Science Common Sense


1411 - What are the different forms of energy?

There are several forms of energy. Here are the main ones:

  1. Kinetic Energy: The energy of moving things, like a running car or a rolling ball.
  2. Potential Energy: Stored energy, like the energy in a stretched rubber band or water at the top of a waterfall.
  3. Thermal Energy: The energy of heat, like the warmth from a fireplace or the sun.
  4. Electrical Energy: The energy that powers things like your phone, computer, and lights.
  5. Chemical Energy: The energy stored in food, gasoline, or batteries.
  6. Nuclear Energy: The energy released from the nucleus of an atom, like in a power plant or the sun.
  7. Radiant Energy: The energy from light and other forms of electromagnetic waves, like the sun's rays or a laser beam.
  8. Sound Energy: The energy from vibrations, like music or a ringing bell.

These forms of energy can be changed from one to another, like when a car engine converts chemical energy from gasoline into kinetic energy.