Chemistry for Engineers Lesson 1 Quiz & Flashcards

Chemistry applications often involve energy and its transformations, critical in daily life.
Energy is defined as the ability to do work; it manifests in various forms including sound, light, and motion.

Energy is everywhere; examples include sound, light, wind, and mechanical actions.
Performing actions like hitting a ball, lifting objects, or digesting food involves energy usage.
Measurement unit for energy, linked to work, is the joule (J).

Objects gain energy when work is done on them, showcasing the connection between energy and work.
Common forms of energy:
- Heat Energy: Internal motion of atoms producing heat.
- Chemical Energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds.
- Electromagnetic Energy: Energy from light and other electromagnetic waves.
- Nuclear Energy: Energy released from atomic nuclei during fission or fusion.
- Mechanical Energy: Energy due to motion or position of an object.

Light is a key form of electromagnetic energy, with varying energy levels across the spectrum (RoyGBiv).
Includes other forms such as X-rays, radio waves, and laser light.

Potential Energy: Associated with an object's position relative to a reference point.
Kinetic Energy: Energy of an object due to its motion.

Energy transfer occurs via either heat (flow from hot to cold) or work (force applied over distance).
Heat is treated as a process rather than a quantity.

Different forms of energy can be transformed to enhance utility; energy cannot be created or destroyed.
The law of conservation of energy describes that energy can only change forms.
Example: Electrical energy transforms into light when a bulb is turned on.

A system is the focus during analysis, while surroundings encompass everything else.
The total energy of a system and its surroundings equals the universe's total energy.
A boundary separates the system from its surroundings, facilitating energy conservation analysis.