Energy

10 Types:
• Gravitational Potential
• Electrical
• Sound
• Thermal/Heat
• Radiant/Light
• Elastic (strain)
• Chemical
• Nuclear
• Kinetic
• Magnetic
• Law of conservation of Energy:
“Energy cannot be created or
destroyed. It can only be changed
from one form to another.”

There are 10 forms energy can take:

You must know these.
 Gravitational Potential
Energy
• This is energy of height. If you do
work on an object against
gravity it gains G.P.E..
• Formula: G.P.E.=Weight*Height

• E.g. You lift a 300N child by 40m.

• How much work is done on him?
• How much G.P.E. does he gain?
Electrical Energy

• This is simply energy delivered

by electrical wires, by moving
charge.
Light Energy

• This is energy transferred by

light. A bulb gives out light
energy.
Sound Energy

• Energy of sound- produced by

vibrations.
Thermal (Heat) Energy

• Energy of hot objects

Radiant Energy
(includes light energy)
• Energy given out as
electromagnetic waves. E.g. the
Sun emits ultraviolet waves
which give the Earth energy.
Elastic (potential)
Energy (strain)
• Energy stored in a stretched or
compressed object.
Chemical Energy

• Energy that can be released in a

chemical reaction.
• This includes energy from food
released in respiration.
Nuclear Energy

• Energy stored in an atomic

nucleus. It can be released in
power stations.
Kinetic Energy

• This is energy of movement.

Faster objects have more K.E.

• Formula: K.E.=½mv²
Magnetic (potential)
energy
• The energy stored due to
magnets
Energy changes
What energy changes occur when the
following things happen?
• (a) a battery lights a light bulb
• (b) a boy lifts up a rock
• (c) an arrow is fired from a bow
• (d) a firework rocket moves upwards
• (e) a car is braked to a stop on a
level road
• (f) a firework explodes
• (g) a CD player plays a CD
• (h) a plant grows in the garden
Write the energy
changes
a) A monkey climbs a tree
b) A person accelerates
c) A piece of paper burns
d) A catapult fires a rock
e) A plant photosynthesises
f) Water cools
g) 2 magnets push each other away