Chapter 1 - Nuclear Energy
The way these atoms behave determines what form of energy we see.
Fusion creates 10 times the amount of energy as fission.
How does nuclear energy explain a phenomenon? It's the energy that creates a star!
Three things in nature (one example: a supernova) act like bulldozers to scoop lots of hydrogen together to make stars. If the force is too strong, the gas scatters and nothing happens. If it is too weak, then there won't be enough gas gathered for anything to happen. If it is JUST RIGHT, then the gas will come together to form a new star!
Within these gas clouds, the hydrogen atoms link together with carbon releasing energy. Friction heats things up even more. Gravity, from the mass of the cloud, causes it to draw together further. Atomic collisions then begin to fuse atoms together. As the proto-star begins, it will gather more gas and grow, and the continued fusion, or nuclear energy will make it hotter and brighter.
What is Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE)? It is when an object (made of atoms) are positioned in a way that they can fall, like dominoes set up to topple, or when an object is placed where it can fall, like a marble on the edge of a ramp. GPE is not the same as the force of gravity!
As the object falls, it's GPE transforms into motion energy, as demonstrated below.
Gravitational potential energy (GPE) explains the phenomenon of why it is louder when objects are dropped from higher heights. If this barbell was dropped while 1 inch from the ground it would make a minor clang because the GPE is low. Dropping it while it is 2 feet from the ground creates a very loud clang because the GPE at that height is much greater. If these weights were dropped from 20 feet in the air, it would be an incredibly loud crash, because it's GPE at the highest point is much, much greater!
Reminder: The higher the object is off the ground, the more potential energy the object has.
Energy transformation: GPE --> Motion --> Sound
Chapter 3 - Radiant Energy
Radiant energy explains the phenomenon of photosynthesis: In photosynthesis, sunlight (radiant energy) hits a leaf and breaks apart the water and carbon dioxide molecules found inside, turning them into carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms. Then they recombine (using chemical energy), turning these pieces into sugar! The carbon makes a long chain, which is surrounded by oxygen & hydrogen.
Energy Transformation: Radiant Energy --> Chemical Energy
Chapter 4 - Thermal Energy
You can feel thermal energy, yourself, when you you rub your hands together really fast!
ENERGY TRANSFORMATION: RADIANT ENERGY ---> THERMAL ENERGY
Using gasoline to drive cars, natural gas to warm homes, & coal to make electricity for our electronics all add to the Greenhouse Effect which is making our planet warmer!
I little warmth is helpful, but a lot of it causes trouble! When gas is heated, it expands because the moving atoms push and pull each other more vigorously, causing them to spread out and take more space.
Heat also travels to cold areas. The heat from a pot of boiling water can travel through the pot's handle, in a process called conduction, which is why we warn children not to grab handles, as they may be burning hot!
Why is this a big deal? The atmosphere is getting hotter & hotter, due to the Greenhouse Effect, and that warm air is not expanding forcefully towards the cold air surrounding the poles. As the warm air pushes in, it forces freezing cold air south. Some states in the U.S. experienced temperatures colder than Antarctica!
We recently experienced this, and as a result, 22 states in the U.S. experienced temperatures below freezing. Some with a windchill factor of -60 degrees Fahrenheit. Frighteningly, warnings soon went out about the dangers of breathing too deeply outside, due to the extreme cold! So far 21 people have died due to this storm.
Chapter 5 - Chemical Energy
How does chemical energy explain the phenomenon of respiration? Inside our cells, sugars from food is combined with oxygen from our lungs, which releases electrical energy, and we breath our steam (water) and carbon dioxide.
------------- Energy Transformation: Chemical Energy --> Electrical Energy ------------- Example: eating food to power muscles with electrical impulses from the nervous system.
Chapter 6 - Electrical Energy
Chapter 7 - Sound Energy
Where does the energy from sound come from? The energy comes from atoms. What is sound energy? It is when atoms are vibrating. As you can see below, the fluid in the speaker is vibrating, which is causing waves.
How does it transfer? Well you can plug in a stereo to use electrical energy & transform it into sound, but an even stranger phenomenon to when thermal energy makes sound. People have recently reported a strange, new phenomenon. Loud booms of sound due to the polar vortex! Frostquakes occur when water seeps into the ground and it rapidly freezes and deforms the ground, cracking it, which makes a loud boom that is loud enough to wake people from their sleep.
Energy transformation: Thermal energy --> Sound energy
Chapter 8 - Motion Energy
The movement of the planets traveling around the sun, can be explained by motion energy. The atoms of the planet Earth and the sun are pulling towards each other, due to the force of gravity drawing those atoms towards each other. Since the sun is always moving, and Earth and the other planets are always moving along with it. This creates the spiral shape of a helix.
Energy transformation: Gravitational potential energy --> Motion energy
Chapter 9 - Stored Mechanical Energy
This wind-up toy of Jack Jack uses stored mechanical energy. To add the energy, a person would wind a knob on Jack Jack's back. This would tighten a coil inside Jack Jack. When the knob is released, the coil will slowly unwind. As it unwinds, it moves the mechanical legs, moving Jack Jack forward.
Wind-up toy, energy transformation: Stored Mechanical energy --> Motion energy.
Final thoughts... All energy essentially comes from atoms. It is how those atoms behave which determines the form of energy that we see. Energy is never created or destroyed, it only transforms from one form to another. Learning about different forms of energy helps me understand different phenomenon (interesting things that happen in the world that require an explanation).
Credits:
Created with images by O12 - "thunderstorm flashes flash" • ulleo - "domino dominoes play" • Alora Griffiths - "untitled image" • 27707 - "model train model railway model" • Riccardo Chiarini - "Venice and the power of light"