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As you have already learned, energy cannot be destroyed. It can only be changed into a different form. All four forms of energy that you have learned about can be changed or converted into other forms. In this activity, you will learn about energy conversion.

Energy conversion, also called energy transformation, is the process of changing one form of energy to another form of energy.

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There are many different types of energy conversions. Let's take a look at a few of the conversions below.

Chemical energy can be converted into several forms. It can be converted into electrical energy. When you turn on a flashlight, the chemical energy in the batteries is converted into electrical energy to light the bulb. You could even take it a step further and say the electrical energy is converted into light energy and thermal energy because the light bulb heats up.

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Did you wake up this morning because of a battery-operated alarm clock? Another example of chemical energy being converted into another form occurs in the alarm clock. Again, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy to run the clock. If the clock has a light on it, the electrical energy is converted into light energy. Even if it does not have a light, the electrical energy is converted into another form. Can you think of what it is? That's right — it is converted into sound energy to wake you up!

Mechanical energy can also be converted into other forms. When the turbine in a power plant spins, it has a form of mechanical energy. This is converted into electrical energy. What happens when you rub your hands together really fast? They get warm. This is mechanical energy being converted into thermal energy.

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Thermal energy can be converted into other forms as well. It can be turned into electrical energy by heating the water into steam, which then turns the turbine to make electricity. It can also be converted into light energy. If something gets hot enough, it will begin to glow and give off light.

Click on the Play button below to watch a video that further explains energy conversions.

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