What Is The Energy That Is Available To Do Work?

Definition of Energy

Energy is the ability to do work. It is a property of objects and systems that is transferred to other objects or systems when work is done on them. Energy comes in many different forms such as kinetic, potential, thermal, chemical, electrical, and more. The law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed – it can only be transformed from one form into another.

In physics, “work” is defined as force applied over a distance. So for energy to do work, there must be some type of force exerted over a distance. This force times distance is what enables energy to accomplish mechanical work. Energy is required to do all kinds of work, from moving physical objects, to powering electrical devices, to enabling chemical reactions. It is an essential property of the universe that enables all activity and life.

Forms of Energy

There are many different forms that energy can take, including:

Potential Energy

Potential energy is stored energy due to an object’s position or arrangement. For example, a ball held at a height above the ground has gravitational potential energy due to the Earth’s gravity pulling it downwards. This energy can be released when the ball falls.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. A moving object, like a rolling ball, has kinetic energy. The faster it moves, the more kinetic energy it has.

Thermal Energy

Thermal energy comes from the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules in a substance. The more heat is present, the more thermal energy. Heat flows from higher to lower thermal energy.

Chemical Energy

Chemical energy is stored in the bonds between atoms that make up molecules and compounds. Chemical reactions like burning fuel release this energy.

Electrical Energy

Electricity contains electrical energy from the movement of electrons. Devices convert this into other useful forms like light, heat, or motion.

Radiant Energy

Radiant energy travels in electromagnetic waves. Light, radio waves, and microwaves are examples. It can be converted to thermal energy when absorbed by matter.

Potential Energy

Potential energy is the energy stored in an object or system due to its position or composition. For example, a ball at the top of a hill has potential energy due to gravity. As the ball rolls down the hill, this potential energy gets converted to kinetic energy – the energy of motion. Other examples of potential energy include:

• Chemical potential energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules. This energy can be released in chemical reactions.
• Elastic potential energy stored in compressed or stretched springs, rubber bands, etc.
• Nuclear potential energy from the binding forces within an atomic nucleus. This can be released in nuclear fission or fusion.
• Gravitational potential energy from an object’s height relative to the ground or a celestial body like Earth.
• Electric potential energy from electric fields between charged particles. This is the basis of batteries.

Potential energy is not doing work, but has the potential to do so when released or converted to kinetic energy. Understanding potential energy is key to fields like chemistry, physics, and engineering.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. An object that has motion – whether it is vertical or horizontal motion – has kinetic energy. The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has. Kinetic energy depends on the mass and velocity of an object. The kinetic energy of an object can be calculated using the following equation:

Kinetic Energy = 1/2 x Mass x Velocity²

Some examples of kinetic energy include:

• A soccer ball being kicked into the goal
• A roller coaster zooming down a steep track
• Wind blowing and causing the blades of a wind turbine to spin

Kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy when an object slows down or stops moving. For example, when you catch a ball, the kinetic energy of the ball is converted into heat and sound energy. Understanding kinetic energy helps explain how many mechanical systems and technologies work.

Thermal Energy

Thermal energy is the energy that is associated with the motion and vibrations of molecules and atoms. It arises from the kinetic energy of random motions of the particles that make up matter. The higher the temperature of a substance, the greater the thermal energy since the particles are moving faster on average.

Thermal energy is also called internal energy. It’s directly linked to the temperature of matter. For example, heating a pot of water on a stove increases its internal thermal energy, which is observed as a rise in temperature. This internal energy is associated with the random motions of the water molecules. The faster the molecules vibrate and move, the higher the thermal energy.

Thermal energy can be transferred between substances through processes like conduction, convection, and radiation. Heat flows spontaneously from objects at higher temperatures to objects at lower temperatures until they reach the same temperature and achieve thermal equilibrium. This demonstrates that thermal energy always moves from hot to cold.

