Energy is the ability to conduct labor and, as such, there are various forms and types of energy. You better have something to drink nearby because we will discuss 13 different types of energy in this article.
Table of Contents
The Different Types of Energy with Pictures
In this regard, there are two primary forms of energy: energy of position or condition, also known as stored energy or potential energy, and energy in action or motion, also known as kinetic energy.
Both types of energy may be converted into one another and are components of other types of energy. We can talk about electrical, nuclear, chemical, radiant, or magnetic power based on where it comes from.
1. Kinetic Energy
The kinetic energy of the bowling ball smashes down the pins.
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. It is determined by the mass of the body and its velocity. As a result of its more extraordinary group, a bowling ball will knock down more pins than a stone; a faster bowling ball will be more efficient than a slower one.
Many natural resources have kinetic energy that humans may use to their advantage. Wind, for example, is moving air that wind turbines can use to generate power.
2. Potential Energy
The other essential type of energy is potential energy, connected to the location or state of one thing about another.
A force field is a region where things attract or repel one other. Potential energy increases when drawing bodies are separated, appalled, or brought together. Examples of force fields include the gravitational force field of the Earth and the magnetic force field, among others.
3. Gravitational Potential Energy
The athlete has the most potential energy when she achieves the top position.
Objects are drawn to the core of our planet by the gravitational force field that surrounds them. We enhance the gravitational potential energy of things by lifting them away from the Earth. When potential energy is combined with gravitational force, it is called gravitational potential energy.
Between the Sun and the planets and between the Moon and the Earth, gravitational potential energy exists. In actuality, tides are caused by the Moon’s pull to terrestrial bodies of water.
4. Elastic Potential Energy
When we stretch a rubber band or a spring, the energy required to return to its original shape is stored as potential energy.
We increase the potential energy of the spring when we compress it. This energy is known as elastic potential energy, and it is the energy that materials have when stretched or twisted. Potential energy may also be found in the energy stored in a spring or rubber band as it is stretched or compressed.
5. Mechanical Energy
Mechanical energy covers an object’s motion and location, i.e., it is the total of that object’s kinetic and potential energy.
Swinging converts kinetic energy into potential energy and vice versa, allowing us to go faster and higher.
For example, the woman on the skateboard in the image has kinetic energy, which allows her to ride on the wall and gain potential energy. When she falls, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, and she gains speed.
6. Chemical Energy
During a chemical reaction, one or more substances known as reactants are changed into other compounds known as products.
These transformations occur due to chemical bonds being broken or created, which results in changes in chemical energy.
7. Thermal Energy
Through heat, the thermal energy of the fire is transferred to the thermal energy of the pot.
Thermal energy is a sort of kinetic energy generated by the internal motion or vibration of particles in bodies.
When we use a thermometer to measure temperature, we monitor the movement of the atoms and molecules that make up a body. The more they move, and thus the more prominent the thermal energy, the higher the temperature.
8. Electric Energy
Chemical energy is converted into electrical energy by electric batteries.
Electricity is a form of energy determined by the attraction or repulsion of electric charges. Static electricity and current electricity are the two types of electricity. The existence of static charges, i.e., charges that do not move, causes static electricity. The movement of charges causes an electric current.
9. Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is released when an atom’s nucleus breaks apart.
Nuclear energy is a type of potential energy held in the atom’s nucleus due to the forces that keep subatomic particles together.
Like a chemical reaction, a nuclear reaction involves the transformation of reactants into products. They vary in that one atom is changed into a different atom during the atomic process.
10. Magnetic Energy
Magnets are used to hold magnetic objects like nuts and bolts in place.
Magnetic potential energy is an object’s ability to do work due to its location in a magnetic field. Magnets feature a magnetic field and two areas known as magnetic poles. Poles that are similar repel while dissimilar poles attract. Iron and its alloys are the most often utilized magnetic materials.
11. Sound Energy
By striking the bell, sound waves are produced that travel through the air.
Sound energy is the mechanical energy of particles vibrating in waves as they travel through a medium of transmission. Sound energy is produced by anything that makes noise. Sound waves may travel through various mediums, including air, water, and other things.
Sound travels faster in solids than in liquids, and it travels faster in liquids than in gases.
12. Radiant Energy
Light is a form of radiant energy that moves in waves.
Radiant energy, often known as radiation, takes the form of light or heat. Radiations are electromagnetic waves that, unlike sound waves, do not require a medium to move, allowing them to travel through space. Electrons vibrating create an electric and magnetic field, which is the source of electromagnetic waves.
The many forms of radiant energy or radiations are classified according to their energy levels in the electromagnetic spectrum. They fly across space at the speed of light, 300 million meters per second.
13. Solar Energy
The Sun is the primary source of energy for all life on Earth.
Solar energy is the Sun’s radiant energy. It travels across space as electromagnetic waves until it reaches the Earth. UV radiation, visible light, and infrared rays make up the majority of solar energy that penetrates the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Sun is made up of two elements: hydrogen and helium. The energy in this scenario originates from the nuclear fusion process, in which hydrogen nuclei fuse to generate helium and radiant radiation.
Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources include the Sun and the wind.
According to the energy conservation law, energy cannot be generated or destroyed; it can only be changed. This indicates that the quantity of power will always be the same, but in different forms, when calculated.
When we talk about renewable or non-renewable energies, we talk about the sources or resources from which humans get their power.
Coal and oil are fossil fuels that store chemical energy in the bonds between carbon atoms. Fossil fuels are not renewable because they were produced millions of years ago from prehistoric species. In addition to having a limited lifespan, these energy sources inflict significant environmental damage.
Our objective should be to use renewable and non-polluting energy sources such as the Sun, wind, the Earth’s interior heat, and ocean waves. Because of the natural mechanism of the water cycle, the water may be reused indefinitely.
Another thing we must remember is not to squander energy. Saving energy means using it wisely and deliberately. Your home’s electrical power has a cost. If you leave the refrigerator open for an extended period or leave light bulbs on in your room while you are not present, you are increasing your home’s power use.
