that energy as they relax.

Think of it like a coiled spring – the spring absorbs energy when it is

compressed, then releases it when it springs back out.

What are some examples of elastic energy?

As we've seen, elastic energy can be found in things like elastic bands,
squishy balls, a bow and arrow, and coiled springs. It can also be found in
catapults and slingshots.

Springs

Slingshot
Elastic bands

Sponge

Can you think of any other objects that can be stretched or squashed to
produce elastic energy?

Squishy Ball
The atoms of a rubber ball are under stress when the ball is compressed.

Elastic energy is energy stored in an object due to a force that temporarily

changes its shape, such as squashing or stretching.

Potential energy is energy that is stored in an object or substance. Elastic

energy is a form of potential energy – in fact, it's often called 'elastic
potential energy'.

Cool Facts
You can produce your own elastic energy by stretching a muscle!

Speedy Summary
The more an elastic band stretches, the more elastic potential energy
exists.

Elastic energy is energy stored in objects when they are under temporary
strain, such as being stretched or squashed. The energy is released when
the object returns to its original shape.
 Gravitational energy
As you may have guessed, gravitational energy is energy associated with
gravity. It is the potential energy stored by an object because of its higher
position compared to a lower position. (e.g. if it's further away or closer to
the ground).

Gravitational energy is energy associated with gravity.

What is gravity?
Gravity is a force which tries to pull two objects toward each other. Earth's
gravity is what keeps you on the ground and what causes objects to fall.

The Earth has gravity. Gravity holds everything close to this planet. Trees,
water, animals, buildings, and the air we breathe are all held here by
gravity. The planets, their moons, and the stars in the universe have
gravity. Even our own bodies have gravity. The Earth's gravity is far
stronger than our own so we don't notice the gravity our bodies have.

The Earth's tides are caused by the moon's gravitational pull on the
oceans. Tides are the rise and fall of the ocean level as related to the
shoreline.

What causes gravitational energy?

Systems can increase gravitational energy as mass moves away from the
centre of the Earth or other objects that are large enough to produce
significant amounts of gravity (like our Sun, the planets and stars).

What is gravitational energy?

Gravitational energy is the energy stored in an object due to its height
above the Earth (e.g. if it's further away or closer to the ground). It is a form
of potential energy.

Skateboarder
An object's height above the ground gives it gravitational energy.

What is an example of gravitational energy in action?

The pendulum is a simple machine for transferring gravitational potential
energy to kinetic energy, and back again. When the bob is at the highest
point of its swing, it has no kinetic energy, but its gravitational potential
energy is at a maximum. As the bob swings downwards, gravitational
potential energy is transferred to kinetic energy, and the bob accelerates.

At the bottom of its swing, the bob's kinetic energy is at a maximum and its
gravitational potential energy is at a minimum.

As the bob swings upwards, its kinetic energy is transferred to gravitational

potential energy again. At the top of its swing, it once again has no kinetic
energy, but its gravitational potential energy is at a maximum.

Note that the bob's swing will become lower with each swing, because
some energy is also transferred as heat to the surroundings.

Further examples are:

Water stored in a dam, a large boulder at the edge of a cliff, roller coasters,
a skateboard on the top of a ramp.
A pendulum converts potential energy from gravity into kinetic energy and
back again.

Basketball
Gravitational force pulls the ball back towards the ground.

Gravitational energy is potential energy stored in an object based on its

distance from the Earth.

Potential energy is energy that is stored in an object or substance.

Gravitational energy is a form of potential energy.

The Earth, the Sun, planets and stars all produce significant amounts of
gravity.

Cool Facts
Black holes have the strongest gravitational pull in the entire Universe.

Cool Facts
When you ride on a rollercoaster, you might experience 'microgravity',
which means you are falling at the same speed as the vehicle you're
travelling in.

Cool Facts
Black holes have the strongest gravitational pull in the entire Universe.

Cool Facts
When you ride on a rollercoaster, you might experience 'microgravity',
which means you are falling at the same speed as the vehicle you're
travelling in.

Speedy Summary
Newton's Cradle
The amount of gravitational potential energy is dependent upon the mass
(m) of the object and the height (h) of the object.

Gravitational energy is stored potential energy in an object based on its

high position compared to a lower position.

What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?

While it might sound complex, the First Law of Conservation of energy
simply states that energy can never be created or destroyed, but it can be
transformed from one type to another.
Kinetic energy is the energy of a moving object.

Potential energy is energy that is stored in an object or substance.

The Law of Conservation of energy is that energy can be transformed from

one form to another, but can be neither created or destroyed.

Notice that these energy transfer examples only show the useful energy
transfers. However, car engines are also noisy (sound energy) and hot
(thermal energy) and electric lamps also give out heat energy.