Energy transformation

Types of Energy
• There are many types of
energy including:
– Kinetic
– Potential
– Mechanical
– Heat
– Light
– Sound
– Electrical
– Chemical
– Nuclear
– Magnetic
– Elastic
Law of Conservation of Energy
• The Law of
conservation of energy
says that energy is
never gained or lost, it
just changes form.
 Energy conversion
• Any type of energy can
be changed into any
other type of energy if
you have the right tools.
 Light energy to chemical energy
• Plants use chloroplasts
to turn light energy into
chemical energy
Chemical energy to mechanical energy
• We use mitochondria in
our cells to convert
chemical energy into
mechanical energy
 Other types of energy conversion
• Radios convert
electromagnetic
energy (light energy)
to sound energy.
• Cell phones can
convert sound to light
or light to sound
• Specialized floor tiles
can convert kinetic
energy from footsteps
into electrical energy.
(Pavegen page)
 Electricity generation
• Our world today runs on
electric energy. We have
developed many ways to
convert other types of
energy into electricity:
– Fossil fuels
– Solar power
– Wind power
– Nuclear power
– Geothermal power
– Hydroelectric power
 Heat energy to electrical energy
• Heated water can form
steam which can be
used to spin a turbine
(kinetic energy), which
then produces
electricity (electrical
energy), which can then
be used to light your
house (light energy),
spin your fan (kinetic
energy,) heat your oven
(heat energy) etc…
 Energy conversion by the numbers
How much energy gets to your house?

3000 Joules
of energy 200 Joules lost as
produced heat from friction

600 Joules lost 100 Joules 500 Joules lost at

as heat to lost as heat heat from friction
surroundings from friction due to electricity
transfer
 Efficiency (How much of the energy
we make becomes the type of
energy that we want?
• In the previous
example, how efficient
is the power plant?
(energy
produced/energy
obtained)
• Modern day cars have
about 20-30%
efficiency (measured
in mpg)
• Your body is about
25% efficient
 Energy use in the United States
• Worldwide, 85% of our
electricity comes from
fossil fuels.
• The US uses about 20%
of the world’s
electricity, and has 5%
of the world’s
population.
• How does Utah do?
Which means… there are lots of
ways to charge your smart phone


Bug power