Types of energy

TYPES OF ENERGY There are seven main forms of energy; mechanical, heat, chemical, radiant, electrical, sound and nuclear. Mechanical energy is the energy of motion. For example; water rushing down the stream is an example of mechanical energy. Blowing wind and running people is also mechanical energy at work. Heat energy is related to particles that make up matter. These particles are called, ATOMS. Atoms are always in constant motion. Their movement causes key energy. The faster the movement, the more heat energy is produced. You can feel heat energy when you rub your hands quickly together. The mechanical energy rubbing your hands changes to heat energy. Chemical energy is stored in fuels such as charcoal, gasoline and even food. When we burn charcoal in a grill, the stored energy is released as heat energy to cook the food. When that food is eaten, the chemical energy stored in that food is used to power our muscles. In another example of chemical energy; a rocket burns fuel and uses it to launch off the ground. Electricity is used every day in our homes to power tools and equipment. Electricity is the movement of electrodes. Electricity is considered a secondary energy resource because it?s generated using primary energy resources. Like most power plants, steam is passed past turbines that spin a drive shaft that turns a coil of wire inside a magnetic field. When a coil of wire spins in a magnetic field or a magnet moves in a coil of wire, electricity is produced. Magnetism can be used to produce electricity. To make the steam to spin the drive shaft, a furnace burns fossil fuel to heat up water. Or at a nuclear power plant, a nuclear reaction is used to heat up water. In either case, electricity is one of our least forms of energy. Radiant energy includes; light, x-rays and radio waves. Radiant energy in the form of light is critical to life on earth. Growing plants depend on light as a major ingredient in photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the food making process upon which green plants depend. During photosynthesis; carbon dioxide, minerals, water and sunlight are used to make food in form of glucose, which is sugar. And to release oxygen. Plants are the food makers of our world. Nuclear energy has to do with the nucleus or center of an atom. When the center splits, it releases large amounts of energy. This is called fission, and is what happens at nuclear power plants. When atoms join together or fuse, they also release energy. This is what happens on the sun as hydrogen atoms join to form helium atoms and tremendous energy is released. This process is called nuclear fusion.