What is energy?
Energy is the ability to do
work. It comes in different forms -- heat (thermal), light
(radiant), mechanical, electrical, chemical, and nuclear energy.
Energy is in everything. We use energy to do everything we do,
from making a jump shot to baking our favorite cookies to
sending astronauts into space -- energy is there, making sure we
have the power to do it all. There are two types of energy --
stored (potential) energy and moving/working (kinetic) energy.1
Energy can be
found in a number of different forms, such as chemical energy,
electrical energy, heat (thermal energy), sound, light (radiant
energy), mechanical energy, and nuclear energy.2
Top
What are the sources
of energy?
There are many sources of
energy. All materials we use that come from Earth are called
natural resources. Natural resources that provide energy
include the fossil fuels coal, oil (petroleum), natural gas.
These are nonrenewable sources of energy. Nonrenewable
means that we can't replace these resources because they took
millions of years to make. We can make them last longer by
recycling, reusing, and reducing our use of them.
There are also renewable
energy sources. Renewable energy sources can be replenished
in a short period of time. Some examples of renewable energy
sources include geothermal, wind, solar, biomass, hydro (water),
and hydrogen.
More..
Top
Energy Links
1 -
Energy Information Administration, "Energy Kids Page",
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/whatsenergy.html.
1998.
2 - California Energy Commission,
"The Energy Story",
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter01.html. 2002.
Viewed 1/17/2008.