Download Forms of Energy

Forms and Sources of
Energy
Energy
Energy is the ability of a physical system
to do work or exert force
 Law of Conservation of Energy states that
energy cannot be created or destroyed
 Potential energy is stored energy in a body
 Kinetic energy is the energy of a moving
body
 The amount of useful energy is known as
energy efficiency
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Forms of Energy
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Mechanical: created by physical movement
Thermal: energy of motion of particles of the sun
Nuclear: energy stored in the center of atoms
Gravitational: energy of position on Earth
Radiant: electromagnetic energy travelling in
waves
Chemical: energy stored in bonds of atoms and
molecules
Electrical: energy of movement of electrons
Coal
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Formed by heat and pressure, and the remains
of dead organisms
Located in swampy areas and mountainous
regions
Buried deep underground, shallow coal is
recovered in surface mines
Stored as chemical energy
Burned to produce energy and heat
Non-renewable but cheap
Produces a lot of pollution and chemicals
Natural Gas
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Fossil fuel that is a colourless, ordourless gas
Formed from ancient sea plants and animals
Located in sedimentary basins and recovered by
drilling wells and pipes
Stored as chemical energy
Burned to produce heat and electricity
Cleaner burning than coal and cheap
Nonrenewable energy source
Produces pollution (carbon dioxide) when
burned
Hydropower
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Energy produced by flowing water caused by the
force of gravity
Found in regions of high precipitation
Dams used to harness the power of the water to
turn turbines and produce electricity
Stored as mechanical energy
Renewable energy source
Does not produce pollution but does affect
animal habitats
Few locations can support dams
Petroleum
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Liquid hydrocarbon fossil fuel
Formed from ancient sea plants and animals
Located in sedimentary basins and recovered as crude
oil by drilling wells and pipes
Stored as chemical energy
Burned to produce heat or refined into gasoline
(transportation fuel)
Fuel almost our entire transportation system and
essential for the production of plastic
Nonrenewable energy source
Produces pollution when burned, massive damages if
spilled into the ocean
Solar
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Energy produced by fusion in the sun’s core
Stored as radiant energy
Recovered by photovoltaic cells as radiant
energy reaches the Earth
Converted to heat through absorption and
electricity by PV cells
Renewable energy source and non-polluting
Difficult to harness because it is not
concentrated in one area
PV technology is expensive
Biomass
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Organic material that can be used as an energy
source
Located anywhere on Earth that can sustain plant
growth
Stored as chemical energy
Collected from organic waste that can be burned to
produce energy
Can be converted to methane or ethanol (car fuel)
Renewable energy source and cheap
Burning biomass does produce pollution and foul
odours
Doesn’t produce as much energy as burning coal
Propane
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Colourless, ordourless gas found in natural gas
and petroleum deposits
Recovered from refining petroleum and natural
gas
Stored as chemical energy
Compressed into a liquid
Burned to produce heat and fuel vehicles, and
used in cooking
Nonrenewable energy source
Clean burning fossil fuel but produces some
pollution
Uranium
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Metallic ore that is abundant in North America
Ores are mined and enriched
Stored as nuclear energy
Energy released through fission (splitting atoms)
Once enriched can produce heat which is used to
produce electricity
Nuclear power plants do not burn fuel, thus minimal
pollution
Efficient and cost-effective
Nonrenewable energy source
Produces radioactive waste which must be carefully
stored
Wind
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Moving air caused by uneven heating of Earth’s
surface by the sun
Wind machines used to harness the energy
Machines slow speed of wind and use energy to
produce electricity
Stored as kinetic energy (motion)
Renewable energy source
Inexpensive and non-polluting, but noisy
Machines cannot operate all the time as wind
must blow at least 23 km/h
Geothermal
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Heat produced in Earth’s interior from
radioactive decay of natural elements
Recovered by drilling and underground pipes
Many located in the South Pacific
Stored as thermal energy
Produces enough energy to heat buildings and
steam is used to produce electricity
Renewable energy source
Does not produce pollution but is expensive
Not located everywhere on Earth