Download Name: Core: ______ Date: ENERGY REVIEW – INNOVATION LAB

Name: ________________________________
Core: ______
Date: ___________________
ENERGY REVIEW – INNOVATION LAB
1. Energy is the ability to do work. It is one of the fundamental building blocks of the universe. Energy is the ability to
cause a force to act over a certain distance.
2. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, and potential energy is stored energy. All other forms of energy contain
aspects of kinetic or potential energy.
3. What are two ways humans have transformed kinetic energy into other forms of energy? Humans routinely
transform kinetic energy into electrical energy by using the energy of flowing water in hydroelectric dams, blowing
wind in wind turbines, and rising steam in other power plants.
4. What is elastic potential energy? Elastic potential energy results from stretching or compressing an object.
5. What is gravitational potential energy? Potential energy that is related to an object's height above the ground is
known as gravitational potential energy.
6. What is chemical potential energy? Chemical potential energy is the energy that is stored in the bonds and
attractions within and between the atoms that make up molecules. When a substance undergoes a chemical
reaction, chemical potential energy is released.
7. Mechanical energy is best understood as the sum of an object's kinetic energy and potential energy. So it is the
total amount of energy that an object has due to its position, orientation (if it's stretched or compressed), and its
motion.
8. What is radiant energy? Radiant energy is energy that is transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves.
9. Why do humans harness radiant energy from the Sun? Humans harness radiant energy from the Sun (solar energy)
to generate electricity using solar cells and power stations.
10. Thermal energy is the energy of an object due to the random motion of its particles. The faster the particles move,
the greater the thermal energy, and the greater the temperature.
11. What is heat? Heat is thermal energy that is transferred from warmer objects to colder objects.
12. Sound energy is the form of energy that is carried by sound waves as they travel through a medium, such as
air. Sound waves are produced by vibrating objects and travel through various materials.
13. Order the following mediums according to how quickly sound can pass through them, from the least quickly to the
most quickly: water, space, air. Space (sound doesn’t travel at all)  Air  Water (sound travels most quickly)
14. Electrical energy is the energy associated with charged particles, such as electrons. When these particles are
moving or flowing in a current, this kind of energy is also referred to as electricity.
15. Why is electricity an incredibly useful form of energy? Electrical energy is an incredibly useful form of energy
because it can be generated from many other types of energy and easily transported to new locations.
16. What is the most common form of obtaining energy? The most common method for obtaining energy is through
the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
17. What is one benefit and one drawback to using coal as an energy source? Coal-burning power plants are currently
the most effective way for generating widespread electricity where and when it is needed. However, coal-fired power
plants cause large amounts of pollution and can affect the Earth's natural greenhouse effect. Also, fossil fuels are
nonrenewable resources, so humans will eventually run out of them at current rates of usage.
18. What are the main reasons why harnessing solar energy is not more widespread? The main reason that solar energy
technology is not more widespread at this time is that it is very expensive to harness solar energy in useful
quantities. Solar energy is also not as reliable as energy derived from fossil fuels, because it is not always sunny.
19. What is one benefit to harnessing wind energy and one drawback? Wind energy has very few negative
environmental consequences and it is relatively inexpensive. However, wind turbines also pose hazards for birds and
bats and it is not always easy to predict when and where the wind will be blowing.
20. What is hydroelectric energy? Hydroelectric energy is electrical energy converted from the kinetic energy of falling
water. It is an inexhaustible resource.
21.Give one example of the transformation of chemical energy. Batteries contain chemical energy. Fossil fuels contain
chemical energy that is released when the fuels are burned. Food contains chemical energy that is released by our
bodies and used to perform life processes.
22. Give one example of the transformation of electrical energy. Ceiling fans transform electric energy into kinetic
energy. Toasters, electric heaters, and electric stoves transform electric energy into thermal energy. Televisions
transform electric energy into sound energy and light (radiant) energy.
23. What do all energy transformations have in common? Regardless of the type of transformation, essentially all of
these transformations have something in common—some of the energy involved is transformed to heat.
24. What does the Law of Conservation state? The total amount of energy in a system remains constant. Energy can be
converted from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
25. What are conservative forces? Conservative forces are those that can change energy from potential to kinetic or
vice versa with perfect efficiency—that is, all of the kinetic energy becomes potential energy, and all of the potential
energy becomes kinetic.
26. What are three examples of conservative forces? Conservative forces include gravity, the spring force, and the
electromagnetic force.