Energy is the ability to do work which is the ability to apply a force and move an object. Energy is measured in joules just like work.
Example of Energy
When you play pool, you are are trying to hit the cue ball so it will hit another ball into the pocket on the sides of the table. When the cue hits the cue ball, the cue is transferring its energy to the ball and that ball will transfer its energy to another ball. Energy is transferred from one object to another or transformed into another form of energy. During an energy transfer, the energy remains constant. This means that energy can't be created or destroyed. You can only transfer or transform energy. So how does it seem that energy has been lost when the ball hits another? Most of the energy is transformed into sound energy and thermal energy (friction) making it seem like energy has been lost.
Forms of Energy
There are many forms of energy which can be separated into kinetic and potential energy. An object that is moving has kinetic energy while potential energy is stored energy. An example could be a bow and arrow. When the arrow is stretched back, it has stored elastic energy which is potential energy. When the arrow gets released, it has kinetic energy because it flies forward. Gravitational potential energy is potential energy that is able to fall. A huge boulder on the top of a cliff has gravitational potential energy and when it is pushed off it has kinetic energy from rolling down the hill.
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Table of Contents
Definition
Energy is the ability to do work which is the ability to apply a force and move an object. Energy is measured in joules just like work.Example of Energy
When you play pool, you are are trying to hit the cue ball so it will hit another ball into the pocket on the sides of the table. When the cue hits the cue ball, the cue is transferring its energy to the ball and that ball will transfer its energy to another ball. Energy is transferred from one object to another or transformed into another form of energy. During an energy transfer, the energy remains constant. This means that energy can't be created or destroyed. You can only transfer or transform energy. So how does it seem that energy has been lost when the ball hits another? Most of the energy is transformed into sound energy and thermal energy (friction) making it seem like energy has been lost.Forms of Energy
There are many forms of energy which can be separated into kinetic and potential energy. An object that is moving has kinetic energy while potential energy is stored energy. An example could be a bow and arrow. When the arrow is stretched back, it has stored elastic energy which is potential energy. When the arrow gets released, it has kinetic energy because it flies forward. Gravitational potential energy is potential energy that is able to fall. A huge boulder on the top of a cliff has gravitational potential energy and when it is pushed off it has kinetic energy from rolling down the hill.Video on Kinetic Energy
Link to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGmUVoX5s58
Video on Potential Energy
Link to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tji6PDBck_8