What Is Energy Transformation?

Energy transformation is the process of changing energy from one form to another. This process happens all the time, both in the world and in people. When people consume food, the body uses the chemical energy in the bonds of the food and converts it into mechanical energy, a new form of chemical energy or thermal energy. Energy transformation is an important concept in the application of the physical sciences. The possibility for energy are converted automatically, lights, maintains and warms the world in an amazing variety of ways.

The concept of energy transformation can be represented in a number of joint activities. An engine as the engine in a car that converts the chemical energy of gas and oxygen into the mechanical energy of the motor movement. A light bulb changes the chemical energy of the light bulb into electromagnetic radiation or light. Windmills use the power of the wind and convert it into mechanical energy in the movement of the blades, which is then converted into electrical energy. Solar panels convert light into electricity.



Energy transformation, also with respect to potential energy, the stored energy of a system, the kinetic energy in the energy of motion can be converted to be explained. For example, a roller coaster sits on top of a hill have said potential energy. This potential energy is gravity, which is won when the train moves up up the hill. Once the train begins to move down the mountain, is the gravity exerted and move the potential energy into kinetic energy of the car turns. During energy transformations, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, and often back into potential energy.

While each type of energy transformation, some energy is lost to the environment. As a result of this loss is not a machine, the 100% efficiency. Usually lost a part of the energy in the energy transformation is lost as heat. This may in practice with the finding that the heat generated by a computer, a car or other type of machine that has been in use for a period of time broadcast can be observed.


The ability of a machine or a system to convert between forms of energy as "energy conversion efficiency." All systems have different energy conversion efficiencies. Water turbines, for example, have an extremely high energy conversion efficiency of nearly 90% while internal combustion engines have 10% to 50% efficiency. Engineering and physics are constantly looking for systems that achieve high energy conversion efficiency.

source:wisegeek