Question

Define Energy. What are the different types of Energy?

Answer 1

There is no exact definition for energy, but we can say that it is associated with the ability to produce action and / or movement and manifests itself in many different ways, such as body movement, heat, electricity, etc.

According to the Lavoisier Principle, energy cannot come out of nowhere nor can it be destroyed. The only possibility that exists is the transformation of one type of energy into another, such as the energy from the waterfalls that is converted into electrical energy.

Energy types from finite sources (energy sources that will have an end) are called non-renewable energies. This is the case of energy generated from fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Already the energy generated from sources that have natural replacement capacity are called renewable or clean energy. This is the case of energy from sunlight and energy from wind power (wind energy).

The main forms of energy are:

• Kinetic energy: It is the energy associated with the movement of bodies. The faster a body moves, the greater its kinetic energy.
• Potential energy: Energy stored by virtue of a body's position relative to its surface is called gravitational potential energy. The higher an object is from the ground, the faster it will hit the ground if it begins a fall. Mathematically, the gravitational potential energy is given by the product between body mass, height and gravity.
• Thermal Energy (Heat): Heat is the thermal energy associated with the kinetic energy of the molecules that make up an element. Heat manifestation will only occur if there is a temperature difference between two bodies.
• Chemical energy: It is the energy released or formed from chemical reactions, such as the energy produced by batteries.
• Solar energy: It is the energy from sunlight. This form of energy can be harnessed to generate electricity through photovoltaic plates, for example.
• Wind energy: It is the energy coming from the movement of the air masses. Wind power can be harnessed to turn propellers and turbines in the production of electricity.
• Nuclear energy: It is the energy obtained from the phenomenon of nuclear fission, in which occurs the division of the nucleus of an atom, generating the release of a large amount of energy.