Download Energy Forms - Greenwood County School District 52

Different Forms of Energy
A. Mechanical Energy
• 1. The total amount of kinetic and
potential energy
• 2. Anything in motion has
mechanical energy!
• Example – a toy wind up car
B. Electrical Energy
• 1. This energy is in the form of
moving electric charges
• 2. This is also called electricity.
• Example – energy that flows
through wires to power objects
C. Electromagnetic Energy
• 1. This energy is in a form that
can travel through a vacuum.
• Example – light, x-rays,
microwaves
• ANYTHING that is found in the
electromagnetic spectrum.
D. Heat Energy
• 1. Also called thermal energy
• 2. The energy of the moving
particles in matter
• Example – all forms of matter
contain some heat energy!!!
E. Chemical Energy
• 1. The energy that holds matter
together
• 2. Chemical energy is stored until
those bonds are broken.
• Example– food, wood, coal,
gasoline
F. Nuclear Energy
• 1. The energy stored in the nucleus of the
atom
• 2. The nucleus contains the protons (+)
and neutrons (0)
• 3. When the nucleus is split, that energy is
released in the form of heat & light
• 4. Nuclear energy can also be released
when small nuclei combine (the Sun!)