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# School of Engineering and Computing - Lecture 1 - Introduction ## Energy Energy is the ability to do work. It exists in various forms, from the physical movement of objects _(kinetic energy)_ to the stored potential for change _(potential energy)_. **Examples:** * **Kinetic energy:** a moving...

# School of Engineering and Computing - Lecture 1 - Introduction ## Energy Energy is the ability to do work. It exists in various forms, from the physical movement of objects _(kinetic energy)_ to the stored potential for change _(potential energy)_. **Examples:** * **Kinetic energy:** a moving car, falling object, spinning top. * **Potential energy:** a book on a shelf, stretched spring, water held behind a dam. * **Thermal energy:** heat from the sun, hot coffee, warmth of a fire. * **Chemical energy:** food, fossil fuels, batteries. * **Electrical energy:** the flow of electrons through wires, powering appliances and lights. ## Global Energy Scenario - Global Energy Consumption Panorama * **Total energy demand:** 157,000 TWh (terawatt-hours) in 2022, representing a constant rise over the past decades. * **Per capita consumption:** 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per person globally, with significant variations between regions. * **Fossil fuels reign supreme:** 83% of global energy comes from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), raising concerns about climate change and resource depletion. The document contains a graphic with world map highlighting energy consumption per capita and final energy consumption per capita in 2004 and 2030.