Forms of Energy: Potential and Kinetic Energy
If we know the definition of energy, we can better understand its different forms of energy. All other forms of energy are either potential or kinetic. Kinetic energy is equal to the change of velocity or movement in an object while an object is spinning. Potential energy is not stored energy; rather, it is only kinetic energy that has been converted into a usable form.
1. Potential Energy
Potential energy is the form of energy, it is defined as the stored energy possessed by a system as a result of the relative positions of the components of that system.
I. Gravitational Potential Energy
The gravitational potential energy gained from an object being raised is inversely proportional to the work put into the object, which exactly cancels out gravity. So, if you take an object and make it rise, you will obtain the same amount of gravitational potential energy that you would have if it had stayed down. Thus, objects in the Universe, whether they are in low orbits around other objects or moving around other fast-moving objects in the Universe, all possess gravitational fields, just like you and I. There is a lot of interest in this topic because there have been some theories about the connection between space travel and the movements of celestial bodies.
II. Potential Chemical Energy
According to Merriam-Websters: “The energy of a compound is the product of its temperature, tenseness, and change of state.” Thus, potential chemical energy is the potential of some chemical substance to undergo an energetic process to change into other substances in a useful way.
In the form of direct heat or light, energy is the capacity of objects to attain or conserve a specific amount of it. Thus, when we speak of the stored energy of objects, they retain the stored form of energy even after their original consumption. Thus, the form of energy stored in batteries is chemical energy. The potential of such energy is known as chemical energy. Now, let’s define how we can use such energy to our advantage.
Let’s assume we take the example of a battery. The chemical bonds of these atoms are broken between pieces of metals and sodium ions are used to create the electrical energy needed by the battery to work. The number of times this process occurs is dependent on the size of the battery. The greater the number of bonds, the greater is the electrical energy retained by the battery. This electrical energy may be used to power small appliances, electronic devices, etc.
III. Nuclear Energy – A Clean and Effective Source of Green Energy
Nuclear Energy is utilized to boil water to create steam that creates electricity to power industry and generates clean energy. The major conventional resources of nuclear energy are Uranium and thorium. In thorium, an isotope of Uranium, nu-eru-ton has been produced by nuclear fission reaction in order to obtain the useful product. Uranium is an important nuclear element and the raw material to produce fuel rods for nuclear propulsion vehicles, nuclear waste storage, and nuclear power plants. Due to the risk of accidents, many countries haven’t gotten involved in using nuclear energy yet, but it’s still on the rise.
Nuclear Energy is defined as occurring during the process of fission. This process releases energy in the form of either gamma rays or neutrons. The neutrons that result from a nuclear fission reaction are very high energy, and consequently, it releases more energy than what was initially used, resulting in a chain reaction. Once the chain reaction is initiated, atoms split and move together, creating a nuclear chain reaction, resulting in energy release. Once nuclear fusion occurs, an atom creates energy in the form of a high wattage atom.
Nuclear Energy is a very efficient and clean source of power, as it has no byproducts such as carbon dioxide or mercury, which pollute the atmosphere. It also doesn’t deplete the non-reactive nuclear fuel that is stored in spent nuclear fuel rods at commercial nuclear power plants. One of the main benefits of nuclear energy is the use of nuclear fission to convert nuclear fuel into a useful power plant by eliminating the need for fossil fuels. Another benefit is the waste created from the process, which is very low in volume and is considered to be secure if removed carefully. The environmental benefits of nuclear energy outweigh these benefits thousands of times over.
IV. Elastic Potential Energy
Elastic potential energy, also known as dynamic potential energy, is the energy stored due to applying a continuous force to an elastic object, thereby deforming it. The stored energy is then converted into electric energy when the force required to deform the object is removed. Elastic potential energy can be defined as the amount of energy that can be transformed from one state to another by means of a dynamic object, and it is useful for electric generators. Elastic potential energy benefits can be harnessed for a number of purposes and are especially valuable for use in applications that require the production of electricity at low cost.
An example of Elastic potential Energy can be harnessed in the construction of a generator. A gravitational potential energy device can be constructed by aligning mirrors with opposite pole pieces, which will cause the mirrors to focus on the North Pole of the sky. Such a device will create huge amounts of energy, which can then be transformed into electrical energy by way of an inverter.
2. Forms of Energy: Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Energy is a form of energy, which a physical object, like a rock or a car, gains from its movement. When work, which transfers work energy to an object, is performed on an object it gains kinetic energy through its momentum. Kinetic Energy is a form of energy that cannot be simply measured or derived. The definition of kinetic energy actually comes from a description of matter, in the form of the potential energy which an object possesses at a time because of its position. The potential energy would be described as existing prior to any movement that took place, and the actual motion would be realized after the work is performed.
An example of Kinetic Energy is when a rock rolling down a hillside at a certain speed is felt by the people walking along the path as the rock bumps into them. If we find out that this rock is traveling at a certain speed through the hill, we can deduce that the people walking underneath would move at a certain speed also. Thus we have kinetic energy, and if we know how to convert this energy to electricity, then we have another example of working Energy or electric Energy. Electric motors work on the same principle, the difference being that electric motors replace the moving parts. Thus when we want to produce electricity, we need to use electric motors instead of the more conventional mechanics.
The conversion of the Kinetic Energy from external to the internal source is called a conversion. The conversion of working energy from a constant velocity change to a constant velocity change or work done to work is called dynamic lifting. When the source of mechanical energy is the change in velocity of an object, we get the integral formula for it..
I. Radiant Energy
Radiant Energy reaching the Earth from the Sun. The term ‘solar energy‘ often refers to converting sunlight into electricity by photovoltaics, concentrating solar thermal devices, or other experimental technologies.
II. Thermal Energy
Thermal energy is the energy that comes from the temperature of a substance. The hotter the substance, the greater the vibration of the molecules and therefore the higher the heat energy.
Thermal energy, the internal energy that exists in a system in thermodynamic equilibrium due to its temperature. Thermal Energy cannot become useful work as easily as the energy of systems that are not in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium. For example, a liquid or mobile solid has energy that can be converted to work in a mechanical device, such as a windmill or water wheel, but the same liquid or solid in thermodynamic equilibrium with the same energy (such as heat) cannot work, unless combined with another substance at a different temperature, for example in a heat engine.
III. Sound Energy
Sound Energy is the movement of energy through matter – such as air or water – in the form of waves. When an object causes an object or substance to vibrate.. Sound is like a light in a way: it comes from a specific source (like an instrument or a noisy machine), just as light comes from the Sun or a light bulb. But there are also some very important differences between light and sound. We know that light can travel through a vacuum because sunlight must travel through the vacuum of space to reach us on Earth. However, sound cannot travel through a vacuum: it must always have something to travel through (known as the environment), such as air, water, glass, or metal.
IV. Mechanical Energy
Mechanical energy is a combination of potential energy and Kinetic energy (Main forms of energy). When only conservative forces act on the object (eg gravity), its mechanical energy remains constant. Elastic collisions are examples in which the system’s mechanical energy is preserved.The law of conservation of mechanical energy explains that mechanical energy cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system. Instead, energy can only be transferred between potential energy and kinetic energy. Of course, part of the system’s energy is always lost from friction and heat in the real world.
V. Electrical Energy
Electric Energy is one of the forms of energy arising from the flow of electric charge. Energy is the ability to perform work or apply force to move an object. In the case of electrical energy, the force is the electrical attraction or repulsion between charged particles. Electrical Energy can produce through these common methods; Friction, Heat, Light, Chemical, Pressure, and Magnetism.
