When you start learning about energy in Year 7 physics, you’ll discover many interesting types of energy. Here’s a simple explanation of the most common ones:
Kinetic Energy: This is the energy of motion. Anything that’s moving has kinetic energy. You can find out how much kinetic energy something has using this formula:
[
KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2
]
Here, ( m ) is the mass (how heavy it is), and ( v ) is the speed.
Potential Energy: This energy is stored. For example, when you lift something high up, it has gravitational potential energy because of its height. You can calculate this energy with the formula:
[
PE = mgh
]
In this case, ( h ) is the height, and ( g ) is the pull of gravity.
Thermal Energy: Have you ever touched something hot? That heat is thermal energy. It comes from the tiny particles moving around in an object.
Chemical Energy: This energy is stored in the connections between atoms and molecules. When these connections break during a chemical reaction, energy is released. Think about the energy in batteries or the food we eat!
Mechanical Energy: This is a mix of kinetic and potential energy. It helps us understand how energy works in machines.
These types of energy show how important and useful energy is in our lives and in the world around us!
When you start learning about energy in Year 7 physics, you’ll discover many interesting types of energy. Here’s a simple explanation of the most common ones:
Kinetic Energy: This is the energy of motion. Anything that’s moving has kinetic energy. You can find out how much kinetic energy something has using this formula:
[
KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2
]
Here, ( m ) is the mass (how heavy it is), and ( v ) is the speed.
Potential Energy: This energy is stored. For example, when you lift something high up, it has gravitational potential energy because of its height. You can calculate this energy with the formula:
[
PE = mgh
]
In this case, ( h ) is the height, and ( g ) is the pull of gravity.
Thermal Energy: Have you ever touched something hot? That heat is thermal energy. It comes from the tiny particles moving around in an object.
Chemical Energy: This energy is stored in the connections between atoms and molecules. When these connections break during a chemical reaction, energy is released. Think about the energy in batteries or the food we eat!
Mechanical Energy: This is a mix of kinetic and potential energy. It helps us understand how energy works in machines.
These types of energy show how important and useful energy is in our lives and in the world around us!