What a learner can do afterwards
- Name chemical energy in a battery, potential energy in a stretched spring, and kinetic energy in a moving ball
- Describe a change of energy type as a transformation and movement of energy between objects or places as a transfer
- Give an example of stored potential or chemical energy and an example of energy being transferred
1 · Read
Energy helps things move, shine, make sound or warm up. A moving ball has kinetic energy. Kinetic means movement. Light carries energy from a lamp. Sound carries energy from a ringing bell. Warm objects have thermal energy. You may also hear this called heat energy.
A stretched spring stores potential energy because its shape has changed. A stretched rubber band does too. When either springs back, some potential energy changes into kinetic energy as it moves.
An energy transformation is a change from one type to another. A toaster transforms electrical energy into thermal energy. An energy transfer moves energy between objects or places. The toaster transfers energy to the bread, warming it. A device can transform and transfer energy.
Stored potential energy can come from stretching something. A rubber band held stretched has this energy before it springs back. Sound travelling from a speaker carries energy. A rolling ball has kinetic energy because it moves. These names tell us which energy we mean.
An object can have more than one type of energy. A bike moving along has kinetic energy. Its tyres also have thermal energy. Moving does not mean an object has no stored energy. Name the energy linked to the action in the question.
Hold both ends of a rubber band and stretch it gently. Let it relax while keeping hold of both ends. Before it moves, the stretch stores potential energy. As it moves back, some becomes kinetic energy. Keep rubber bands away from faces and do not launch them.
Kinetic energy is linked to movement. Springs store potential energy and batteries store chemical energy. A transformation changes energy type; a transfer moves energy between objects or places.
Original readings about energy names, transfers and transformations written for this learning collection.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Nothing; this is a starting point.
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.