You know that energy is the ability to do work. Think about some of the various machines and equipment used to do work or move things. You realize that energy can take many forms. In this activity, you will look closer at some of the various forms of energy.

Several forms of energy are probably quite familiar to you. Let's take a look at some of these below, including thermal energy, mechanical energy, electrical energy, chemical energy, sound energy, and light energy.

Thermal Energy

This is energy related to heat. The warmer a material feels, the more thermal energy it has. A pot of boiling water has more thermal energy than a pot of cold water.

 

---

 

Mechanical Energy

This is energy related to movement. A moving object has mechanical energy. If an object can move, it has potential energy. A loaded dump truck has potential energy; when it is dumping its load, it has mechanical energy.

---

Electrical Energy

This is energy that is related to electrons (the part of an atom that has a negative electric charge). If electrons are moving from one place to another, electrical energy is moving. When we feel a shock from static electricity, we are experiencing electrical energy.

  

---

 

Chemical Energy

This is energy related to the energy stored in elements or chemicals. Before a chemical reaction occurs, the potential energy is stored in the element or chemical. When a chemical reaction occurs, chemical energy is released. You know that rust is formed when iron and oxygen react. This is an example of chemical energy being released very slowly.

Light Energy

Light energy is the only form of energy that we can actually see directly. It comes from the sun and other light sources. It is formed through chemical, radiation, and mechanical means. Light energy can also be converted into other forms of energy.

Sound Energy

Sound is the movement of energy through vibrating objects. Sound is produced when a force causes an object or substance to vibrate — the energy is transferred through the substance in a wave. Typically, the amount of energy in sound is far less than other forms of energy.