What is energy?

Energy is the ability of a system to do work. This system can be a Jet, with hundreds of passengers across the ocean. A baby's body, growing bone cells. A dragon, rising in the wind. Or a shaft of light crossing a space.

In moving or growing, each system is working and makes use of energy. Every living organism is functioning, and needs energy from food or photosynthesis. Humans also create machines to do the work for them, and that derive energy from fuels.




Some of the many forms that energy takes are:

* Mechanical energy, which also

- Potential energy is stored in a system.

- Kinetic energy from the motion of matter.

* Radiant and solar energy coming from the light and warmth of the sun.
* Thermal energy associated with the heat of an object.
* Chemical energy stored in chemical bonds of molecules.
* Electrical energy, combined with the movement of electrons.
* Electromagnetic energy with light waves (including radio waves, microwaves, x-ray, infrared waves) is assigned.
* Mass (or nuclear energy) into the core structure of the atoms found.

One form of energy can be converted to another form. This transfer is based on the law of conservation of energy, one of the laws of thermodynamics is based.

People converted energy from one form to another when they lit the first fire. By burning wood, they released the chemical energy in the bonds of the molecules stored wood, production of thermal energy or heat. Other examples? A battery generates electrons from chemical reactions that make for electrical energy. A toaster takes electrical energy and converts it into heat. Her leg converts the chemical energy into kinetic energy in the muscles, if you saved a bicycle pedal.

Sound is a form of kinetic energy. The molecules of air vibrate, which makes them move in wave patterns. When these waves strike the eardrum, they make it vibrate. This vibration energy into electrical energy pulses which your brain interprets as proved viable.

Often, several modifications are involved. Consider nuclear power generation. Atoms in the nuclear fuel are split to create the disclosure of its nuclear (mass) energy and thermal energy. This heat energy is again caught driving in the form of steam and a turbine generator, which kinetic energy. Finally, the kinetic energy of a magnetic field rotates around a conductor, so that a current to flow generating electrical energy.

To measure the energy we use the "heating value" of the fuel, what, how much is converted from a particular fuel indicates how much heat. Common units of energy are the calorie and Btu.