Energy Transformations Flashcards

Energy Transformations

• Energy transformations involve changes from one form of energy to another, such as chemical to kinetic.

Examples of Energy Transformations

• Electric Fan: Transforms electric energy into motion.
• Lamp: Converts electric energy into light.
• Iron: Changes electric energy into thermal energy.
• Automobile: Performs transformation from chemical energy (fuel) to thermal energy (engine heat) to mechanical (movement).
• Tape Player with Batteries: Converts chemical energy to electric energy, then to motion, and finally to sound.
• Hot Air Balloon: Converts chemical energy to thermal energy, to motion, and can include GPS technology.

Types of Energy

• Kinetic Energy: Defined as the energy of movement.
• Potential Energy: Refers to stored energy.

Energy Efficiency

• Energy transformations are not 100% efficient; less than 100% of energy is converted during transformations.

Motion and Resistance

• Objects slow down due to opposing forces acting against their motion when no longer pushed.

Energy in Objects

• Rubber bands have stored energy when wound and motion is halted.
• Forms of Energy: Include light, electrical, mechanical, and heat.

Energy for Lighting

• Lighting a bulb from a generator involves transforming chemical potential energy to electric energy to mechanical energy, which results in light.

Heat Transfer Methods

• Radiation: Heat transfer via electromagnetic radiation, primarily from the sun.
• Conduction: Direct heat transfer through contact between substances.
• Convection: Heat transfer through the movement of fluids.

Energy Concepts

• Work: Defined as the transfer of energy through motion.
• Energy: The ability to cause change.
• Mechanical Energy: Total energy in a system, combining kinetic and potential energy.

Energy Examples

• Kinetic Energy: Observed in moving objects like a skateboard or a basketball passing through a hoop.
• Potential Energy: Found in stationary objects, like a rock at the edge of a cliff, a glass of milk, gasoline, or an acorn hanging from a tree.
• Movement, such as climbing a ladder or blowing wind, represents kinetic energy.