Science Workbook: Vocabulary Quiz

Energy Basics

• Energy is the ability to do work.
• Energy can take many forms, including electrical, heat, radiant, fossil fuel, mechanical, chemical, nuclear, kinetic, and potential energy.

Types of Energy

• Electrical Energy: the movement of electrons through a conductor.
• Heat Energy: the movement of energy from one object to another.
• Radiant Energy: energy created through electromagnetic waves (e.g., solar energy).
• Fossil Fuel Energy: non-renewable resources such as coal, oil, and gas.
• Mechanical Energy: also known as motion energy, when a force acts on an object to make it move.
• Chemical Energy: energy released through a chemical reaction.
• Nuclear Energy: energy stored in the nucleus of an atom.
• Kinetic Energy: energy at work, measured in Joules.
• Potential Energy: energy "stored" in an object.

Conservation and Resources

• Non-Renewable Resource: something that can only be used once (e.g., coal, oil, gas).
• Renewable Resource: something that can be used more than once because it is replaced naturally (e.g., sun, wind).
• Conservation of Energy: saving energy by not using more than what is needed.
• Dissipation: wasting energy through unnecessary uses.

Energy Examples and Applications

• Light bulbs produce thermal energy and radiant energy.
• LED lights are more energy efficient than older light bulbs because they generate less heat.
• Static electricity occurs when an object is charged with electrons, like when clothes stick together after being in the dryer.
• Digesting food is an example of chemical energy.