Types of Energy
Introduction
Energy is produced when physical or chemical resources are processed. This energy is used to provide light or heat for either domestic or industrial purposes. Thus, energy can be defined as the strength or power needed to do any physical activity, or in other words, the ability to do work.
Types of energy
There are various types of energy, including work, Kinetic, and Potential energy.
Work is said to be a result of energy transfer. To understand work energy better, we can first define kinetic energy. It is the working energy or energy in motion. Therefore, work can transfer energy from one form to another or one place to another.
Kinetic energy, as mentioned, is the energy possessed by a moving particle. The total kinetic energy of a moving body can be obtained by multiplying half the mass of the body by its total velocity. Thus, since kinetic energy results when a particle is moving, its intensity depends on both the motion and the mass of the particle. Hence a body with big mass has more kinetic energy than a frame with relatively low mass. An example of this is when we compare the kinetic energy of a semi-truck with that of a car when both are traveling down the road at the same speed. The truck will have more kinetic energy than the car since it has more mass.
Potential energy is defined as the stored energy of an object as a result of its position in a system. The amount of work done measures this type of energy. An example of this is seen in a Drawn bow, which stores energy as a result of its position. When not drawn, the ball does not store any energy. Therefore, potential energy occurs only when the usual position of a machine is altered. Another example of potential energy is found in coal; it stores potential energy, and it is only consumed when the coal is burned in power stations to release energy.
Conclusion
As observed here, energy can neither be created, nor can it be destroyed, but it can be transferred. It is, therefore, the transfer of energy from part of the system to another that makes it storable. The transfer of energy also helps to make something move hence the ability to transfer potential energy to kinetic energy in a system.