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Chapter 15 – Terms and their definitions
Energy and Its Forms (section 1)
Term
My Definition
energy
the ability to do work Unit: Joule
kinetic energy
energy of motion: KE = ½ mv2
potential energy energy that is stored as a result of position or shape
gravitational
energy that is stored as a result of position in a gravitational field
potential energy PEg = magh  PEg is measured with respect to a reference point
elastic potential energy that is stored as a result of shape changes in an object
energy
PEe = ½ kx2  PEe is measured with respect to a how far an object’s shape is
changed, in general the distance the object is “stretched or compressed”
mechanical
energy associated with the motion and position of everyday objects
energy
thermal energy
total potential and kinetic energy of all the microscopic particles that make up an
object
chemical energy the energy stored in chemical bonds; when bonds are broken, the released energy
can be used
electrical energy energy associated with electric charges (the charges do not need to be in motion)
electromagnetic a form of energy that travels through space in the form of waves of photons (this
energy
includes visible light)
nuclear energy
energy stored in atomic nuclei
Energy Conversion and Conservation (section 2)
The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed
energy
changing energy from one form to another
conversion
Energy Resources (section 3)
nonrenewable
energy resources exist in limited quantities and, once used, cannot be replaced
energy resources except over the course of tens to hundreds of millennia
fossil fuels
energy sources formed underground from the remains of once-living organisms
renewable energy energy resources that can be replaced in a relatively short period of time
resources
hydroelectric
electric energy obtained from flowing water
energy
solar energy
Sunlight (solar light includes all forms of electromagnetic radiation) that is
converted into usable energy
geothermal
usable thermal energy from beneath the Earth’s surface
energy
biomass energy
chemical energy stored in living, or very recently living things
hydrogen fuel
directly generated electricity through reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a specially
cell
designed “cell”; a way to directly collect electrical energy from the reaction of water
generation from hydrogen and oxygen
energy
conserving energy resources can by reducing energy used and by increasing the
conservation
efficiency of machines that use energy