Energy: The ability to cause change or do work
Kinetic energy: Energy of movement
Potential energy: Stored energy
Mechanical energy: Kinetic plus potential energy of an object
Chemical energy: Energy stored in food, fuel and batteries
Electrical energy: Energy of moving electric charges
Thermal energy: Energy of moving particles; felt as heat
Light (radiant) energy: Energy carried by electromagnetic waves
Sound energy: Energy carried by vibrations
Nuclear energy: Energy stored in an atom's nucleus
Elastic energy: Energy stored in a stretched rubber band or spring
Gravitational energy: Energy stored by an object that is high up
Energy change in a lamp: Electrical to light and heat
Energy change in a toaster: Electrical to heat
Energy change in a car engine: Chemical to thermal to motion
Energy change in a solar cell: Light to electrical
Energy change in a battery: Chemical to electrical
Energy change in a microphone: Sound to electrical
Energy change in a speaker: Electrical to sound
Energy change in a plant: Light to chemical
Energy change in a falling ball: Potential to kinetic
Energy change in rubbing hands: Motion to heat
Energy change in a hydroelectric dam: Gravitational potential to kinetic to electrical
Renewable energy: Energy from sources that can be replaced naturally
Nonrenewable energy: Energy from sources that cannot be replaced soon
Fossil fuels: Coal, oil and natural gas made from ancient living things
Coal: A solid fossil fuel made from ancient plants
Petroleum: Liquid fossil fuel also called crude oil
Natural gas: Fossil fuel made mostly of methane
Solar energy: Energy from the Sun
Wind energy: Energy from moving air that turns turbines
Hydroelectric power: Electricity from moving water
Geothermal energy: Heat from inside the Earth
Biomass: Energy from burning plants or waste
Biofuel: Fuel made from plants, like ethanol
Tidal energy: Energy from the rise and fall of ocean tides
Nuclear power: Electricity from splitting atoms in a reactor
Uranium: The fuel used in most nuclear plants
Photovoltaic cell: A solar cell that makes electricity from light
Turbine: A wheel that spins to run a generator
Generator: A machine that turns motion into electricity
Power plant: A facility that makes electricity
Energy conservation: Using less energy
Energy efficiency: Getting the same job done using less energy
Greenhouse gas: A gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide
Sun's energy source: Nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium
Law of conservation of energy: Energy is never made or destroyed, only changed
Where does most of Earth's energy come from?: The Sun
Joule: The unit of energy
Watt: A rate of energy use, one joule per second
Kilowatt-hour: A unit of electrical energy used on a power bill
Calorie: A unit of energy in food (the Calorie on labels is 1,000 small calories)
Grid: The network that delivers electricity to homes
Battery: Stores chemical energy and gives electrical energy
Fuel cell: A device that makes electricity from a reaction such as hydrogen with oxygen
Wasted energy: Energy that ends up as unwanted heat
Insulation: Material that slows heat loss
LED: A light bulb that uses much less energy than an old incandescent bulb
Passive solar: Using building design to gather the Sun's heat
Smart meter: A meter that tracks electricity use in detail

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/phys-energy