Conservation of Energy

Transforming Electrical Energy

Electric energy can be transformed into
many other types of energy.
Ex. Light bulb  What kinds of energy can
result from a light bulb?
Answers – Light Energy, Thermal Energy
Transforming Chemical Energy
What kinds of Energy can be converted
from Chemical Potential Energy?
Ex. A Car Engine
Answers – Thermal Energy (burning fuel),
Kinetic Energy (Gases causing parts of
engine to move).
Other types of energy transformations
aren’t always visible or noticeable.
Ex. Plants:
Light energy  Chemical energy;
Chemical energy  other energies
in your body.
Conversions between Kinetic &
Potential Energy
Mechanical Energy = Potential Energy +
Kinetic Energy.

Mechanical Energy is due to the position

and motion of an object.
Potential & Kinetic Energy
 What happens to Potential Energy (PE)
when an Apple falls from a tree?
Answer PE is converted to Kinetic
Energy (KE).
**Energy is NEVER LOST; only
CONVERTED.**
The Law of Conservation of Energy
“Energy cannot be created nor destroyed.”

Ex. Ball thrown in the air; KE converted to

PE  mechanical energy stays constant.
 Friction
What would happen
to Kinetic Energy if
your bicycle rolled to
a stop?

Answer  Friction
stopped the bicycle;
converted KE to PE.
 KE is also
converted to Thermal
Energy from Friction.
Converting Mass into Energy
Nuclear Fusion and Nuclear Fission are
examples of converting Mass into Energy.
Nuclear Fusion
– Atoms collide with each other so strongly that
they fuse together; energy is released.
– Nuclear Fusion occurs in the Sun.
Nuclear Fission
– Opposite of Nuclear Fusion; atoms split apart
and energy is released.