Chemical Energy

Chemical energy refers to the energy stored in the chemical bonds between atoms and molecules. This energy can be released when chemical bonds are broken during a chemical reaction. The energy released provides the power for many important processes.

For example, the foods we eat contain high energy molecules like fats, carbohydrates and proteins. When these molecules are broken down in our cells during digestion, chemical energy is released which our bodies use to power biological processes. The energy in gasoline and other fuels is also chemical energy that is released in combustion reactions to power cars and other machines.

Chemical energy is very versatile as the energy can be stored indefinitely until the chemical bonds are broken. We rely on batteries to convert chemical energy to electrical energy for use in portable devices. The energy in biomass, natural gas, coal and other fuels started as chemical energy during photosynthesis or from geological processes. Overall, chemical energy allows us to harness energy from chemical reactions to power human civilization.

Electrical Energy

Electrical energy is energy derived from the flow of electric charge. Electric charges produce electrical fields and electrical potential differences, which can result in an electric current that transmits energy. The most common sources of electrical energy are batteries, generators, and power plants that convert other forms of energy into electricity.

For example, a battery contains positive and negative terminals with a chemical reaction that drives electrons from the negative to the positive terminal, generating an electric current. Generators use mechanical energy to move a conductor through a magnetic field, inducing a voltage that creates electricity. Power plants convert chemical, nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal or other energy sources into electrical energy that can be distributed through power lines and electrical grids.

Electrical energy is extremely versatile and convenient to transmit, making it one of the most widely used forms of energy in modern civilization. It powers electronics, appliances, machinery, lighting, communications networks, and more. The ability to generate, distribute, store, and utilize electrical energy is fundamental to the infrastructure of developed economies.

Radiant Energy

Radiant energy is the energy that is transferred through electromagnetic waves that travel at the speed of light. It does not require a medium like air or water to travel through. Examples of radiant energy include x-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, and radio waves. These different forms of electromagnetic radiation have different wavelengths and frequencies.

Light is one of the most familiar forms of radiant energy that we experience in everyday life. It allows us to see the world around us. The sun is the largest source of light that reaches Earth. Other stars in the universe also emit light. Radiant energy from the sun provides the energy needed for life on Earth through the process of photosynthesis in plants. It also provides warmth and enables various chemical reactions. We utilize visible light along with other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum for communication technologies like radio, cellular networks, television broadcasting and WiFi.

Using Energy to Do Work

Energy is the capacity to do work. Work involves applying a force to move an object over a distance. In physics, work is defined as the product of force and displacement (work = force x distance). For energy to do work, it must be converted from one form into another that can apply the force to create motion.

There are many examples of energy conversions enabling work in everyday life:

• Chemical energy in food is converted into kinetic energy when people walk or run.

• Chemical energy in gasoline is converted into kinetic energy to move a car forward.

• Electrical energy is converted into radiant energy in a light bulb to produce light.

• Electrical energy in a blender is converted into kinetic energy to spin the blades mixing food.

• Thermal energy from combustion is converted into kinetic energy to spin turbines generating electricity in a power plant.

In all these examples, stored energy in one form is converted into kinetic or radiant energy capable of doing work. The law of conservation of energy states that energy can change form but is never created or destroyed. Energy conversions enable work by transforming energy into appropriate forces and motions.

Conservation of Energy

One of the most fundamental laws of physics is the law of conservation of energy. This law states that within a closed system, the total amount of energy remains constant. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another.

For example, when a battery powers a toy car, electrical energy from the battery is converted into kinetic energy that makes the wheels spin, as well as sound energy from the motor and friction with the ground. The total energy within the closed system (the car and its surroundings) remains the same. Energy is just transferred from the battery to the movement and sound.

This principle is extremely important for understanding our universe. There have been many attempts to create perpetual motion machines that generate energy out of nothing and continue running forever. But these attempts always fail because they do not obey the law of conservation of energy.

While energy can change forms, the total amount of energy in a closed system does not change over time. This is why renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower are so important – they capture existing energy and convert it into usable forms without being depleted.